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The worst part is that people associate this type of going on with the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago. Chicago's a really nice place, and I really like it here. Illinois is a nice state - the people in general, even immigrant populations, have that mid-western charm, are friendly, and on the whole, are just good people.
It's too bad that more people won't associate the real Chicago or the real Illinois with the city or state, just the corrupt politicians that have come out of it (and let's face it, there have been more than a few).
Honestly, the reactions that I get when I tell people that I've moved here is "Why would you move there?! You're gonna get murdered!" or "You moving in with all the corrupt politicians?" I don't blame my family members because they all live in a rural area - they said the murder thing when I moved to Erie, PA too. My friends, however, were all surprised that I would want to live in such a "dangerous place". I don't feel like it's dangerous at all - if you have a little bit of street smarts and learn your neighborhood you shouldn't have too many worries. Locked doors, flashlights at night, cell phones always, and being aware of your surroundings go a long way. It's no more dangerous than any other large city.
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