The Diary
November 7, 2026
The day after the election, I scribbled a political message on the sign board outside the shop. “I voted for more books!”
I want the Reading Room to be a place where everyone feels welcome-- a place where people talk to each other even if they disagree. Especially when they disagree. Consequently, I stock books from a variety of political perspectives. My political beliefs take a back seat to the store’s mission. Hence, the limited nature of my political declaration.
However, there is a political issue that I want to address. On election day, 11 more counties voted to explore secession from Illinois. This brings the total number of “ Illi-exit” counties to 33. Voters in these counties believe that Chicago dominates political decisions and that downstate voices are not heard in Springfield. Regulations and taxes—and the attendant costs-- that might be appropriate in a metropolis like Chicago are often out of place in Quincy and Effingham, which must compete for residents and businesses with lower cost jurisdictions.
I understand the frustration. Demographics (63% of the state lives in the five counties of Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will and Lake) and gerrymandering together have boxed out minority positions and rural voices. Rather than a two-state solution, however, we need a two-speed Illinois. Keep the state together but grant the counties outside of metropolitan Chicago the power to set lower corporate and income taxes and opt-out of certain business and environmental regulations. A less gerrymandered General Assembly would also help amplify minority voices. Some legislative seats should be allocated proportionally and not on a first-past-the-post basis. These seats would be allocated according to the share of the total vote each party captured in the election.
We live in a wonderful state with a world-class city, some of the most livable suburbs in the country, and a productive, beautiful hinterland. Let’s make it better and keep it together.