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Study: We're the happiest state in the nation
Lincoln Journal Star ^ | Mon April 6, 2009 | Micah Mertes

Posted on 04/09/2009 6:00:40 AM PDT by posterchild

We cheer the reddest. We corn the hardest. And, apparently, we grin the widest.

Because Nebraska is the happiest state in the U.S., a new study says.

The survey — conducted by personal finance Web site MainStreet.com — ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from fiscally happiest to saddest based on a few factors of economic well-being. These included foreclosure numbers, unemployment rates and the ratio of average debt to average annual income.

“It reflects the attitude of this state,” said Gov. Dave Heineman. “We are a positive people with a can-do attitude who are focused on results. If you look at the criterion, (the survey) reflects the common financial sense that we have in this state.

“We didn’t get into the trouble that other states are in because our people, frankly, didn’t make bad financial decisions. We’ve tightened our belts. We just don’t spend money we don’t have.”

(Excerpt) Read more at journalstar.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: alabama; alaska; arizona; arkansas; california; colorado; connecticut; delaware; districtofcolumbia; florida; georgia; hawaii; idaho; illinois; indiana; iowa; kansas; kentucky; louisiana; maine; maryland; massachusetts; michigan; minnesota; mississippi; missouri; montana; nebraska; nevada; newhampshire; newjersey; newmexico; newyork; northcarolina; northdakota; ohio; oklahoma; oregon; pennsylvania; rhodeisland; southcarolina; southdakota; tennessee; texas; utah; vermont; virginia; washington; westvirginia; wisconsin; wyoming
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Based on http://mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/happiness-index-nebraska-nabs-top-spot which uses 3 simple metrics for fiscal soundness. Not exactly a proxy for something as encompassing as 'happiness' but still useful.

While I was fairly happy during the time I lived there I'm not sure if I ever 'corned' anything.

1 posted on 04/09/2009 6:00:40 AM PDT by posterchild
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To: posterchild

Living here since 1981. Have never “corned” anything either. Nebraska was (reported to be) the only state in February to have a reduction in unemployed. If you can take the weather (Saturday we had both blizzard and tornado warnings simultaneiouly a few miles to the west), it is good. Not too many liberals, a bonus!


2 posted on 04/09/2009 6:03:48 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: NEMDF

Not sure if it is something one does to a person, a thing, a bank account, ??? Maybe during my years there I didn’t go as native as I thought:)


3 posted on 04/09/2009 6:06:38 AM PDT by posterchild (Endowed by my Creator with certain unalienable rights.)
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To: NEMDF

simultaneiouly = simultaneously... need more coffee


4 posted on 04/09/2009 6:10:41 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: posterchild
Yes, we are the happiest state because the majority has not asked God to leave. He is welcome Him here. Not that we're perfect, but the God we love is.

I never find our malls empty. Since last Saturday, the malls are full like its Christmas and there are few parking spots to be found.

Almost every fast food restaurants is hiring, as usual. Our church is overflowing every week. Churches I have visited or overflowing. We are a red state. We are not arrogant people, just people who trust God.

5 posted on 04/09/2009 6:14:02 AM PDT by Linda Frances
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To: posterchild

I’ve never “corned” anything either. I sometimes look at the weather we had last weekend as a necessary “evil” to ensure the ‘tards from Kalifornia don’t all move here & ruin “the good life”.


6 posted on 04/09/2009 6:14:09 AM PDT by Darth Dan
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To: Linda Frances

I am in a nearby fairly happy state and I notice similar characteristics.


7 posted on 04/09/2009 6:16:23 AM PDT by posterchild (Endowed by my Creator with certain unalienable rights.)
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To: posterchild

My home state was third.

Surprised Hawaii is fourth considering how expensive it is to live there, but based on the indicators, it appears those who live there can afford it.


8 posted on 04/09/2009 6:18:05 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: Darth Dan

I like the Nebraska weather especially compared to the northeast. It doesn’t have the dreariness that other places do. The sun is often shining even when it is -20 and snowing.

Also, the snow just stays packed on the road and forms a hard surface instead of melting and refreezing each day.


9 posted on 04/09/2009 6:19:10 AM PDT by posterchild (Endowed by my Creator with certain unalienable rights.)
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To: posterchild

Kansas is third, where I lived before. Now I’m in TX. We are 12th in this IIRC, a bit surprised by how high, but has higher foreclosure numbers etc.


10 posted on 04/09/2009 6:20:27 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: posterchild
Perhaps it's Nebraska's natural beauty that makes everyone so happy...


11 posted on 04/09/2009 6:20:57 AM PDT by Right Brother
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To: posterchild

Wisconsin is in the top ten, at least. They must’ve just interviewed the Socialists, because we Conservatives aren’t all that happy these days. (But we’re gaining ground!)


12 posted on 04/09/2009 6:21:22 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: posterchild
Suuure, sure. The secret's out now about y'all corning stuff.

Now y'all play ignorant. We know better. Apparently, 'what gets corned in Nebraska doesn't get spoken about outside of Nebraska.'

:)

13 posted on 04/09/2009 6:22:33 AM PDT by Sax
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To: rwfromkansas

Only 12th! Sorry, you are too sad to post here:)


14 posted on 04/09/2009 6:22:52 AM PDT by posterchild (Endowed by my Creator with certain unalienable rights.)
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To: posterchild
A friend of mine once told me that the best job on any railroad was the one furthest from the main office; maybe this study inadvertently shows some sort of corollary, with Washington DC as the "main office."

Mr. niteowl77

(The same friend had any number of observations about his field of work that were somewhat universal in their application: railroads run great after 4:00 in the afternoon because the biggest pains in the a** will be at home 'til 8:00 in the morning; it isn't hard to run a locomotive, but it takes considerable skill to keep everything behind it in one piece; any lawyer can come in and run a railroad until he has used up everyone else's money...)

15 posted on 04/09/2009 6:24:50 AM PDT by niteowl77 (You wanted him, and now you have got him. I say, "Good day to you," America.)
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To: posterchild

I do miss Kansas a lot. Then again, I am stuck out in Midland’s desert landscape compared to the more beautiful areas like San Antonio, Dallas, Austin etc. I guess that’s what a long weekend if for. :)


16 posted on 04/09/2009 6:25:39 AM PDT by rwfromkansas ("Carve your name on hearts, not marble." - C.H. Spurgeon)
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To: Right Brother
What's that thing in the lower left hand corner?

It looks like what has been described as a "tree" but I wouldn't know having lived my entire life on the prairie nowhere near a river or a stream and never having seen one.

17 posted on 04/09/2009 6:25:52 AM PDT by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Just another Joe

A few years back, I was visiting in Massachusetts, and my host asked about having trees in Nebraska. I said to him, “don’t you get claustrophobic here; you cannot even see the sky!”


18 posted on 04/09/2009 6:28:14 AM PDT by NEMDF
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To: posterchild
50. Florida
And the saddest state in all the land: Oregon.


51?! I'm confused!
I thought there were 57 states...
19 posted on 04/09/2009 6:29:18 AM PDT by astyanax (Had enough Hope and Change yet?)
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To: astyanax

50 states + DC.

SnakeDoc


20 posted on 04/09/2009 6:31:29 AM PDT by SnakeDoctor ("The night is darkest just before the dawn -- but ... the dawn is coming." -- Harvey Dent)
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