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The BBC is making a big error (I suspect intentionally) by extrapolating a number of 'miserable' cities, using a given criteria, to "most miserable US state". M

by bugsy 16y ago

The BBC is making a big error (I suspect intentionally) by extrapolating a number of 'miserable' cities, using a given criteria, to "most miserable US state". Many of the most desirable places to live in the world are in California. But there are also some lousy areas there. The central valley in particular is a desert that has miserably hot and sometimes humid weather, plus high unemployment, endemic poverty, and major drug problems as a result of the last two. Some people have advocated breaking California into multiple states, in particular Northern California, Southern California and Central California (the interior part). Central California produces massive amounts of produce but is a relatively unhappy place to be, but not more so than many other similar areas like Idaho.

positr0n 16y ago
Where in Idaho is as unhappy as Central California? I ask because I'm thinking about taking a job in Idaho.
- bugsy 16y ago
  The rural parts. I used Idaho as one of many rural states as an example. Those areas are in bad shape and there is massive meth use, which makes people crazy and violent and quite likely to break into houses and sometimes kill the inhabitants. Had to pick a state so sorry Idaho. I could have said Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota. Family farmer era is over. Farms are owned by Monsanto and ADM slaves. There's been mass-depopulation to the point many towns advertise free lots and sometimes houses if anyone will just move there.
  - positr0n 16y ago
    Thanks for clarifying (and the extra info). I've hardly heard of meth where I'm from, so it was weird driving through the country seeing graphic billboards about it everywhere.
mturmon 16y ago
In addition to the problems you mention, the Central Valley was harder hit by the housing bubble.
TomOfTTB 16y ago
That's always been a popular theory but if you look at the facts it's not really true. Yes things in central California are bad but the worst city in California (and the one cited in the article) is Stockton which is Northern California by any measure (it's further north than San Francisco). Looking at the Forbes list posted in this thread only 2 of the 8 California cities listed as "most miserable" are in Central California (and that list doesn't include the miserable unincorporated areas bordering Mexico where unemployment is in the 30% range) The other part of the article focuses on California's budget problems. Now without getting into an argument over which political philosophy is better there are two political facts that are not in doubt... 1. Central California is very Republican 2. Republicans have not been in control of the state legislature for AT LEAST 30 years So whatever problems we have in the state government can largely be traced back to Northern and Southern California (though the California Republicans do get an honorable mention for mismanaging their local cities and stirring up trouble whenever a 2/3rd majority is needed)
- bugsy 16y ago
  "Central California is very Republican" The voters might be but not the population, most of whom are not US citizens. Only US citizens get to vote. I lived in a couple of places in the central valley and have spent quite a bit of time in the area, so don't try to pull a fast one, I know how it is there. Tons of drugs, despair, organized crime, and the crime gangs pay the police, who are corrupt. A big industry is running prisons, a boom economy for the guards who make a fortune shaking down prisoners to deliver them drugs, phones, and contraband.
  - TomOfTTB 16y ago
    The point I was making was that they had very little control over the state government because they elect republicans. So only the voters are relative to that argument. Beyond that your evidence is all anecdotal. There are certainly cities that are as you describe but there are also a lot of cities with perfectly nice communities (Coalinga, Frazier Park, Clovis and others). I don't think either of us has the statistical evidence to know which scenario is the norm

by bugsy 16y ago

positr0n 16y ago

Where in Idaho is as unhappy as Central California? I ask because I'm thinking about taking a job in Idaho.

bugsy 16y ago
The rural parts. I used Idaho as one of many rural states as an example. Those areas are in bad shape and there is massive meth use, which makes people crazy and violent and quite likely to break into houses and sometimes kill the inhabitants. Had to pick a state so sorry Idaho. I could have said Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota. Family farmer era is over. Farms are owned by Monsanto and ADM slaves. There's been mass-depopulation to the point many towns advertise free lots and sometimes houses if anyone will just move there.
- positr0n 16y ago
  Thanks for clarifying (and the extra info). I've hardly heard of meth where I'm from, so it was weird driving through the country seeing graphic billboards about it everywhere.

mturmon 16y ago

In addition to the problems you mention, the Central Valley was harder hit by the housing bubble.

TomOfTTB 16y ago

That's always been a popular theory but if you look at the facts it's not really true. Yes things in central California are bad but the worst city in California (and the one cited in the article) is Stockton which is Northern California by any measure (it's further north than San Francisco). Looking at the Forbes list posted in this thread only 2 of the 8 California cities listed as "most miserable" are in Central California (and that list doesn't include the miserable unincorporated areas bordering Mexico where unemployment is in the 30% range) The other part of the article focuses on California's budget problems. Now without getting into an argument over which political philosophy is better there are two political facts that are not in doubt... 1. Central California is very Republican 2. Republicans have not been in control of the state legislature for AT LEAST 30 years So whatever problems we have in the state government can largely be traced back to Northern and Southern California (though the California Republicans do get an honorable mention for mismanaging their local cities and stirring up trouble whenever a 2/3rd majority is needed)

bugsy 16y ago
"Central California is very Republican" The voters might be but not the population, most of whom are not US citizens. Only US citizens get to vote. I lived in a couple of places in the central valley and have spent quite a bit of time in the area, so don't try to pull a fast one, I know how it is there. Tons of drugs, despair, organized crime, and the crime gangs pay the police, who are corrupt. A big industry is running prisons, a boom economy for the guards who make a fortune shaking down prisoners to deliver them drugs, phones, and contraband.
- TomOfTTB 16y ago
  The point I was making was that they had very little control over the state government because they elect republicans. So only the voters are relative to that argument. Beyond that your evidence is all anecdotal. There are certainly cities that are as you describe but there are also a lot of cities with perfectly nice communities (Coalinga, Frazier Park, Clovis and others). I don't think either of us has the statistical evidence to know which scenario is the norm