Although I grew up in Sangamon County (Springfield/Chatham), I know these people. They are farm and small-town people - almost all of downstate Illinois is composed of farms and populated with solid, midwestern country folk. A mix of Catholic and Protestant, very traditional and family-oriented. Also very community focused. All in all, just everyday people trying to raise their families and praise God in their everyday lives. And VERY conservative.
This is Illinois' dilemma - 2/3rd's of the population resides in the Chicagoland area and control the political direction of the state. Until the Republican party in Illinois cleans up it's act not likely that anything will change (last 3 - I think - Republican governors put in jail for corruption).
I grew up, went to HS in Springfield. I left as fast as I could win scholarships. Looking back it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was.
Missouri had its own dilemma similar to the Illinois dilemma. Missouri's dilemma was that St Louis & Kansas City controlled the state.
For the first time after the election of 2000 republicans controlled both houses of the state legislature. In 2003 Shall Issue Concealed Carry was passed in the legislature, was vetoed by the weak democrat governor, then the legislators overrode that veto.
In Missouri the total votes for each of the two parties is close, but in 2008 even someone like McCain did defeat 0bama by approximately 5,000 vote statewide.
Thank you for the information about the people of Pike County, it would be a good place to visit or live.