I feel what you're saying. People should take pride in where they live or get the hell out. What kind of loser lives somewhere that makes them miserable?
(Meekly raising my hand) I am a masochist, what can I say?
NEVER move some place simply because of the money. I made that mistake last year.
Every place has bad points and good points. Maybe in New Jersey we have more than our fair share of both. I don't begrudge anyone having pride in where they live. I have met people who loved places I would never chose to live but I didn't think they were crazy, I just thought that they were proud people and I could respect that even if I disagreed with their opinion.
Realistically, it doesn't matter what other people think about NJ. It is the folks that live here that will make it work or fail. Those who want to fight for their homes and way of life will stay, those that don't wish to do so, are free to leave. Like Washington and his army did 225 years ago, we may lose battles in NJ but we are going to try to win the war. Perhaps, it is a lost cause but I am not ready to tuck tail and leave NJ just yet. Many of my ancestors are buried here, and I love the state too much to give it up without a fight.