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However, challenges abound, such as the need for infrastructure support and military installations in the region. Securing defense without the backing of federal military resources complicates the independence dream.
The Illinois Secession Proposal
In Illinois, the "New Illinois" movement reflects deep-seated divisions between urban and rural populations. The rural residents feel marginalized by policies favoring the populous Chicago area, prompting calls for their own state. Yet without Chicago's substantial tax revenue, the economic viability of a split is questionable, potentially leading to fiscal instability for the proposed new Illinois.
These rural grievances echo themes of representation and identity that resonate across many secessionist movements in the U.S.