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> ...do yourself a favor and visit some reputable cities in the sun belt. On an individual level this might make sense, but if everyone does this, it just ampl

> ...do yourself a favor and visit some reputable cities in the sun belt. On an individual level this might make sense, but if everyone does this, it just amplifies existing problems. In the city you're leaving, inequality would just grow worse, there would be a brain drain, and family support structures would weaken. In the city you're going to, housing costs would go up, and pockets of area would be insulated from the wider reality of economic decline. This would cause areas of the country that strongly vote one way, and the rest of the country would vote the other. Instead of encouraging people to just move, why not encourage people to stay and help those who are experiencing a declining quality of life? It would accomplish more than just leaving to "reputable," aka "rich" cities.

okr 9y ago
Because its like riding a dead horse. I think, there are reasons, why areas go bad, and those reasons will not go away, unless people leave the s* holes. I do not see any obligation to stay, when its bad. So i'd say, its reasonable to go abroad, to abandon home and make something of life, when you have a chance to do it. And later, if you still feel close to your home, you can return and create something that makes sense for you, with confidence and resources. The root causes, why areas went bad, may have died and there might be space and hunger to grow something new. That is at least my colorful narrative. I work with many people from so considered poorer countries. They all miss their homes. But actually no one ever said, they want to go back and build something. :) I think there is no obligation to stay at one place and make it work.
- pm90 9y ago
  Going back is considerably harder than you may think. Once you move to a new place, you create a life for yourself, you form social networks, relationships, habits etc. Leaving all that for the uncertainty of a place which you left because of whatever reason seems like a huge gamble and something I would personally find hard to do. Of course, it depends on ones nature. I have friends who miss and pine for their home country and do end up going back. Others like myself enjoy our new lives and identities in the US and stay.
- RobertoG 9y ago
  Of course that you personally can't change the situation and you should take care of yourself first. Your are powerless to change a full community. The question is, should we do something collectively? In a way, I think, this is precisely what the discussion in this thread is about.
slackingoff2017 9y ago
Do I care about the state more than myself and my family? No. I'm going to do what's best for us. Encouraging people to stay goes against their best interests.
gozur88 9y ago
It makes sense for everyone if people move to where the jobs are. Why would you encourage people to stay in a place they can't thrive?

okr 9y ago

Because its like riding a dead horse. I think, there are reasons, why areas go bad, and those reasons will not go away, unless people leave the s* holes. I do not see any obligation to stay, when its bad. So i'd say, its reasonable to go abroad, to abandon home and make something of life, when you have a chance to do it. And later, if you still feel close to your home, you can return and create something that makes sense for you, with confidence and resources. The root causes, why areas went bad, may have died and there might be space and hunger to grow something new. That is at least my colorful narrative. I work with many people from so considered poorer countries. They all miss their homes. But actually no one ever said, they want to go back and build something. :) I think there is no obligation to stay at one place and make it work.

pm90 9y ago
Going back is considerably harder than you may think. Once you move to a new place, you create a life for yourself, you form social networks, relationships, habits etc. Leaving all that for the uncertainty of a place which you left because of whatever reason seems like a huge gamble and something I would personally find hard to do. Of course, it depends on ones nature. I have friends who miss and pine for their home country and do end up going back. Others like myself enjoy our new lives and identities in the US and stay.
RobertoG 9y ago
Of course that you personally can't change the situation and you should take care of yourself first. Your are powerless to change a full community. The question is, should we do something collectively? In a way, I think, this is precisely what the discussion in this thread is about.

slackingoff2017 9y ago

Do I care about the state more than myself and my family? No. I'm going to do what's best for us. Encouraging people to stay goes against their best interests.

gozur88 9y ago

It makes sense for everyone if people move to where the jobs are. Why would you encourage people to stay in a place they can't thrive?