So, Caterpillar Inc. has sent a letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn threatening to leave Illinois if the state doesn’t do something to make the tax situation less burdensome on the giant international corporation.

Naturally, the media is reporting this a potential disaster of tsunami proportions.

Allow me to suggest an idea that those who worship The Great Yellow God will consider heresy:

Peoria would be better off without Caterpillar.

We would survive. Caterpillar is not the only employer we have. In fact, we would probably appear quite attractive to other manufacturing firms, with all these highly-trained, proven-excellent manufacturing workers suddenly looking for work. I’ve spoken to more than one local politician who whispered that Caterpillar works behind to scenes to keep good paying manufacturing jobs from the area, lest they have to compete by offering higher wages.

Sure, A lot of workers would leave, but then we would have less demand for city services catering to their needs. A lot of these people live in the suburbs, and it would be fun watch THEM having to deal with schools with declining enrollment for a change.

And it would mean fewer Caterpillar suits walking around downtown. There are exceptions, but statistically speaking, if you wear a suit to work at Caterpillar, you are probably a humorless drone who is accustomed to doing what you are told and following the company line. The fewer people like that voting in local elections, the better.

We would get our government back. I grew up watching politicians and the media groveling at the feet of Caterpillar. I recall one time, the city refused to give two entrepreneurs the right to sell newspapers and magazines from a downtown kiosk, because word came down that Caterpillar thought it was too messy.

Consider the Peoria Civic Center. Consider RiverPlex. Consider O’Brien Field. Consider the Riverfront Museum. All of these projects are taxpayer supported and have put taxpayers in debt. Caterpillar argues for them, insisting Peoria needs amenities to make employment for attractive your young, well-educated professionals.

If Peoria did not have this burden, we would have enough cops on the street and roads and sidewalks that were not falling apart, if not missing entirely.

I am sick of apologists telling us that we need to be thankful for the money Caterpillar pumps into the economy. By that, the mean the taxes the company rightfully pays, just like everyone else. It also refers to the money earned by Caterpillar workers as the rightful fruit of the labor. This is not money Caterpillar gives to the local economy. It is money Caterpillar tried as hard as possible to keep.

So if Caterpillar wants to throw away its trained Illinois workforce and move somewhere where taxes are a few pennies lower, then good riddance.

I’m sure there is a state somewhere with a third world economy that would give them a special deal on taxes. I’m sure this state has workers willing to work ANY job for a few quarters above minimum wage.

But I rather doubt Caterpillar will find a municipal government as willing to plant its collective lips on Caterpillar’s Big Yellow Butt with quite the same fervor Peoria’s leadership has shown.