Posted on 01/10/2005 6:34:41 AM PST by Theodore R.
Magazine takes shot at Laredo
By Adriana Arce Times staff writer
Laredo took a blow last year when it was rated the worst city to live in. This year its being called one of the dumbest.
"Mens Health" magazine recently released an article, "Is Your City Stupid?" ranking cities based on the number of bachelor degrees per capita, number of universities and inhabitants SAT scores.
The researchers also considered state creativity scores assessed by the Catalytix and the Richard Florida Creativity Group and the number of Nobel Prize winners for physics and medicine born within city limits.
Among 101 cities throughout the United States Laredo took 99th place, scoring a big "F."
Corpus Christi followed at number 100 and Fort Wayne, Indiana took 101st - last place - being declared the stupidest city.
How many people are reported to have a bachelors degree in Webb County?
According to the U.S. Census only 13.9 percent.
"I strongly disagree," said Representative Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, about his hometown. "Laredo is not stupid."
Cuellar contends many factors would affect the results of Laredos ranking, which come with the territory of a border town.
The magazine ranked El Paso at 96, at the top of the "F" ranking.
He said a number of Mexican college graduates would not be considered by the magazines state research, and emphasized the issue of economics.
The son of migrant worker parents said, "Laredo consists of many highly motivated and intelligent individuals who were not able to get a college education because they were forced to go work in places like the fields."
However, Cuellar notes that Laredo is on the right path with establishments like Texas A&M International, a four year university; University of Texas Health Science Center and new funding to establish Laredo Community Colleges second campus.
He said scholarship programs he has garnered and a recently implemented law requiring higher graduation standards for this years high school freshman will contribute to our citys education.
"Also, other communities which have excelled in this area have had higher institutions of education for years, up to 100 years," he said, such as Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was recognized as the valedictorian of the article, and Boston, Massachusetts as the salutatorian.
While Mayor Betty Flores was not available for comment, TAMIU President Dr. Ray Keck III contributed to Cuellars statements of Laredo being at a disadvantage for many years.
"We know this part of Texas has long been underserved, but thanks to the vision of our Legislature and many partners we have an exquisite university that enables us to do what we were created to do, change the face of South Texas," Keck said.
He recognized LCC, Laredo Independent School District and United Independent School District as partners who share TAMIUs mission in accelerated growth and development.
In March 2004 a USA Today review ranked Laredo at the bottom of the metropolitan pool for reasons of lacking intellectual stimulation, poverty, heat and a high crime rate.
Keck commended the city for building an impressive library, the county for revitalizing downtown and groups like the Webb County Heritage Foundation for guarding our culture and history.
"Is our city stupid? No," he assured. "We have obstacles, but with a rich 250-year-old history of challenges and triumphs, we have a knack for helping our dreams come true."
(Times staff writer Adriana Arce can be reached at 728-2582 or by e-mail aarce@lmtonline.com)
01/10/05
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Just saying the above sentence is like asking the question, "When did you STOP beating your wife?"
What a dumb set of criteria for measuring intelligence. All they are measuring is education, which has a coincidental relationship with intelligence at best. In fact, I think education makes you stupid. Work and experience make you smart.
I really thought Washington DC would have beat them all out. I guess degrees in BS moved them up a few notches.
Laredo would have ranked right there in 1874, so what's new?
So9
I used to read MH for a year then dropped the subscription. The basic premise of the magazine was how to conive your way through life. Did not matter if that ment bedding women, getting a job or anything else. It was a me me me book and screw everybody else.
Bunch of metrosexual crap.
There are probably more lawyers etc living in Washington, per capita, than anywhere else in the world.
Recalling "Laredo Juror Busted for Seeking Gift Card from Wal-Mart" which was posted here just a few days ago, I'm not surprised.
I've lived in several incredibly stupid cities, and all were run by demo-rats.
Now I live on the edge of nowhere at the end of a dead-end road. Guess that gets me off the radar screen of pollsters and other busy-body socialists. Good!
Is intellect measured by how successful the shysters are?
How could the author of this piece of dreck know?
He probably spent his assignment time across the border at one of the "boy's towns".
With all due respect, Congressman Cuellar, I would disagree with you. After all, the folks in Laredo did elect YOU, didn't they? : )
When a so-called reporter equates a college degree with intelligence that reporter is clueless as to what defines intelligence.
Anybody who looks at the liberal academic world can readily see common sense plays a far second place to liberal ideology.
The men who founded this country had far more common sense than can be found in today's liberal arts colleges, and they had no sheepskins to hang on their walls.
Who says Laredo is anti-intellectual just because it doesn't have a book store? Comic book sales from cigarette shops are up 20% over 2000.
Would that be from purchasing the comic book that the Mexican government put out teaching people how to illegally immigrate to the U.S.? : )
LOL! What a bunch of intellectual wankers!
The question should be: "Is Your Magazine Pointless?"
Well, they were dumb enough to elect a demonrat...
It's all that education they got. Screwed em up pretty good, I bet.
The Nobel Prize criterion is particularly dumb. There are 1-3 winners in each category each year from the whole world, so the overwhelming majority of towns and cities in the U.S. have never produced a single Nobel laureate in either category.
Glad to hear Laredo wasn't ranked last. "Jeep Laredo" still sounds a lot better to me than "Jeep Fort Wayne."
I get the Calefornia mud slide story when I click on the Laredo, TX, Morning Times link, TR.
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