IL Is #18, But We Try Harder!

According to today's USA Today, Illinois is only the 18th most corrupt state in the union, based on federal crime convictions per capita. Yes, we have machine-style politics, greased palms, and it's probably easier to go to prison if you're an IL governor than a murderer... but we're not even in the big leagues of corruption.

We really have to try harder!

The #1 most corrupt state -- North Dakota.

Well that makes sense -- there's nothing much to do up there except practice corruption and freeze to death.

But seriously, USA Today reports that N.D. has 8.3 convictions per 100,000 people. Even Alaska and Louisiana fare worse than IL. We have only 3.9 convictions per 100,000 people.

Maybe the truth is we are just better at concealing our greed and corruption. After all only 3 of our governors in the last 35 years went to prison. Several got off scot-free!

And we even had a year recently when not a single Chicago alderman went to jail! Now if that doesn't restore your belief in miracles, then you are just too jaded for words.

We may be #18 today, but it's a solid 18 with a bullet. If he keeps working at it, Patrick Fitzgerald can uncover a huge cesspool of corruption with trails leading all through IL.

In 2009 we should easily break the top 10. We might even give ND a real run for the money for the #1 slot.

By the way, Nebraska -- the Corn Husker State -- is #50 with less than 0.5 convictions per 100,000 people.

If you'd like to check out the stats, go here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-10-corruptstates_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip