What Amazon can do for Illinois?

An open letter to Jeff Bezos

Dear Mr. Bezos,

I have been living in the Chicago area since 1985, almost exactly half of my life. The vibrant buzzing of life here infatuated me, and I hope it will attract Amazon as well. Political and business leaders will provide you with numbers and well-researched reasons for locating Amazon HQ2 in Illinois. I would like to share a few thoughts as an Illinois concerned citizen, an engineer, and a longtime small business owner.

Thanks to its location, Chicago is a blessed place. Since its incorporation in 1837, it has been a never-ending success. This is its biggest problem. People get accustomed that the wealth is given; one just needs to figure out the best way of dipping in it. When Illinoisans were busy creating wealth, politicians were busy redistributing it, outpacing the wealth growth to the point that both Illinois and Chicago are on the edge of insolvency.

The goals were noble. In the business world, people are paid according to their contributions, and some are not paid at all. Hence, government started helping those not so fortunate in doing well on their own. Many people who attempt to lure Amazon to Illinois tell their constituents that wealthy people — as we hope potential employees of Amazon HQ2 will be — should pay their fair share in taxes.

There is nothing wrong with this statement in general, but in Illinois — and Chicago, in particular — it means supporting the overblown government bureaucracy. They…