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.)

[JD86]

it's a terrible shame that 600,000 died fighting for their homes....
we didn't own slaves...we didn't live in South Carolina...but the Yankees invaded and occupied our city just the same

[#3Fan]

Ain't that true. I don't even like driving east of Livingston County because it gets closer to Detroit. Rural Michigan is great.

I almost went up to Grand Traverse Bay for a week to go to "skipper school". LOL They teach you how to sail a small yacht in shallow Caribbean type waters. A friend of mine didn't think it was a good idea though and we went to a resort instead. Still wish we would've tried it. It would've sucked to get lost and drift to Cuba though. :^)

[Vic40]

Another good reason not to provide financial support to United Way. There are ways to be benevolent without relying on agencies such as this.

[#3Fan]

The only time I think you will hear unhospitable remarks from a true Southerner is when they are goaded....when someone ignorant of history tries to demean us on a regional basis

Read the first 50 posts on this thread again. The comments were made with the knowledge that Northern freepers would be reading them.

[#3Fan]

And why am I not surprised that you quote Sherman? Typical.

Sherman was a great commander who helped end the war as quickly as possible.

[JD86]

Sherman was a great commander who helped end the war as quickly as possible.

Somehow I don't think you would hold that opinion if your family had lived in Georgia.

[#3Fan]

We were solidly Democratic because Lincoln and his Reconstructionists were Republicans.

Yep. And a lot of the socialism we have to live with today was supported by the South.

[#3Fan]

And why can't you take that position with the South. You don't like it, won't move there, so why all the venom?

Read the first 50 posts. My state must be defended.

[#3Fan]

Had the north handled the situation without the use of force, not only would racial relations be better today, but much bloodeshed woud have been spared, and all the nagative afteraffects would never have coem to haunt us.

Nah, countries with big armies dominated the 19th century. Our union had to be preserved.

[Savage Beast]

Oh. Well I'm a self-righteous hypocrit, all right. But I'm not blaming my problems on anybody or anything but my own damn-fool self, and I'm not cultivating any illusions. Self-deception is dangerous.

What I said about Michigan is true.

My brother-in-law--from Georgia--has been married twice. Both wives were from Michigan. I don't know why.

Wife #1 was from Bloomfield Hills. What a beautiful place. Nice wedding.

The UP won my heart though. My wife and I had a long, leisurely trip there one time. It was so beautiful. The birches. The evergreen trees. The strong wind blowing from the lake.

Be thankful!

--The Beast

[#3Fan]

Please continue to stay out of my beautiful Western NC.

Another example of that fine "Southern Hospitality".

[JD86]

My state must be defended. Interesting, I didn't see any remarks about Illinois....but since you take that position, I am sure you understand why I would defend my Sourthern state.

[BrucefromMtVernon]

On "climatically advantaged" I-94 in Saint Paul, Minn. I once did a complete 360-degree turn one snowy evening.

[#3Fan]

Once, we went to bed and when we got up the next morning we realized that we had been sleeping all night with the keys in front doorknob! Glad to say nothing happened. I think we could get by without locking our doors here but I wouldn't want to risk it. No place is immune from murder or theft.

That's true and I live in town and do lock my door.

[Savage Beast]

Yes. I see what you mean. A good place for a beast--a savage one.

[Phantom Lord]

The south has shifted greatly toward voting for a republican for president. Many are still dominated by democrats for local and state elected offices. I will submit NC as an example. The democrats own this state at all levels other than President. Though we did get a republican controled state supreme court for the first time ever following the 2000 elections. People are heavily tending toward republicans in "law and order" elections. This has prompted the democrats to try and have "non partisan" judicial elections. They know a D next to a candidate for Judge is not an advantage. The democrats "soft on crime" reputation is well deserved and earned. In 2000 we elected the first republican to the Council of State since reconstruction. In 1994 we elected a republican controled senate and house for the first time since reconstruction. Though it went back into democrat hands in 96 or 98. Can't remember which at the moment. And their majority is massive.

[JD86]

You really have an inferiority complex about being welcomed don't you? There you go again, jumping on someone else's post. Charlie wasn't talking to you....as if that mattered to you. I wasn't talking to you either when you showed up with your anti-Southern bias comments.

[#3Fan]

I wouldn't want you to put yourself out any.

You said you don't want me down there, I said it doesn't matter to me if you want to be my neighbor or not. The funny thibng is is that I'm sure I'm more conservative, America loyal, and state loyal than 90% of Southerners. Hey, but if you're too good for me, so be it.

[#3Fan]

fighting for their homes.... we didn't own slaves...we didn't live in South Carolina...but the Yankees invaded and occupied our city just the same

And like I said, it's a shame that the war was pursued since the only beneficiaries of a Southern victory would have been a few slaveowners. You're responsible for your mistakes. Your cause should not have been the perpetuation of slavery, but it was and you had to lose for the good of our country, the slaves, and yourselves ultimately.