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 ...
They didn’t include football as part of the criteria, that would would knock them down a peg or two. j/k
Bingo; all of this type geographic statistic should be on a county basis, as the dense urban populations can always prejudice the results across a state. And counties are generally large enough, but isolated enough, to substantiate a local trend. For instance in Nebraska because of the overall low population density, most of the counties would show a similar lifestyle, except like a poster above says, Lincoln and Omaha.
At The Suntrade Institute we generally use counties, the compiled statistics are generally available, and far more telling.
I would indeed like to see a map of the happiest counties in the USA.
A couple of years ago, I was traveling on I-80 east bound in western Nebraska. The sky got very dark, I turned on my radio for weather report and they named a bunch of counties in Nebraska that were under tornado warnings.
I didn’t know what counties were where but didn’t really need a geography lesson to know I was certainly in one of them.
Ahead of me on the right was a large open area and about 1/2 mile to the right were 3 humongous twisters. A car was pulled over on the shoulder and some moron was standing by it taking pictures, as I drove by, I noticed his California plates.
I sped up to almost 100 miles per hour, as the tornados seemed to be moving from the side directly toward me. Even at that speed, cars were passing me.
I don’t know what happened to the nut taking pictures.
I think it has to do with the "size" of our "guns".
“Where the girls are the fairest,
The boys are the squarest,
Of any old place that you knew.
There is no place like Nebraska,”
One of my favorite songs.......... but I digress.
I will second the posts about my beloved state that were made above. Very conservative (outside of Lincoln and Omaha, although compared to most big blue cities, they would still be considered very conservative) lots of hard working, friendly people. The financial downturn has hit here (my bro in law and sister in law have both been laid off) but overall here in Omaha the economy seems to be doing OK.
I have always wanted to take one of those idiots who say we are running out of room for our population and drop them in the middle of the Sandhills. Nothing but cows and grass for miles and miles. They would be ecstatic to see a tree, let alone another human being.
As far as the “corned” thing, not sure what the he** that means. I’m pretty sure that not one of my friends or relatives here in Huskerland have ever “corned” anyone or anything......
The west is probably much more tornado prone.
Only 3 times during my decade of living in Lincoln did I experience a warning where I had to go into a basement. For one of those I was already in a basement pool hall at the time (anyone remember Chesterfields?)
I have noticed an increasing urban blight in Lincoln. Over the past 10 years or so I notice more empty buildings or lots to the east of downtown. The downtown and haymarket area still seem vibrant though.
From usage it appears that it can be done hard or soft vs frequent or infrequent. Don’t know if it is something one does on the prairie, in the unicameral, in the Niobrara, near carhenge, after last call at O’Rourke’s, in Memorial Stadium...
It is strange that you should say that. I have noticed it too. It really hit me when I was down there last night taking my Mom to dinner. The Near South down by the Capitol is looking pretty rought these days too. I guess thats what happens when you have many consecutive years of a Dem mayor. Still love Lincoln though, lived there from ‘82 to 2001. It really still seems like home.
We're #44!!!
That would explain the not corning anything comment...lol.
We’re Number Two! We’re Number Two! : )
Actually, despite all the recent political idiocy, I’m not surprised Iowa is 2nd. These are folks are hard working, pleasant, straight-forward people. Even the usually dippy kids you get on college campi are pretty decent. It’s been a pleasure living here. And while I complain about the weather, it does keep the crime rate down at least 4 months a year!
How can anyone be happy that close to liberal Iowa?
How can MI be No. 44?
The fattest and widest grin I ever saw was when the fat welfare momma living down the road filled up an edumucasion bus from my local school district with her idiot boyfriends, drove down to the polling station and pressed the lever to raise property taxes on every property owner in the precinct.
She was so proud to steal more money from working people so she could keep her satellite dish going, get more beer for her idiot boyfriends and buy gas for her commie son so he could ride out in his ATV and burgle houses out in the bush while the owners were in town working.
She’d spit shine obuma’s face till it sparkled and swear she discovered that he’s a saint.
What happened?
Did all the unhappy people leave and not come back?
Hey, at least we’re not like those losers in #45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50! ;’) Thanks grellis.
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