There's always been something of a rivalry between downstate Illinois and Chicago. It gets serious when politicians are talking about things like distributing tax dollars for school funding and public construction projects. Mostly, though, it's a funny battle of dueling stereotypes.
It's in the spirit of the latter that we bring you the Top 10 different perspectives of Chicagoans and downstate Illinoisans. Once more, for emphasis: It's a funny battle of dueling stereotypes. Enjoy!
10.
Chicago: You complain because rush hour is 12 hours long.
Downstate: You complain because rush hour is 12 minutes long.
9.
Downstate: You know the difference between a soybean field and cornfield.
Chicago: You fear cornfields because you read "Children of the Corn."
8.
Downstate: You helped your neighbor move furniture.
Chicago: You threw your neighbor's furniture into the street to get a parking place.
7.
Downstate: You believe Illinois ends at the Ohio River.
Chicago: You believe Illinois ends at Interstate 80.
6.
Chicago: You buy Carhartt clothes at the Carhartt boutique in Wicker Park to be ironic.
Downstate: You buy Carhartt clothes at the farm supply store to stay warm.
5.
Chicago: Your idea of green transportation is a fixed-gear bike.
Downstate: Your idea of green transportation is a multi-gear John Deere tractor.
4.
Downstate: You have a beard and straw hat because you're Amish.
Chicago: You have a beard and porkpie hat because you're a hipster.
3.
Chicago: You believe the proper pronunciation of "opossum" is "possum."
Downstate: You believe the proper pronunciation of "possum" is "dinner."
2.
Downstate: You favor concealed carry of firearms because you're afraid of your town becoming like Chicago.
Chicago: You oppose concealed carry of firearms because you're afraid of armed downstaters.
1.
Downstate: You want Chicago to secede.
Chicago: You thought Chicago seceded in 1925.
Find out what the men who want to be elected governor have planned for Illinois. We did a questionnaire with the Better Government Association for all six candidates. Republican candidate questionnaires are here. Democrats Pat Quinn and Tio Hardiman's answers are here.