The state is facing an alarming budget crisis as well as a crisis of confidence in its leadership. But former Gov. Jim Edgar believes it is time the people of Illinois stop putting all the blame on the government and start looking inward.

"It's all our fault," Edgar said, adding that people have an impact on the political process by choosing better leaders. "Rod Blagojevich got re-elected, and he didn't do anything different his second term."

Edgar, 62, said it was widely publicized that Blagojevich, who was indicted on corruption charges Thursday, was involved in unethical schemes during his first term.

"The last governor was the worst I've ever seen," said Edgar, the most recent unindicted former governor, who served two terms from 1991 to 1999. "He had no sense of right or wrong."

A fellow at the University of Illinois government and public affairs institute since 1999, Edgar is planning to speak on the state's future Monday night at Millikin University.

Edgar, who took office with the state $1 billion in debt and left with a $1.5 billion surplus, said he can not think of a more difficult time to be governor than today. The state's budget deficit now is at about $11.5 billion.

"I give (Gov.) Pat Quinn a lot credit for having the courage to propose a budget that is unpopular, with tax increases," Edgar said. "We have been in denial for the past 10 years. Overall, I give him a lot of credit for telling people what they don't want to hear but what they need to hear."

Edgar said he does not believe that passing campaign finance and other ethics reform laws will solve the state's problems. He blames the state's crises on poor leadership, which partly results from a lack of encouragement for good people to run for office.

"Politics in Illinois is a blood sport," Edgar said. "You get beaten up. It's not an easy thing. We've got to convince people they can't stay on the sidelines."

Edgar, a Republican, believes the state needs to have two strong, healthy political parties to restore balance to the government and keep officeholders accountable.

"We have to make sure both parties have good candidates, so the public has a choice," Edgar said. "One of the dilemmas we've had in recent years, we haven't had a strong two-party system. The Democratic Party has to be held responsible for its second term."