Some have accused me, a native son of our prairies, of being anti-Illinois. They say columns over the years have waxed poetically about Wisconsin, while denigrating our great state. They say I have likened our neighbor to the north to a bucolic utopia, yet overlook the Badger State’s faults.
They say I dwell on the negative when writing about Illinois. On occasion, perhaps they’re right when griping about our state. With Lake County being but miles south of Wisconsin, at times everything does seem better in America’s Dairyland.
They have little public corruption, the roads are nicer, gasoline is cheaper and energy costs overall are lower. The brandy old-fashioned is the state cocktail. The people are pleasant enough as long as we Flatlanders don’t play up loyalty to the Chicago Bears.
Or make fun of Bucky Badger or Bernie Brewer. Wisconsinites don’t have an 8% sales tax, and taxes upon taxes. There is not a heavy tax burden on businesses such as is in Illinois.
Property taxes are comparatively lower in Wisconsin. Unemployment is lower in Wisconsin, one reason being the state continues to lure Illinois companies to set up business over the border. The state’s politicians don’t look at business owners as unlimited ATM machines to pay for all sorts of programs and policies, but instead partners in moving Wisconsin forward.
The state’s budgets are so flush, legislators often don’t know what to do with all the money burning holes in their pockets. Certainly, a lo.
