6 hours Ago By Brad Weisenstein
Illinois is considering whether it needs a new state flag. Why? Because Gov. JB Pritzker said “it may be time we create a new one that exemplifies the values of our great state.
” But when it comes to politics, some of our state’s values ain’t so great. We are about to see whether the man who ruled Illinois as speaker of the Illinois House for nearly 40 years will spend several years in a federal cell for corruption. We’ve also seen four of 11 past governors go to the federal pen.
There are 200 Illinois politicians on the Chicago Tribune’s “ Dishonor Roll .” Corruption and Illinois’ way of doing politics also created six-figures in pension debt for promises made to government unions after their generous support of politicians. The Chicago Teachers Union put one of its own in the Chicago mayor’s office.
Government union hegemony is enshrined in the Illinois Constitution . With all that to fret about, who really cares when politicians create a sweet little competition to redesign the state flag? Well, here’s why you should care. Illinoisans are currently voting online for a new state flag.
A commission narrowed 5,000 submissions down to 10 new potential designs. You can vote for one of the new designs, or two historic state flag designs, or the current flag. Please.
Vote for the current flag. That’s not because the current flag is so great. It’s pretty plain — much like the bulk of our state before we started filling the plains with windmills and solar farms.
It was adopted in 1915 and designed by Lucy Derwent of the Rockford Daughters of the American Revolution with the state seal on a white background. Nearly 55 years passed and a Vietnam vet decided our unexciting flag needed the word “Illinois” added because his fellow soldiers had no clue what the white flag represented. Much more imagination was used on the 10 potential flag redesigns.
There’s a cute butterfly, and one that looks like India’s national flag, and ones that look like we’re all about the U. of I. or love Chicago’s six-pointed star.
But you should vote for the current flag because anything else wastes our tax dollars. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: Born and raised. From 1984-2002, I spent my childhood in central Illinois.
I've lived and worked in Bloomington/Normal for 26 of my 40 years of life. My dad, sister, niece and the majority of my aunts and uncles are still here. All of my grandparents are buried here.
I found out about this commission only days ago after spending two years abroad. I found this old design from 2016 just today. It needs work.
It lacks our current eagle, perhaps to be placed in white silhouette above the star.Explain the meaning behind your flag: This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners that both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union.
Abe's silhouette reminds us of our past. The red field highlights our present: Illinois' most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. It's steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white, leading us ever to the future.
The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: As someone born, raised and educated in Illinois, I am proud to call Illinois home and plan to do so for life. I believe strongly that my character and view of the world as a citizen and as an architect has been shaped by the cultural, geographic, economic, historic and architectural diversity of our state.
Explain the meaning behind your flag: The four dark blue bars in this submission represent the four geographic features that hold the greatest geographic, economic and historic significance in the creation of Illinois: Lake Michigan, the Mississippi River, the Ohio River and the Chicago River/Illinois River system. The corn kernels and 21-pronged gear that form our state flower, the violet, represent the agricultural and industrial foundations of our state and its status as the 21st state admitted to the Union. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I am 18 years old and a lifelong resident, born in Moline and living in Rock Island.
My parents were also born and raised in this state. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The flag is divided into seven stripes, in a pattern of white and blue alternating. The biggest blue stripe represents Lake Michigan, while the smaller blue stripes represent the state's various rivers, such as the Mississippi and the Illinois.
The center blue stripe contains 20 smaller stars surrounding a center star, which represent Illinois as the 21st state. The small white stripes represent the state's industry and commerce, while the bigger white stripes represent the state's agriculture. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: The students who worked on this flag are high schoolers living in Illinois named Johnna and Spresalynn.
Explain the meaning behind your flag: The state butterfly, the monarch, is the focal point of this flag, which includes 21 stars for Illinois being the 21st state (the large star represents Illinois). The orange represents success, determination and creativity while the blue stands for trust, loyalty and sincerity and strength. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: In fall 2004, I lived in Chicago and was studying industrial design at UIC.
My great-grandfather Harry James McCartney was an engraver in Chicago. He worked downtown at Sears, Roebuck and Co., where he illustrated and engraved images of lamps, heaters and other household accessories that were printed on the pages of the Sears mail-order catalogue.
His father was James A. McCartney, a Civil War veteran from Illinois. He became the Illinois attorney general from 1881-1885.
Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 red and white stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state of this union. The blue field with the six-pointed white star represents Chicago. The negative space between the blue and white fields form the shape of an I to represent Illinois.
(Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: My late wife Maureen Thomas (1952-2023) was born and raised in Oak Park. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The idea of mine is simply an embellishment to the existing flag (helps to save money on an entire new design). Placing red and blue vertical bars on each end (with a narrow white stripe in between the colors) eliminates the 'seal-on-bedsheet' look.
Not overly imaginative, but practical and economic. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: My connection to Illinois runs deep. My ancestors came from Ireland in the early 1900s and settled in Gridley, Ill.
, where they farmed corn and soybeans and raised livestock. My father grew up on that same farm, while my mother was raised in Champaign. They met at Illinois State University, where I also earned my Bachelor of Arts in graphic design.
I've lived in Illinois my entire life, and its agricultural landscapes and small-town values make me proud to call Illinois home. Explain the meaning behind your flag: The 21 stripes represent Illinois as the 21st state and reflect its agricultural roots, resembling rows of crops and the open prairie. Three six-pointed stars represent the state's three regions — northern, central and southern — and their 18 points reference Illinois' founding in 1818.
A sun on the horizon, also featured on our current state flag, represents renewal. The colors — blue for unity, green for agriculture and yellow for a bright future — honor Illinois' history and natural beauty. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I've lived here for nearly 10 years and have grown to love this state.
It's an excellent place to settle down, with welcoming people who have always made me feel at home. From stunning city views to beautiful countryside, my appreciation for this state has deepened. Explain the meaning behind your flag: A large gold star in the center draws attention, much like the standout features of our state.
Gold symbolizes the richness in our state, people, land and views. A horizontal blue line symbolizes Lake Michigan, separating the sky from the rich land. Two smaller lines add a neat, elegant touch.
The central circle abstractly represents the view from above Abraham Lincoln's hat. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: Ever since I was a kid, I've been proud to call Springfield my home. I come from generations of Illinoisans and have chosen to raise my family here as well.
I've spent much of my life exploring the state and experiencing its wonders firsthand. What I've found is there is much to what makes Illinois great: our rich history, our landscape, our variety of people and the places they live. My designs reflect these qualities in a way that can hopefully inspire others to share my pride for my home.
Explain the meaning behind your flag: The outline of Abraham Lincoln symbolizes liberty, opportunity and the equality of all people. The outline of Illinois symbolizes the pride we share for our state. The circle of 21 stars represents our communal togetherness and honors our state being the 21st to join the U.
S. The white star symbolizes Chicago and its upper-right location. Dark blue represents our blue-collar attitude and industrial power.
Gold represents our prairie and agricultural history. White represents our bright spirit. (Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: I have lived in Illinois my entire life (40 years).
I grew up in Naperville and then moved to Chicago, where I lived for about 18 years before moving to Des Plaines. Explain the meaning behind your flag: My flag uses a silhouette design of the state of Illinois as the focal point. I always felt Illinois had a distinct outline.
21 stars circle the state to symbolize it being the 21st state to enter the Union. Additionally, I used the circular design to symbolize Illinois being a kind of center of the country, whether it is geographically or from Chicago serving as a hub for train and air traffic. Finally, the blue edges represent the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, which flank the state.
(Illinois Secretary of State) Relationship to Illinois: Born and raised. From 1984-2002, I spent my childhood in central Illinois. I've lived and worked in Bloomington/Normal for 26 of my 40 years of life.
My dad, sister, niece and the majority of my aunts and uncles are still here. All of my grandparents are buried here. I found out about this commission only days ago after spending two years abroad.
I found this old design from 2016 just today. It needs work. It lacks our current eagle, perhaps to be placed in white silhouette above the star.
Explain the meaning behind your flag: This slice of Old Glory is also a nod to the French flag, banners that both stood here. A single star shines our contribution to the union. Abe's silhouette reminds us of our past.
The red field highlights our present: Illinois' most iconic border, formed by the mighty Mississippi. It's steady flow, as progress itself, cuts through our banner in white, leading us ever to the future. The flag still lacks any representation of our Illiniwek and Miami heritage, which should be added by their progeny.
(Illinois Secretary of State) Something is certainly missing from this tally, but if we only replace state flags on the 102 county courthouses, 1,300 city halls, roughly 4,000 schools and 8,700 state buildings, we are talking $2.5 million for all those all-weather state flags to post outside the buildings. Then there are flags for meeting rooms, classrooms and others.
So, as a taxpayer who will ultimately pay for this excursion into history, symbolism and nylon, you should vote and vote every day as the commission has deemed is fair. Vote to keep what we’ve got, including our money. Mark Harris: Oh, say, what will we see on the new Illinois state flag? There are plenty of things Illinois could use $2.
5 million for, especially when our state budgets keep growing. We are at a record $53.1 billion currently, which is $15 billion more than when our current governor took office.
Next year’s budget faces a projected $3.2 billion deficit and who-knows-what tax and fee hikes to fill it. While $2.
5 million is nothing compared with $53.1 billion, this flag vote is symbolic. The vote can be part of a taxpayer revolt.
It can tell state politicians they are spending someone else’s money. And if this mini revolution succeeds, at least they won’t be spending your tax dollars on more than 14,000 new state flags. It’s a chance to truly exemplify the values of our great state and tell Illinois politicians your patience with their shenanigans, distractions and excesses is, well .
.. flagging.
Brad Weisenstein is the managing editor of the Illinois Policy Institute, a group working to expand liberties and prosperity in Illinois. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected] .
.
