Subtract out the Chicago metro area and the state of Illinois is actually for the most part financially viable.
Chicago is a beautiful city on the whole.
Cities are where civilization began, the word “citizen” and “civilization” comes from the word for city. They are also the source of new ideas. No major civilization has existed without a big city at its source.
You will note that taking out the big cities is the way to win wars. Why if they are such drains on the taxpayers?
Unfortunately for the troglodytes it is also the economic powerhouse for the whole state and region.