Suburbs that exist in competition to their central cities are toxic.

They suck out money and resources and leave central cities to deal with poverty and crime. They fortify themselves through segregationist zoning and bylaws. They exist to prevent wealth redistribution.

These kinds of suburbs are a cancer. They embody destructive 'every man for himself' thinking.

Detroit, St. Loius, Baltimore and other struggling cities are what you get when the state allows them to be choked by their suburbs.

Chicago's suburbs aren't quite there yet, but there are plenty of selfish people who want to take us there.

Consolidation isn't necessarily the only solution -- see Minneapolis/St Paul for a different approach -- but the crux of the matter is that suburbs shouldn't be allowed to wall off resources and turn their backs while someone else deals with poverty and crime.

Reforms can and should come in conjunction with streamlining Illinois's myriad, overlapping governmental units. Eliminating waste can and should come when we eliminate toxic suburban thinking.