Six months ago I moved from one of the most incompetent and corrupt states in the country -- Illinois. Agreeing with my assessment is 24/7 Wall Street, which conducts extensive research to determine the best- and worst-run states. Included in the information gathered from hundreds of data sets from dozens of sources is fiscal management, unemployment, taxes, GDP growth, standard of living, violent crime etc.
Gov. Pat Quinn, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern and Belleville Mayor Mark Eckert are probably proud knowing that their state is ranked as only the third worst-run state in the country. And this ranking was before Belleville's latest intrusion into its citizens' personal lives, wallets and homes via its hair-brained occupancy ordinance. Also before the state's proposed concealed-carry bill: 20 hours of classroom training, 20 hours of training at a shooting range, secure a $1 million liability insurance policy and submit a fitness evaluation by a licensed psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. It would be funny if they weren't serious.
*It's extremely gratifying to reside in the fourth best-run state in the country, which by no coincidence is a red state with more than a $400 million budget surplus.
* It's Illinois politicians who should be evaluated by a psychiatrist and psychologist prior to being elected.
Of course, the Democrats who keep voting the inept into office could use some time on the ol' psychiatrist's couch as well.
Gary Like
Highland, Utah
