Illinois continues to grapple with a high number of residents moving out of the state. | Adobe Stock
Illinois continues to grapple with a high number of residents moving out of the state. | Adobe Stock
Franklin County conservative activist Karen Tucker believes that Illinois is facing a mass exodus and that everyone she knows would "like to leave."
Illinois is one of the country's highest-taxed states, which has led to people seeking cheaper alternatives outside its border.
"Everyone I know would like to leave Illinois if they could get everything together," Tucker told the North Egypt News. "I don't know if anyone would be left. Illinois has become a state that's known for nothing but high taxes and corruption."
In January, Illinois Policy reported that two of the largest moving companies in the country concluded that upward of 60% of interstate moves served by them on behalf of Illinois residents were of the outbound variety.
With taxes and lack of job opportunities ranking among the biggest reasons for many deciding to walk away, researchers find it all adds up to the state experiencing its most extensive outmigration levels in 2020 since World War II, Illinois Policy reported.
"We're a state that should have revenue, but the problem is when you have outflow like we have, it's typically working people that were contributing to the tax base," Tucker said. "We need to balance a budget and show the state is trying to get its finances in order."
Tucker frets so much damage has been done she doesn't know if Illinois can ever really be Illinois again.
"If there's a wrong move to make their going to find it," he said. "I don't consider the possibility that things can be the same. It's gotten to the point where our lawmakers don't really seem to care or have any concern about the people. As long as the level of corruption and fraud that goes on now continues, this is what it will be."
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