Yesterday, a high school classmate of former State Rep. and State Senator Roger Keats commented on the Illinois politician’s moving to Texas.
Another Florida expatriate left a comment that I would like to share more broadly.
Here’s his take on why people are leaving Illinois:
Blue Ribbon in Crook county
I’m a Florida ex-pat, too. Lived in Evanston, too. Graduated high school from ETHS, too.
And moved to McHenry County in 1980 to escape Crook County Politics, considered McHenry County my home.
In 2010, after having had enough of corrupt Illinois Democrats and the crooks running the state, I moved to Florida.
I “voted with my feet” as they say, just as many in Eastern Europe did before the Soviet Union imposed the “iron curtain” to contain the exodus.
The financial situation in Illinois is grave.
Illinois (says the Illinois State Bar Association’ and ABA) is fighting ex-pat residency of high wage earners, in order to retain their income taxes. Illinois is try claiming the income taxes of people who leave Illinois using any flimsy pretext they can find.
Like their Soviet Union/Communist cousins, today’s progressives and IL Democrats. deep down, abhor liberty.
The Constitution prohibits Illinois from forbidding people from leaving – so look for the state to do whatever they can to “stem the flow” of other people “voting with their feet,” or to otherwise retain the dollars these people will not longer be paying to Illinois.
Trying to challenge residency in order to tax “rich” ex-pats is just the opening gambit.
There’s a real, understandable, reason that Illinois is losing population to the sunbelt – and congressional representation.
It’s the CORRUPTION, STUPID!
If you work in Illinois, or own a company that does business in Illinois, you should pay taxes here and not try to shirk your responsibility by claiming residency at your Palm Beach vacation home or wherever. And claiming that Democrats “abhor liberty” is such a patently stupid statement that it doesn’t even deserve comment.
Calling these people expatriates is cleverly chosen because there are positive tax implications for REAL expats, this is, people who meet the legal definition of temporarily or permanently living in a country outside of the person’s legal residence.
Owning a business in Illinois but moving to Florida to avoid paying state income taxes doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) meet that definition.
At least be honest and stop whining about all the “corruption.”
The real reason you left the state was to avoid paying taxes. I guess you just prefer corrupt Florida land speculators and real estate developers to corrupt aldermen.
I suggest you start reading Carl Hiassen’s column in the Miami Herald if you want to know more about corruption in Florida.
The good news is that you can read it online in whatever tax shelter haven you move to next. I understand Liberia has very low taxes, and then you could call yourself a real ex-pat.
“If you work in Illinois, or own a company that does business in Illinois, you should pay taxes here and not try to shirk your responsibility by claiming residency at your Palm Beach vacation home or wherever.”
That is absolutely correct. I neither have a business in IL, work in IL, nor reside in IL – unlike your current Sheriff, who also owns a home in Florida. I am a registered Florida voter, have a Florida drivers license, have Florida plates on my car (which cost half that of yours) own a home and domicile myself in Florida.
“And claiming that Democrats “abhor liberty” is such a patently stupid statement that it doesn’t even deserve comment.”
It is the absolute truth. The Nanny State of Illinois is run by and for the Democratic Party and the liberal agenda they serve. The State of Illinois is deciding whether or not you will have the choice of what you eat (considering banning transfats). The State is deciding whether or not you will be required to wear seat belts in the backseat of your car. The State has decided that law abiding, FBI-background checked citizens will not be allowed to carry a concealed firearms – unlike the other 48 states in the Union. The State has decided on telling smokers where they can, or cannot, smoke. Under the pretext of “police powers” the State has decided that they have the absolute right to tell people how to live their lives.
The State has passed over 500 laws in the last 2 years, most of which appear to be designed to either enrich some Democratic Party contributor or restrict an individual’s behavior. If that isn’t proof that you Democrats (who run Illinois) are abhor liberty, I don’t know what is.
“At least be honest and stop whining about all the “corruption.” ”
Since you don’t know me, you aren’t qualified to say.
“The real reason you left the state was to avoid paying taxes.”
Ah. You liberals can’t stand it when the sheep refuse to be sheared anymore, can you?
The typical liberal Democrat mindset: ALL YOUR WEALTH BELONGS TO US!
67% increase in your state income tax to pay for public employee retirement – we pay no state income tax. You (on average) have the highest overall sales tax in the country. Gasoline taxes have driven your gasoline prices to being among the highest in the nation. Gas prices down here are about 30 cents/gal cheaper. My real estate tax is 1/3 that of yours – or less.
“I guess you just prefer corrupt Florida land speculators and real estate developers to corrupt aldermen.”
Hmm. The average home in Florida last year sold for $98K. Thanks to those “corrupt land speculators,” people can find affordable housing again. The speculators gambled and lost. Boo-hoo for them – but I can’t quite find the amendment in the Bill of Rights that guarantees that land purchases must always return a profit. That’s why they call it “speculation.”
And yes, I prefer developers to corrupt aldermen, corrupt state representatives, corrupt state senators, and corrupt GOVERNORS of both parties (I hear that Blago will have a cell next to Ryan in the “Illinois Wing” of Federal Prison in WI).
The difference is that one can avoid a corrupt business but a corrupt politician (and his children, in Illinois) will be living it up in your pocket, and on your dime, FOREVER.
You may object to the use of the term “expatriate” to describe those of us who have escaped The Peoples Republic of Illinois. I could care less. Like Keats and Stouffer, I voted with my feet.