I went to lunch today with an activist friend in DuPage County. On the way there, I noted two things. First, I passed three "Don't tread on me" flags, the symbol adopted by many "Teapartiers". Secondly, the strip malls that used to hold small stores had been largely reduced to "CASH FOR GOLD!", "PAYDAY LOANS!" and pawn shops.
I work in a public library in DuPage County. It's free, warm in winter (and this winter in Chicago has been brutal), cool in summer, and we serve free coffee. We have free internet access. It's a good place to come if you are unemployed. And they do come. In droves.