Chicago To Split From Illinois - 51st State

State Rep. Bill Mitchell of Decatur has introduced a bill to the Illinois General Assembly to separate Chicago from the state - splitting out Cook County in its entirety.

Mitchell says the bill would "enact legislation dividing Illinois and Cook County into separate states" because county residents "hold different and firmly seated views" on "politics, society, and economics" from people in the rest of the state.

If passed, a vote by state residents through a referendum would ensue.  Once voters approve, the issue would require approval from the United States Congress and the president.  Voila!

Large urban centers in California, New York, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan continue to drift from the rest of their states - bringing some to try for state splits, or in this case, jettison the offending city from the rest of the state.  The efforts are long-shots, but the trend is clear.

Recently, the Illinois state government passed the biggest tax increases in state history.  The election of the hyper-liberal Rahm Emanuel in Chicago reflect an extreme in Chicago.  Surrounding residents find themselves squeezed by the large city, with whom they share little, and disagree with deeply.

As 2012 approaches, divisions now deeply defined will play out in the nations most important general election since 1860 - precursor to the nations only, and most brutal, civil war

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