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.)

[#3Fan]

You ducked the point....you said you only had AMERICANS up there....that may be true in Springfield or Lansing, but I doubt it.

I meant where I live. I should have been more specific. There are no illegal aliens where I live.

[Vigilantcitizen]

Throughout my comments on this thread, I personally haven't made any derisive comments about anyone.This article attacks quality of life in my homeland and I was refuting it only. BTW More than 2500 men from the Illinois and Michigan regiments died in a battle not far from me in Kennesaw Ga. There is a very nice memorial there for these and the confederate men who died in this battle.

[JD86]

I don't care what you think. That is obvious, because you don't respond to me about what I say...you respond to me about what other people have said. If you review my posts (since you obviously didn't read them the first time) you will find I did not bring up the War Between the States, or slavery, or any opinions about the state of the economy in the North or South before 1860. You were obviously responding to other posters and directed it to me.

So why do you guys constantly make bigoted comments about the North?
Because we don't like people who don't like us. Remember? I don't care what you think.

[LarryLied]

New Mexico impressed me with their business friendly climate too. In Santa Fe the owner of a gas station allowed dealers to sell in her lot (one block off the plaza across and down the street from...ah gee..what is that famous old hotel in downtown SF?). Anways, I went to one office, paid $20 and had both a resale license and a city business license. In Nevade that took me half a day, I had to go to three offices and had to post a $300 bond. California was even worse. Connecticut, forget about it.

(that was an extremely lucative place to sell too, no other state compared)

[Tijeras_Slim]

There are no illegal aliens where I live.

How do you know this?

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Yeah, it's just awful here. Why, I can't even see the street or my nearest neighbor's house, even though it's our son and his wife. And all that awful scenery to look at, it's just terrible. And really, having my youngest play outside and never having to worry about some stranger or traffic, that's really an inconvenience. And those low crime rates, what a bummer. And forgetting to lock my doors, you know, it must be all that fresh air getting to me.

[Vigilantcitizen]

"I live 32 miles west of Atlanta on 10 acres with a 6 year old manufactured home.I have a well with fresh,clean,water. I grow delicious,pesticide-free vegetables.I by fresh meat from people who raise their own pigs,cows, and chickens. Most of the time, I forget to lock my front door at night. Yet, I can drive 30 minutes and be in the city if I so choose.Another plus is I live in Bob Barr's district,with very liberal gun carry laws.(As long as it is not concealed and you notify any police that pull you over.)" Now tell me where I attack or make bigoted comments.

[JD86]

Lincoln had more power in the South due to the rebellion. Another distinction without a difference. Lincoln freed the slaves in the South by Executive Order...since he thought he was the President of the whole United States, he could just as easily have freed the slaves in the North. He didn't because it was not a matter of principle as you Northerners like to claim, it was a matter of economics, for both the North and the South. And it was Lincoln's way of punishing the South.

[Tijeras_Slim]

La Fonda hotel.
Taxes are a bit high though, but what do you expect with an ol' boy democratic legeslature?

[Phantom Lord]

But then deep South Texas is the only part of Texas that Gore carried, so the snow birds feel right at home with their fellow liberals.

Yes or no, Snow Birds is code for Yankees?

You may or may not have directly said that Yankess were the reason Algore carried the southern part of Texas. I think my assesment of the voting situation is pertty accurate.

[#3Fan]

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.

The South wouldn't have been in the Civil War if they would have made an attempt to ramp down slavery instead of vowing to perpetuate it, inflaming the Radical Republicans.

[#3Fan]

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

Nobody's perfect. You learn from mistakes instead of vowing to perpetuate them.

[COB1]

Until we can bring the price back up on their skins, naugas will continue to be a problem.
They have always been a vicious animal!!
I'm hoping that NAFTA will bring us a resurgence in the demand for these varmits!
Yes, LadyX, those that "hide" are the worst kind!

[Vigilantcitizen]

I agree with nobody's perfect. Must leave cuz wife is on her way. Nice coversating with you and everybody else.HAPPY HOLIDAYS GOD BLESS AMERICA

[#3Fan]

The miracle was that the tally sheet had 100 changed to 600.

I think Democrats pulled these dirty tricks all across the country where there weren't enough Republicans to keep an eye on them. Democrats don't believe in honesty.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Roger that. But I still wonder how you know there are no illegal aliens where you live. At least around here they don't wear signs.

[JD86]

Democrats don't believe in honesty.

A point on which we agree.

[#3Fan]

One of the most beautiful places in the world is the northern shore of Lake Michigan. I have never recovered! Gorgeous! And nice, friendly people--everywhere.

Almost no "Southern hospitalitist" talks about anyplace in the North this way. I get it, it's a trick. :^)

[#3Fan]

Because we're tired of bigoted comments about people from dixie.

My point was that freepers don't make rude comments about the South unless provoked. You Southern freepers are constantly being rude against all Northerners. (You don't distinguish.)