Us vs. Them vs. Us
(I have to apologize up front for the length of this one, just kind of kept going on me.)
Downstate against Chicago against Suburbs against Downstate – and on it goes. There is much discussion, often negative, between the denizens of each region regarding the lack of understanding that the inhabitants of ‘the other area’ have about the problems that affect their home turf.
Chicagoans think that downstaters are a bunch of rubes. Folks from southern Illinois have no clue about life in the big city. Suburbanites are ignorantly ensconced behind their white picket fences and don’t care about anybody else.
And while the reality is that these views are held by a lot of people, another reality is that we could all benefit by a crash course in the culture of these other areas. Because at the end of the day, we are all joined at the territorial hip, and like it or not, none of these areas could thrive in a vacuum.
We live in a marvelously diverse state. From the coal country in southern Illinois to the rich farmland that is our midsection to the economic engine that is Chicago, Illinois has it all. But by recognizing the strengths, and needs of our neighbors, we could do even more.
Just one example – I don’t think that many downstaters fully appreciated the health and crime fallout that comes from the drug trade – until crystal meth came along. All of a sudden, no law was too stiff, and no amount of money was too much to spend on prevention and treatment. To elaborate, if theoretically, Chicago legislators tried to restrict over the counter access to Sudafed because of problems with crack dealers, it would have been decried as an unnecessary crimping of personal freedoms because of an ‘urban’ problem. But now that their communities are being stricken by the plague that is meth, it is a different story.
Do NOT misunderstand me, I have fully supported my downstate colleagues efforts on this issue, and have co-sponsored a number of the initiatives. My point is that we should not be quick to judge the travails of other regions unless we have walked in their shoes.
So how do we reduce the cross-ignorance that besets many of our residents? Education and exposure are good places to start.
The Illinois Farm Bureau has a great program that has rural counties adopt urban and suburban legislators. I am the proud adoptee of the fine folks at Edgar County and have loved our relationship; I have spent time in and around Paris, Illinois meeting with farmers, visiting an FS outlet, eating lunch with a cross-section of the folks and learning about life there and the issues that affect them. In a couple weeks, some of them will be up here spending some time with me in my district.
That these experiences produce results is evident. Shortly after my last visit there, I was inspired to send a letter to all of my House colleagues urging an extension of the Agricultural Sales Tax Incentives that were reported being eyed to be eliminated to ease budget pressures. I received notes from several downstate members who sincerely appreciated a City legislator weighing in on this important issue.
I think that the reverse of this program would be great. Various urban groups could bring downstate legislators up to Chicago, not just for a baseball game and shopping, but to visit city schools, neighborhoods and talk to families and business owners about their experiences.
I also think that it would be great to have a scaled down version of the State Fair up around Chicago, if not annually, then every other year. Pigs, goats, corn dogs and all. Many Chicagoans think that the farming takes place in a land far far away, not within a short drive. They don’t realize that geographically we are so much more rural than urban, that folks in southern Illinois (understandably) have more in common with people from Kentucky than with people from Chicago. Plus, it would be great for the FFA kids to spend some time up here and realize that they’re not going to get shot once the sun goes down.
While it may be hard to enlighten twelve million people, opening the eyes of 177 is a worthwhile investment that would pay dividends for all of us.
And in the interest of spurring some of the great conversation that we’ve been having, in addition to any comments about what I’ve said, I’d be curious to hear from folks about what misconceptions they think they people from other parts of the state have about their area.
Downstate against Chicago against Suburbs against Downstate – and on it goes. There is much discussion, often negative, between the denizens of each region regarding the lack of understanding that the inhabitants of ‘the other area’ have about the problems that affect their home turf.
Chicagoans think that downstaters are a bunch of rubes. Folks from southern Illinois have no clue about life in the big city. Suburbanites are ignorantly ensconced behind their white picket fences and don’t care about anybody else.
And while the reality is that these views are held by a lot of people, another reality is that we could all benefit by a crash course in the culture of these other areas. Because at the end of the day, we are all joined at the territorial hip, and like it or not, none of these areas could thrive in a vacuum.
We live in a marvelously diverse state. From the coal country in southern Illinois to the rich farmland that is our midsection to the economic engine that is Chicago, Illinois has it all. But by recognizing the strengths, and needs of our neighbors, we could do even more.
Just one example – I don’t think that many downstaters fully appreciated the health and crime fallout that comes from the drug trade – until crystal meth came along. All of a sudden, no law was too stiff, and no amount of money was too much to spend on prevention and treatment. To elaborate, if theoretically, Chicago legislators tried to restrict over the counter access to Sudafed because of problems with crack dealers, it would have been decried as an unnecessary crimping of personal freedoms because of an ‘urban’ problem. But now that their communities are being stricken by the plague that is meth, it is a different story.
Do NOT misunderstand me, I have fully supported my downstate colleagues efforts on this issue, and have co-sponsored a number of the initiatives. My point is that we should not be quick to judge the travails of other regions unless we have walked in their shoes.
So how do we reduce the cross-ignorance that besets many of our residents? Education and exposure are good places to start.
The Illinois Farm Bureau has a great program that has rural counties adopt urban and suburban legislators. I am the proud adoptee of the fine folks at Edgar County and have loved our relationship; I have spent time in and around Paris, Illinois meeting with farmers, visiting an FS outlet, eating lunch with a cross-section of the folks and learning about life there and the issues that affect them. In a couple weeks, some of them will be up here spending some time with me in my district.
That these experiences produce results is evident. Shortly after my last visit there, I was inspired to send a letter to all of my House colleagues urging an extension of the Agricultural Sales Tax Incentives that were reported being eyed to be eliminated to ease budget pressures. I received notes from several downstate members who sincerely appreciated a City legislator weighing in on this important issue.
I think that the reverse of this program would be great. Various urban groups could bring downstate legislators up to Chicago, not just for a baseball game and shopping, but to visit city schools, neighborhoods and talk to families and business owners about their experiences.
I also think that it would be great to have a scaled down version of the State Fair up around Chicago, if not annually, then every other year. Pigs, goats, corn dogs and all. Many Chicagoans think that the farming takes place in a land far far away, not within a short drive. They don’t realize that geographically we are so much more rural than urban, that folks in southern Illinois (understandably) have more in common with people from Kentucky than with people from Chicago. Plus, it would be great for the FFA kids to spend some time up here and realize that they’re not going to get shot once the sun goes down.
While it may be hard to enlighten twelve million people, opening the eyes of 177 is a worthwhile investment that would pay dividends for all of us.
And in the interest of spurring some of the great conversation that we’ve been having, in addition to any comments about what I’ve said, I’d be curious to hear from folks about what misconceptions they think they people from other parts of the state have about their area.
posted by Rep. John Fritchey @ 8/18/2005
8 comments
8 Comments:
Representative- I'm so uncomfortable outside of Cook County, but the more I visit the rest of Illinois, the more I appreciate it. You really start to realize it that we have so much more in common with each other than we do in opposition.
Working for a living is working for a living, no matter if you're in Chicago, Harvey, Bensonville, Freeport, or Quincy. Also, Effingham.
Also, at the State Fair today I found out what a "yearling" was.
-ramsin
Oh, also in Springfield today I was at the urinal next to Joe Birkett.
-ramsin
Rep. Fritchey;
We in Olney, Claremont and Richland County have followed your career from afar and think you are the best. We still claim you as one of our very own.
The Claremont School house is still there, it is a community center now. Mike's or Hoveys, same place, has new ownership and is still making hambugers and shakes.
The Richland County Dems annual hog roast that you attended briefly a few years ago is September 17, at 12 noon. We would love to see you there.
as a lifelong resident of the City, I had an opportunity to spend a considerable amount of time downstate in 2002...there is a definite gap in understanding between Northern and Southern IL.
I do believe that gap is narrowing greatly in part to two factors; 1) The "flattening" of the world due to internet and global commerce, and 2) the more impressionable, younger generation utilizing that technology to see that there is more than either farms/coal or skyscrapers/sprawl.
The advent and emergence of the global economy should give Illinois an advantage that few states will have; we reach across all sectors in the state, creating a unique trading partner for foreign countries. it's something that all Illinoisians can be proud of and will eventually lead to a better understanding of geographic stereotypes.
Now if we can just get rid of the Sox fans. :)
I wonder if Rep. John's sincere interest in downstate presages a statewide run for office one of these years? I wouldn't be surprised. It would be a loss to the House, however.
Eliminating the term "downstate" could help the relationship that Chicago has with the rest of the state. It's not a true geographic term & only serves to imply that Chicago IS the state. Not living in Chicago is not living in IL. Visit another timezone, tell people you come from IL, & the next question is "What part of Chicago are you from?" Tell them you live across the river from STL, & the confusion is unbelievable.
Central & So. IL do exist. To many still living here, the informal boundaries are part of the region's history. Don't ever tell anyone in Carbondale that So. IL begins north of I-64.
Eliminating Chicago control over politics is the 2nd suggestion. The Dem Party ignores Central & So. IL. Too many Dems vote Rep because the Party has no use for them. The 2004 Election results for the IL-108 was a travesty. Grunloh (D) lost to Reis (R) 62% to 38% in the IL-108th. IL-108th also had more counties not voting their interest than any other Rep District. More IL-108th counties in the 108th voted for Alan Keyes than any other district. Not a positive footnote.
Blue Dog Dems lose regardless of who they vote for. Allowing GOP congressmen to remain in office without "serious" challenges every 2 yrs. is disengenuous & perpetuates the divide. Without an incumbent congressman to boost support for the local challengers, the political climate never changes.
Chicago residents know that "rubes" don't populate Central & So. IL. Busloads of people traveling I-55 & I-57 pass silos, barns, farm animals, etc., & urban enclaves on their way to STL. If that's not enough, they will learn how urban the region is every time they "invade" STL & the Metro-East to watch the "Scubbies" lose to the Cardinals.
Its nice to see everyone gushing with optimism about the potential for understanding between regions of Illinois and the commonalities we share. Maybe I am just a cynic, but I don't think the different regions of this state will ever really get along that well. My experiences have led me to the conclusion that the cultural differences are simply too deep to expect that much meaningful understanding. I have been downstate many times to places like Quincy, Olney, and Peoria. While I can appreciate that the culture is different in these places than in Chicago, I really don't see that much that I might have in common with these the people in these places. Sure, I do if you speak in general terms (finding a job, health care, etc.) but I have those things in common with all of America or the world. The things I find I have in common with other Chicagoans wouldn't matter to downstaters (not that I expect it should). We will always have different priorities and no amount of understanding is going to change that or should.
Just to clarify, I was not trying to say that we should not find common ground on particular issues or support issues that are important to downstaters. I was, however, pointing out that when our priorities conflict (e.g., gun control) it is completely natural to fight for a contrary position and not back away from it, even if some people in the state completely disagree.
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