The Illinois economy is finished.

Colleges are training nurses, the nurses are doing their time at local hospitals until they can move on to more attractive climates.

One University of Illinois at Springfield professor gets paid a six digit salary, but he doesn't stick around central Illinois. Why the hell should he?

The city of Springfield is desperate to keep the engineers at the local power plant. They have to be paid huge salaries just to stay.

What is it about central Illinois that is so unattractive to the intelligent people?

Is it high taxes? No. that would be a lie.

It's the shitty business practice of only paying minimum wage.

Attractive communities are dominated by highly paid individuals with large disposable income, and little need for social services.

State, county, and municipal governments in Illinois are being forced into raising taxes so they can pay salaries that are high enough to keep smart people around.

There are very smart people who work in the private sector, but you won't find them in central Illinois.