NORTHERN NASTY AND NICE (United Way ranks quality of life: Southern states are the worst)

Providence Journal ^ | 11/22/01 | Robert Whitcomb

[LarryLied]

Despite the "friendly" Sunbelt's purported ease and opportunity, the "unfriendly" North continues by far to have the best quality of life.

The United Way now reports that Minnesota (of which I am genetically half a native, which may undermine the good data here) is the best state, in economic well-being, education, health, civic engagement, safety and the environment. Having visited this Midwest Finland, I am not surprised. And I find New Hampshire's Number 2 rating apt, too, having inhabited that rocky realm of rectitude, responsibility and (usually) reasonableness for four years.

Ditto the others in the top 10: Connecticut (even with Hartford!); Massachusetts; Vermont; Maine; Wisconsin; Iowa; New Jersey, and, yes, even Rhode Island, hardly a state at all!

Meanwhile, the bottom 10 are all in the Sunbelt, the worst New Mexico, and then Louisiana.

Maybe it's mostly the weather. The North's bracing and wildly variable climate energizes people and encourages planning and careful citizenship. And it's probably better for you, because cold is bad for bugs. Even the post-war wave of air-conditioning hasn't let previously soporific Southern schools, offices and factories overcome the North's paradoxical climatic advantage.

And Northerners tend to be less mobile, and so less likely to slide into that appalling anomie in which the American Dream is pursued by folks wandering the roads in search of pots of gold that turn out to be tin, and leaving no forwarding address. But then, it is easier to wander about where the weather is warm. Thus the pervasive trailer parks in the Sunbelt, and enough social problems to make you ask if the Sunbelt's growing national power is a good thing. (Don't show this to my Tennessee relatives.)

[Savage Beast]

In Charleston, I met a man who had moved there from the Mid-West a few years earlier. He had had no previous connection with Charleston. He was like a duck in water. He loved it, and it love him. He moved in the inner circles. He was indistinguishable from the natives until he began to explain. And this in Charleston.

Don't you love it when stereotypes fail and paradigms collapse!?!!

[#3Fan]

They don't like California people moving there and immediately trying to change it into California--rules, lawsuits, oppressive laws, et al.--"Californication".

Now that I can see.

[JD86]

I was responding to his specific attitude of I WILL do what I want period.....

[Vigilantcitizen]

I have enjoyed meeting the different cultures of people moving to my hometown of Atlanta and have befriended a few.There are good and bad people everywhere,of all races and religions, and as soon as people figure that out the world will be a better place.

[JD86]

The map is not the territory.

[LarryLied]

It is much worse out here in this frozen wasteland of Telluride.

Spent July 4, 1963 in Telluride (I was 12). Wow boy. Somebody blew up part of a mountain with dynamite, then when we were all on a field watching the fireworks all of a sudden we saw those setting them off run down the hillside screaming at everyone to scatter. Somebody dropped at match or something in the box holding the skyrockets. Whizzz! Bang! Rockets were exploding around us as we ran. After that the greased pig contest was a left down.

[#3Fan]

You obviously don't know what wage slavery was. No they couldn't quit their jobs. I do mean that literally.

I've lived in Illinois all my life and I've never heard stories here of anyone being an unpaid slave to a company and not being allowed to leave. Why don't you tell me all about it.

[JD86]

there were more Illinoisians fighting and killed against the Confederacy in the Civil war than any other Northern State

No bigoted response....and I won't argue with your statistic because I don't know.....
I will say though, since to the best of my recollection there was no fighting in Illinois...
they wouldn't have been killed if they hadn't invaded the South.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Ya know, the more we discuss slavery, let's not forget what OUR COUNTRY did to the native indians.To me , just as shameful.

[Phantom Lord]

The major differences between people is clearly more along big city/small town lines than North/South.

I didn't grow up in "rural" NY, but I didnt grow up in NYC or anywhere near it. But just a few miles from my home was "farm country". One of my college roommates grew up on a cattle farm in Darien NY. Man, loved when he went home to help with the slaughter. Would bring back a bunch of meat for us. Great stuff.

I dont raise and kill my own pigs, though I wouldn't have a problem doing it if I had the ability and knowledge. I buy my pigs already dressed. Had never even heard of a Pig Pickin before I moved here. Loved 'em and taught myself. Whenever relatives from NY come down to visit I insist that we have one at my house.

[JD86]

Brer Rabbit say ya'll woudin' like it down heah in dis briarpatch. (he he he he)

OUTSTANDING!!

[LarryLied]

if you are just looking to have a fun flame thread, all rightee now why you dumb ole yankee cretin, why doncha remove yore member from your dogs rear end

I agree I am a cretin but I am not hopeless. It did take me my first 27 years of life to conclude Connectiucut was not the place to be but I did finally move out (to NV first, then CA, then AZ, then FL where I am fat and happy and where taxes are so low I don't even think about them much least have to save money to pay them).

[StockAyatollah]

Strange that the media elite have not bothered to recount New Mexico votes or even mention this scandal while they were doing whatever they could to conjure Gore voted in FL.

[#3Fan]

Only because of 600 "miracle" votes in Dona Ana county.

Close enough to call it "Gore country".

[Savage Beast]

I agree wholeheartedly.

When the Yankees move to the South and behave, you can't tell them from everyone else.

It's the same everywhere.

Once in Paris--in the Ritz Bar--I watched a loud, obnoxious American woman, complaining about...well, it doesn't matter... But I kinda wanted to crawl under the table.

Then I realized that she had nothing to do with me--and climbed back out from under the table.

As I chatted with the waiter, in a soft voice--in French--with a good accent, if I do say so myself--we agreed that the Americans who stand out are the only ones you notice. Everybody else just blends in, and you don't know they're there. Everybody thinks that the loud, obnoxious Americans are the only Americans, because the others are invisible.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Recounts only apply to where your guy lost. Plus we've got less electoral votes than a democrat has brain cells.

[LarryLied]

even New Mexico is gonna get "gentrified", I mean Socorro county now has an ordinance that you can't hook two single wides together with plywood.

Can you still build houses in New Mexico out of old tires? I liked the progressive zoning laws you had (or have) which allow for experimentation.

[Savage Beast]

You know, you're right. Let me know. A moveable outhouse could be particularly useful.

[JD86]

We are way more similar than different if you make an honest assessment of it, and not get hung up on the jingoism du juor aspects of life.

Thanks for saying that way better than I did. If 9-11 taught us nothing else...it should be that we are all AMERICANS....
not hypenated...whatevers.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Tires, hay bales, bottles, tin cans, you name it.
But in the more urban areas, we have the usual "homeowners association facists" like everywhere else.