NationStates Jolt Archive


Which American State is Most Screwed?

Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:09
The US government may be somewhat dysfunctional, threatening an end to fillibusters and running a major deficit. However, they are not the worst in the US. Not by a longshot.
My state, New York, may be the worst. It has a Democratic Assembly, and a Republican Senate. It has been late to pass a budget for the past twenty years. Last year, it was a hundred days late. Also, while New York City makes up about half of the state's population, it gets almost two thirds of the state's budget (and they don't give back that much).
Or it could be California. With their love for referendums, the government has lost control of the state, as 85% of spending is mandated. Yet they take the blame for every political ill. Still, it takes someone really stupid to be like Gray Davis, with a $35 billion deficit. With the exception of New York, it was bigger than all other state budgets combined.
So what do you think?
North Island
01-05-2005, 03:18
Florida, no question about it.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:19
BTW, these states I did not choose at random. Each one has a problem that is very big. Hawaii, for example, has native Hawaiians trying to gain a separate country. Idaho is onne of the most loony states around. And Florida is, IMO, three states in one: a north that is like the American South, a center that is like an urban hellhole, and a South that has one of America's oldest Latino population.
Lochiel
01-05-2005, 03:21
It's a tough call between Florida (let's revote until we get our way!) and California (nuff said)... I live in Cali, so I know it pretty well, but gosh... Florida is screwed.
New Sans
01-05-2005, 03:22
Why is New Jersey not on this poll?
Eastern Coast America
01-05-2005, 03:23
...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/RainyRaver/elec.jpg

You tell me.
Australus
01-05-2005, 03:24
California has it's problems, that's for sure. But nonetheless, it's a state of about 30 million people and we get a smaller proportion of federal funds for our size, compared to other states. We're essentially a seperate country forced to operate as a U.S. state.
Marrakech II
01-05-2005, 03:24
Washington state. Especially after the Democrats outright stole the governers election. A true theft of my rights as a voter. Hopefully the courts will clear this up.
New Genoa
01-05-2005, 03:25
Well, of course with no valid information, your post seems rather useless and really contains only one line: You tell me. Which is quite erroneous.

However, on the other hand, I wish to substantiate my arguments on this topic with this defining piece of evidence to prove that the state of Missouri is the most screwed. And here it is
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:26
Oh, here's another one. The Washington legislature considered a bill to divide the state into two, with an eastern and western part. It didn't get much support, but it was highly publicized in that state. There are big differences there. The east is agricultural with a few mountain cities, and the west is urban. The east is conservative, the west is liberal. And the east is bone dry, while the west has water. It sounds like a non issue, but one must considier that water disputes are far more frequent out west these days.
Lochiel
01-05-2005, 03:26
...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...yRaver/elec.jpg

You tell me.

*laughs to self* As if. It's not possible to get every voter's IQ. They're not kept on file.
Neo-Anarchists
01-05-2005, 03:27
...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/RainyRaver/elec.jpg

You tell me.
:headbang:
Not that fake image again...
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:29
Another one is Massachussetts. The last governor was a high school drop out that had babies in office. She was so unpopular that they replaced her with someone that may have came from Utah: an ultraconservative Mormon. Then there's the Big Dig.
Jello Biafra
01-05-2005, 03:30
I'd say Idaho, as most of the white supremacists seem to live out there.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:35
I'd say Idaho, as most of the white supremacists seem to live out there.
As I said, they are the loony state. Part of what attracts all these groups is that no gun liscense is needed to buy an M-16. And I went there a few years back. It seems like a.) the couples are younger there, and b.) the families are bigger. Thank God it's not like that here in upstate New York. Then again, I am in a suburban community. On one side is the inner city slums. On the other is white trash. I can find them less than twenty miles from my house in either direction.
CSW
01-05-2005, 03:36
I'm going for texas. Nothing beats having to call the cops to drag legislatures back across state lines for a vote.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 03:37
I'm going for texas. Nothing beats having to call the cops to drag legislatures back across state lines for a vote.
Good point.
Haloman
01-05-2005, 03:57
Well, of course with no valid information, your post seems rather useless and really contains only one line: You tell me. Which is quite erroneous.

However, on the other hand, I wish to substantiate my arguments on this topic with this defining piece of evidence to prove that the state of Missouri is the most screwed. And here it is

Hopefully you're being sarcastic, because I live in Missouri. And it's not screwed. As far as I know.
General of general
01-05-2005, 04:03
Don't you guys have a state that is run by a cult? I think it's utah, but I could be wrong.
Lochiel
01-05-2005, 04:04
Yeah, Utah is basically Mormon.
LazyHippies
01-05-2005, 04:05
None of those. The most screwed state is Mississippi. But the most screwed from the ones on the list is definitely Chicago (Illinois).
Militant Feministia
01-05-2005, 04:09
I dunno about the rest of that image, but I don't doubt Utah's relative position in IQ to the other states. It's really depressing. Our state spends the least amount of money per capita on our students out of all states of the Union. In fact, I think Oregon spends twice as much per capita as we do.

We don't even really have Separation of Church and State here, despite efforts by the officials of both Church and State. Ironic, huh? The idiotic people just don't seem to get it.

Frankly, I want out of this whole freakin' country. It's becoming far too much of a theocracy for my tastes.

Does it ever occur to these Christians that some of us might not be Christian? And thus, don't share their morals?

...

Guess not.
General of general
01-05-2005, 04:12
Yeah, Utah is basically Mormon.

Scary stuff. I read about it a while ago, sex toys are illegal and you can't go to bars without applying for some kind of license first :eek:
If I ever visit the USA, I won't go near there.
Sir Peter the sage
01-05-2005, 04:15
Thank God it's not like that here in upstate New York. Then again, I am in a suburban community. On one side is the inner city slums. On the other is white trash. I can find them less than twenty miles from my house in either direction.

I don't know whether to cry from laughter or sadness here. I'm also an Upstate New Yorker and I know exactly what you're talking about. Course not all urban areas in upstate NY are slums and not all the rural areas are white trash but you can find it if you look for it. Meh, you can find problems anywhere. Including some abandoned main streets in suburbia.

O, and the IQ thing...that has been disproven here ad nauseum and on snopes. I don't know how people keep referencing that as an actual source.
Common Europe
01-05-2005, 04:15
Frankly, I want out of this whole freakin' country. It's becoming far too much of a theocracy for my tastes.

Does it ever occur to these Christians that some of us might not be Christian? And thus, don't share their morals?

...

Guess not.

Then why do we have to learn your view of how we came to be and can't learn our own? Why do we have to take the 10 commandments, 10 common sense rules by the way out of courthouses and schools. Why do we have to take God out of everything when christians founded the country, especually when there's a christian majority?

I'm baptist and I completely believe in seperation of church and state, but the way you say it's a theocracy is a really bad argument considering all the things christians aren't aloud to do anymore.
Salamae
01-05-2005, 04:25
Florida.

Jeb, Jeb, Jeb.

The fact that ex-felons (i.e. black men, who are disproportionally arrested) are never again allowed to vote in the state-- meaning that an entire group of people are disenfranchised.

Florida has screwed up at least one of the past two elections in America, and the monarcy seems to control it pretty tightly. Or is it wrong to call the Bush family a royal family?

All I know is that if Jeb decides to run for president in 2008, he'll be George III to me... and the last time we had a George III, this country rebelled.
Freakstonia
01-05-2005, 04:37
Being a Floridiot I would have to agree that yes we are screwed, but down here we all still piss on Mississippi and Alabama. :D
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 17:06
I don't know whether to cry from laughter or sadness here. I'm also an Upstate New Yorker and I know exactly what you're talking about. Course not all urban areas in upstate NY are slums and not all the rural areas are white trash but you can find it if you look for it. Meh, you can find problems anywhere. Including some abandoned main streets in suburbia.

Laughter, more or less. I guess I'm spoiled rotten, however, because our local government is pretty self sufficient, and the state rarely intervenes.
And where exactly do you live, btw? I live in suburban Rochester.
Eutrusca
01-05-2005, 17:10
The US government may be somewhat dysfunctional, threatening an end to fillibusters and running a major deficit. However, they are not the worst in the US. Not by a longshot.
My state, New York, may be the worst. It has a Democratic Assembly, and a Republican Senate. It has been late to pass a budget for the past twenty years. Last year, it was a hundred days late. Also, while New York City makes up about half of the state's population, it gets almost two thirds of the state's budget (and they don't give back that much).
Or it could be California. With their love for referendums, the government has lost control of the state, as 85% of spending is mandated. Yet they take the blame for every political ill. Still, it takes someone really stupid to be like Gray Davis, with a $35 billion deficit. With the exception of New York, it was bigger than all other state budgets combined.
So what do you think?
California, the land of fruits, nuts and Hollyweirdos, without a doubt! :D
Scoyle
01-05-2005, 17:12
California - Simply because every person I have met from there is a complete retard. You guys come to az and drive 90 in a 35 zone. YOu guys cause ,ore wrecks then we do in our own state.
Mexibainia
01-05-2005, 17:19
I'm going for texas. Nothing beats having to call the cops to drag legislatures back across state lines for a vote.

Dude... you don't know what happened... the Democrats were getting screwed out of seats with the redistricting that had gone on. It was Republican endorsed gerrymandering. It was also an unfair move by the Republicans and I think the Democrats did what they thought was right, even though they got painted as cowards for doing it.
Crapfart
01-05-2005, 17:20
I'm kind of surprised Colorado has no votes yet. Since they passed the so-called Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR), which caps state and local spending on all kinds of social programs (including schools and medical care), they haven't been able to pay for anything. Even the Republicans who supported TABOR think it's been a disaster.

For that matter, what about Wisconsin? Even knowing how bad TABOR has been for Colorado, Republicans in Wisconsin want to make it part of the state constitution :headbang: . And you've got a Democratic governor and Republican-dominated legislature who think they're spending too much money on the University of Wisconsin system, despite the fact that it gets less than 20% of its funding from the state. And now the people are up in arms about a proposal to legalize the shooting :mp5: of feral cats.
Haloman
01-05-2005, 17:23
Florida.

Jeb, Jeb, Jeb.

The fact that ex-felons (i.e. black men, who are disproportionally arrested) are never again allowed to vote in the state-- meaning that an entire group of people are disenfranchised.

Florida has screwed up at least one of the past two elections in America, and the monarcy seems to control it pretty tightly. Or is it wrong to call the Bush family a royal family?

All I know is that if Jeb decides to run for president in 2008, he'll be George III to me... and the last time we had a George III, this country rebelled.

1) Why should ex-felons have the right to vote? Have they ever done anything good for society? No. They have no regard for society, why should society have any regard for them?

2) Jeb Bush is not the reason (not the entire reason) that Florida is screwed. The fact that they screwed over the 2000 election is not why they're screwed. The state can't control their damn sex offenders! Story after story after story comes out of Florida, this girl was raped by this repeat sex offender, this girl was molested by this felon. Remember Jessica Lunsford? Her rapist was a sex offender and didn't even serve a year of his sentence. That's Bullshit. God damn. You'd think the fact that these girls are getting raped would be far more important than whether or not Jeb Bush runs for president.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 17:24
California, the land of fruits, nuts and Hollyweirdos, without a doubt! :D
I sometimes wonder why there aren't more seccessionists in the state.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 17:25
Dude... you don't know what happened... the Democrats were getting screwed out of seats with the redistricting that had gone on. It was Republican endorsed gerrymandering. It was also an unfair move by the Republicans and I think the Democrats did what they thought was right, even though they got painted as cowards for doing it.
It still doesn't mean that there's something wrong with the Texas state government.
Nekone
01-05-2005, 17:29
I voted Hawaii for several reasons.

1) the mentallity of our people. this actually came up in a Democratic Party Fundraiser... "If the Republicans take control of the State Legislature, we will be back working on the Plantations."

2) Everything has to be shipped in. International goods from Japan has to first go past Hawaii to California then shipped to Hawaii on a Flagship... and there is only one Flagship company that can ship to Hawaii.... Mason. (Monopoly anyone?) so add 10 - 30% to the prices.

3) most Mainland offers/contests exclude Hawaii... Remember the First season of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"?

4) Ahhh... our lovely Trask sisters... someone please shoot them! It's not that I am against Hawaiian Solvency... I just hate them. their philosophy of "Get rid of the Tourists" is borderline Pyschotic and since Hawaii's Economy is now Dependant on Tourism.... kinda like shooting yourself in the foot.

5) Hawaiian Solverncy... see Indian Reservations... and they wanna live like they did in the Old Days... Alii's (King) shadow falls on you... you die... no trial, you can try to run, but you will be killed. Oh, and personal Property... what's that. Anyone in the royal family says move out, you move out... don't even think of Packing... Just some of the things the Missionaries put to an end when they came.

6) Gambling... Hawaii doesn't like gambling... which is why Las Vegas is not only the #1 vacation spot for People from Hawaii, so many people move there, it's often referred to by Hawaiians as "Hawaii's Ninth Island"

7) it's a series of Islands... which means, we're pretty much dependant on Air travel to island hop or to ship things.

8) you think Pres Bush steals elections... Guess who counts the votes here... the Lt. Gov. even when she/he is running for Govenor... My friends Late Grandmother keeps getting her Registration Card... Funny, before she died, she registered Republican... after she crossed over, she became Democratic.

9) everyone discounts us. even the election results are posted before our polls close... it's tough being the youngest... :(

10) A major Portion of Hawaii is set to fall into the ocean (don't panic, not for several hundred years or so.) and the Resulting Tidal Wave may wipe out some of our smaler Islands....
Sdaeriji
01-05-2005, 17:29
Another one is Massachussetts. The last governor was a high school drop out that had babies in office. She was so unpopular that they replaced her with someone that may have came from Utah: an ultraconservative Mormon. Then there's the Big Dig.

Mitt Romney is actually from Michigan, not Utah. He was just in Utah because he was managing the Salt Lake City Olympics. Jane Swift was only governor because her predecessor, Paul Cellucci, abandoned the state when President Bush gave him the ambassadorship to Canada (where I hear he's quite unpopular). Mrs. Swift was never really meant to be governor; she was simply chosen to be lieutenant governor to increase the image of Cellucci with female voters. You should watch out, though. There are a lot of rumblings that he might be looking for the 2008 Republican Presidental nomination, because he spends so much time out of Mass and he continually lambasted Kerry during the last election.

The Big Dig. Yeah. I've got nothing for that. Both sides of the coin have fucked that one up pretty badly. $10 billion over budget, I believe. But it actually made the city much nicer.
CSW
01-05-2005, 17:40
Dude... you don't know what happened... the Democrats were getting screwed out of seats with the redistricting that had gone on. It was Republican endorsed gerrymandering. It was also an unfair move by the Republicans and I think the Democrats did what they thought was right, even though they got painted as cowards for doing it.
O.o

Which is why it's messed up...
Mexibainia
01-05-2005, 17:41
It still doesn't mean that there's something wrong with the Texas state government.

Now THAT I'll cop to. Like the 3rd weakest Governor in teh country and one of the WORST Constitutions on record, even though we're in our FIFTH Republic... *sigh* So screwed...
Nekone
01-05-2005, 17:42
Dude... you don't know what happened... the Democrats were getting screwed out of seats with the redistricting that had gone on. It was Republican endorsed gerrymandering. It was also an unfair move by the Republicans and I think the Democrats did what they thought was right, even though they got painted as cowards for doing it.hey... that sounds like what the Dems did in Hawaii to the Republicans...

only it's harder to cross state lines... "How long can you tread water?" :p
Targitia
01-05-2005, 18:42
Having lived here all of my life, I'm going to say that Indiana is the most screwed up state. I swear it's like the Alabama of the Midwest. The only "big city" is Indianapolis, getting stuck behind a tractor is a legitamite excuse for being late to work, forty-nine states drink "soda" (or "Coke" if you live in Georgia) while we Hoosiers drink "pop", the FFA is like a religious cult in the high schools, and the weather here changes by the hour. Seriously, just last week it was in the 80s and then it snowed! I've had to wear both shorts/t-shirt/sandals the same day that I've worn a turtleneck sweater and a winter coat...and this was in June! I'm so moving once I get out of college. By the way, none of us in Indiana actually knows what "Hoosier" means, either.
Eutrusca
01-05-2005, 18:43
I sometimes wonder why there aren't more seccessionists in the state.
I keep hoping the San Andreas fault will open up and the entire thing will slide into the ocean! :D
Eutrusca
01-05-2005, 18:49
BTW ... you should have had an "other" category ( since you can't list all 50 ). I would have been interested in knowing how many people think the South is basically screwed, particularly North Carolina. NC is a place of contrasts, not just geographically but politically and socially as well.
Sdaeriji
01-05-2005, 18:51
BTW ... you should have had an "other" category ( since you can't list all 50 ). I would have been interested in knowing how many people think the South is basically screwed, particularly North Carolina. NC is a place of contrasts, not just geographically but politically and socially as well.

You know, to be honest, when I think of the "South", in the negative sense, North Carolina doesn't come to mind. Usually I think of Mississippi and Alabama. NC seems...I don't know...different.


Plus, I'm a huge Tar Heels fan.
Falhaar
01-05-2005, 18:53
I keep hoping the San Andreas fault will open up and the entire thing will slide into the ocean! Have you by any chance ever heard "Ænema" by Tool? Don't know if it'd appeal to your tastes, but the lyrics pretty much share your sentiment.
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 19:18
I voted Hawaii for several reasons.

1) the mentallity of our people. this actually came up in a Democratic Party Fundraiser... "If the Republicans take control of the State Legislature, we will be back working on the Plantations."

2) Everything has to be shipped in. International goods from Japan has to first go past Hawaii to California then shipped to Hawaii on a Flagship... and there is only one Flagship company that can ship to Hawaii.... Mason. (Monopoly anyone?) so add 10 - 30% to the prices.

3) most Mainland offers/contests exclude Hawaii... Remember the First season of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"?

4) Ahhh... our lovely Trask sisters... someone please shoot them! It's not that I am against Hawaiian Solvency... I just hate them. their philosophy of "Get rid of the Tourists" is borderline Pyschotic and since Hawaii's Economy is now Dependant on Tourism.... kinda like shooting yourself in the foot.

5) Hawaiian Solverncy... see Indian Reservations... and they wanna live like they did in the Old Days... Alii's (King) shadow falls on you... you die... no trial, you can try to run, but you will be killed. Oh, and personal Property... what's that. Anyone in the royal family says move out, you move out... don't even think of Packing... Just some of the things the Missionaries put to an end when they came.

6) Gambling... Hawaii doesn't like gambling... which is why Las Vegas is not only the #1 vacation spot for People from Hawaii, so many people move there, it's often referred to by Hawaiians as "Hawaii's Ninth Island"

7) it's a series of Islands... which means, we're pretty much dependant on Air travel to island hop or to ship things.

8) you think Pres Bush steals elections... Guess who counts the votes here... the Lt. Gov. even when she/he is running for Govenor... My friends Late Grandmother keeps getting her Registration Card... Funny, before she died, she registered Republican... after she crossed over, she became Democratic.

9) everyone discounts us. even the election results are posted before our polls close... it's tough being the youngest... :(

10) A major Portion of Hawaii is set to fall into the ocean (don't panic, not for several hundred years or so.) and the Resulting Tidal Wave may wipe out some of our smaler Islands....

I knew there were problems with the indigeonous Hawaiians and the unfortunate shipping of everything, but I didn't know it was that bad.
But I suppose it can be. Even the climate is screwed. The Big Island has a size comparable to Connecticut. Yet it has deserts, rain forests, grasslands, deciduous forests, even tundra. I know it's because of those volcanoes, but where else will one find so many climates over such a small area?
And btw, I don't discount Hawaii. I vacationed there once, and it was wonderful. Even Honolulu seemed comparable to the cities I have back east, which are quite lovely.
Eutrusca
01-05-2005, 19:25
You know, to be honest, when I think of the "South", in the negative sense, North Carolina doesn't come to mind. Usually I think of Mississippi and Alabama. NC seems...I don't know...different.

Plus, I'm a huge Tar Heels fan.
Ah HA! Gottcha! :D

Yes, NC is "different." We have great support among almost all segments of our population for our institutions of higher learning, and the State is very metropolitan in many areas, at least partially due to the large numbers of military and corporate types who live here. Surprisingly, at least to me, there seems to be very little friction between extreme left and extreme right, both of which we have here. That's how we can wind up with a conservative Senator and a liberal Governor at the same time.

Besides ... it's fun to watch! :D
Nekone
01-05-2005, 19:26
I knew there were problems with the indigeonous Hawaiians and the unfortunate shipping of everything, but I didn't know it was that bad.
But I suppose it can be. Even the climate is screwed. The Big Island has a size comparable to Connecticut. Yet it has deserts, rain forests, grasslands, deciduous forests, even tundra. I know it's because of those volcanoes, but where else will one find so many climates over such a small area?
And btw, I don't discount Hawaii. I vacationed there once, and it was wonderful. Even Honolulu seemed comparable to the cities I have back east, which are quite lovely.I still live here... it is a great place to live. Just expensive. Oh, and the Feeling of Aloha is something to behold.

And actually, With all of it's varied Climates (one film company actually said that Hawaii has all but two types of Envrionments available to them. both being the extremes... Desert and Tundra)

I just didn't live long enough in other places to really compare and (IMHO) see the blemishes.
Keruvalia
01-05-2005, 19:49
I'm going for texas. Nothing beats having to call the cops to drag legislatures back across state lines for a vote.

That was an act of civil disobedience ... something the country was founded on. Redistricting screwed anyone who isn't a white, jesus loving, republican and the response was to leave the state so the vote couldn't be made.

Some people choose not to just stand in line and get butt raped. Texas is just fine.
Keruvalia
01-05-2005, 19:52
It still doesn't mean that there's something wrong with the Texas state government.

Wait until next year when we elect Kinky Friedman governor. A Libertarian Communist and a Jew. Man after my own heart.

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/

I love his campaign slogans: "Why the hell not?" and "How hard could it be?"

Fun!
Mystic Mindinao
01-05-2005, 20:02
Wait until next year when we elect Kinky Friedman governor. A Libertarian Communist and a Jew. Man after my own heart.

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/

I love his campaign slogans: "Why the hell not?" and "How hard could it be?"

Fun!
Wasn't he elected Houston's police chief?
Keruvalia
01-05-2005, 20:06
Wasn't he elected Houston's police chief?

Heh ... no ...

But he is the spiritual leader to 63 dogs, 22 horses, 3 donkeys, 9 pigs, 2 goats, 15 chickens, 11 cats, 2 turkeys, and a rooster named Alfred Hitchcock who crows precisely at noon.
Reticuli
01-05-2005, 20:08
The US government may be somewhat dysfunctional, threatening an end to fillibusters and running a major deficit. However, they are not the worst in the US. Not by a longshot.
My state, New York, may be the worst. It has a Democratic Assembly, and a Republican Senate. It has been late to pass a budget for the past twenty years. Last year, it was a hundred days late. Also, while New York City makes up about half of the state's population, it gets almost two thirds of the state's budget (and they don't give back that much).
Or it could be California. With their love for referendums, the government has lost control of the state, as 85% of spending is mandated. Yet they take the blame for every political ill. Still, it takes someone really stupid to be like Gray Davis, with a $35 billion deficit. With the exception of New York, it was bigger than all other state budgets combined.
So what do you think?

California: Just think about it.

Our school system is horrible, we have a deficit of billions of dollars, and to top it off we've got an Austrian body-builder/action movie star/republican for governor.
DemonWanderer
01-05-2005, 20:14
Hmm
Keruvalia
01-05-2005, 20:15
I'm telling you people ... it's Florida.

There is something seriously wrong with Florida.

Watch the news, America's Most Wanted, Cops, etc .... whenever some mass child rapist, multi-million dollar con artist, woman beater, or serial killer is talked about, they're either from Florida, live in Florida, were last seen in Florida, or got caught by the cops in Florida.

Florida sucks.
Zotona
01-05-2005, 20:37
Which state is the most screwed? I didn't know states had sex lives. Interesting, that. Then again, it seems that Washington is always on top of California... :p
Naturality
01-05-2005, 20:37
Why is Texas beating California? Bacause Dubwa is from Texas? C'mon. To me the top ones are Florida and California. Hollywood and the likes distributed to that belief.. along with all the freakin' gangs.. same as Miami.. Florida!

Ofcourse the most corrupt is which state our Govn't resides in.. Washington D.C.
Mystic Mindinao
02-05-2005, 01:09
California: Just think about it.

Our school system is horrible, we have a deficit of billions of dollars, and to top it off we've got an Austrian body-builder/action movie star/republican for governor.
And I just heard that your mayor in San Diego is resigning over a pension scandal. Of course, TIME magazine named him one of three of the worst mayors in the US. One of them, the mayor of Detroit, is running a city failing under his watch.
Sel Appa
02-05-2005, 01:28
Texas: We're tough, we can handle killing innocent non-whites. OH NO! NOT THE BABY!
Mystic Mindinao
02-05-2005, 01:32
Texas: We're tough, we can handle killing innocent non-whites. OH NO! NOT THE BABY!
That's a sick way to look at things.
Arragoth
02-05-2005, 01:43
Oregon. Our education is horrible, and just about everything we do is wrong.
Common Europe
02-05-2005, 03:17
I think Texas is. It's the only state that you can encounter western, mexican, south western, southern, and northern influences all in one. Somethings bound to happen when you put north and south and western and mexican together.
Neitzsche
02-05-2005, 03:39
You guys come to az and drive 90 in a 35 zone. YOu guys cause ,ore wrecks then we do in our own state.

You guys come to ca and drive 35 in a 70 zone!
Im just mad because Ive almost been in many wrecks because of slow people, and now im assuming they are all from Arizona. :)
Other than that, yeah, California is screwed.
Lacadaemon
02-05-2005, 03:52
Maine. Maine is the most screwed state.

New York is fine. (At least it will be, once lower New York separates itself from the unproductive northern portion).
Potaria
02-05-2005, 04:02
I think Texas is. It's the only state that you can encounter western, mexican, south western, southern, and northern influences all in one. Somethings bound to happen when you put north and south and western and mexican together.

It's a gross combination, yes. Though, I'm happy to say that I got lucky --- I'm of the Northern influence.
Free Soviets
02-05-2005, 04:44
i like this poll. i come from illinois, was supposed to live in hawaii (spent a month there trying to find a place to live), currently live in idaho, have been going to washington pretty much every day since i got here, and am moving to new york in august. yay for first-hand experience.
Free Soviets
02-05-2005, 04:47
I'd say Idaho, as most of the white supremacists seem to live out there.

better here than back where people actually live.
Lacadaemon
02-05-2005, 04:52
i like this poll. i come from illinois, was supposed to live in hawaii (spent a month there trying to find a place to live), currently live in idaho, have been going to washington pretty much every day since i got here, and am moving to new york in august. yay for first-hand experience.


When you come to NY, make sure to live in the nice bit in the south.

That's my tip.
Halloccia
02-05-2005, 04:55
Louisiana

We invented corrupt government. Only thing we have that people know about is great seafood and Mardi Gras which would be great if it lasted more than 1/3 of the year....
Free Soviets
02-05-2005, 05:23
When you come to NY, make sure to live in the nice bit in the south.

That's my tip.

well, i don't have much choice in the matter - i'm moving to albany because the university there is going to pay me to go there.
Selgin
02-05-2005, 05:29
Dude... you don't know what happened... the Democrats were getting screwed out of seats with the redistricting that had gone on. It was Republican endorsed gerrymandering. It was also an unfair move by the Republicans and I think the Democrats did what they thought was right, even though they got painted as cowards for doing it.
The Repubs did nothing that the Dems did not do ten years earlier when they had control. The Texas redistricting in 1991 was called the best Dem-favorable gerrymandering in the country. Guess when turnabout's fair play comes around, the Dems just turn tail and run.
Selgin
02-05-2005, 05:32
I'm kind of surprised Colorado has no votes yet. Since they passed the so-called Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR), which caps state and local spending on all kinds of social programs (including schools and medical care), they haven't been able to pay for anything. Even the Republicans who supported TABOR think it's been a disaster.

For that matter, what about Wisconsin? Even knowing how bad TABOR has been for Colorado, Republicans in Wisconsin want to make it part of the state constitution :headbang: . And you've got a Democratic governor and Republican-dominated legislature who think they're spending too much money on the University of Wisconsin system, despite the fact that it gets less than 20% of its funding from the state. And now the people are up in arms about a proposal to legalize the shooting :mp5: of feral cats.
TABOR caps spending, period. A good thing to keep control of out-of-control government spending. Forces them to be more efficient. And any excess must be returned to the taxpayers. Houston, and I believe TX itself, has been considering that model as well.
Selgin
02-05-2005, 05:37
I think Texas is. It's the only state that you can encounter western, mexican, south western, southern, and northern influences all in one. Somethings bound to happen when you put north and south and western and mexican together.
I thought that America was looked on favorably as the melting pot, because of the many different nationalities of immigrants coming in. I would think that would be a compliment to Texas, not a put-down.
Yubira
02-05-2005, 05:37
Why did two people vote for Illinois?
Living in Chicagoland, I agree we have our shares of corruption, lunacy, and idiocy, but compared to the rest of America?
Please, we are not the most screwed state...
Dempublicents1
02-05-2005, 05:39
Georgia
Latouria
02-05-2005, 05:44
All the red states.

But specifically Utah and the South. And Idaho. I voted for Texas because it was the most screwed up I could find on the list.

Did I just piss off a lot of people?

And I suppose Florida is pretty bad too because they can't count votes
Selgin
02-05-2005, 05:45
All the red states.

But specifically Utah and the South. And Idaho. I voted for Texas because it was the most screwed up I could find on the list.

Did I just piss off a lot of people?
Everyone is entitled to their delusions. :D
Free Soviets
02-05-2005, 05:46
Why did two people vote for Illinois?
Living in Chicagoland, I agree we have our shares of corruption, lunacy, and idiocy, but compared to the rest of America?
Please, we are not the most screwed state...

indeed. though lesser illinois (all that stuff that isn't part of the chicago area) is a bit strange - those people voted for alan keyes.
Lacadaemon
02-05-2005, 05:48
well, i don't have much choice in the matter - i'm moving to albany because the university there is going to pay me to go there.

Albany is weird. There is a huge government plaza there, which is always completely deserted. It's the seventies vision of the future in concrete, made horribly, horribly real. You'll see what I mean when you get there. It's freaky.
Latouria
02-05-2005, 05:51
Paul Cellucci, abandoned the state when President Bush gave him the ambassadorship to Canada (where I hear he's quite unpopular).


You have no idea how unpopular and retarded he looks from here
The Parthians
02-05-2005, 06:00
California, followed by Taxachussets, both states which rob the wealthy of their hard earned money and repress the people with taxes and government control. The best state is Texas.
Azerbaijim
02-05-2005, 06:02
TABOR caps spending, period. A good thing to keep control of out-of-control government spending. Forces them to be more efficient. And any excess must be returned to the taxpayers. Houston, and I believe TX itself, has been considering that model as well.

Tabor eliminated the ability for CO to have a 'rainy day fund' when the recession hit. The resulting loss of 20+% in revenue, without the cooresponding decrease in the demand for services, created a budget nightmare. Someone mentioned WISC schools getting less than 20% of funding from the state, this is great compared to CU-Boulder getting 9%.

As a CU-Boulder student, TABOR and budget cuts have cost me roughly $7000 in increased tuition to meet this shortfall. TABOR was concieved with good intentions, but in times of crisis it is an utter failure which erodes the quality of CO institutions across the board. Texas should avoid this.
Selgin
02-05-2005, 06:07
Tabor eliminated the ability for CO to have a 'rainy day fund' when the recession hit. The resulting loss of 20+% in revenue, without the cooresponding decrease in the demand for services, created a budget nightmare. Someone mentioned WISC schools getting less than 20% of funding from the state, this is great compared to CU-Boulder getting 9%.

As a CU-Boulder student, TABOR and budget cuts have cost me roughly $7000 in increased tuition to meet this shortfall. TABOR was concieved with good intentions, but in times of crisis it is an utter failure which erodes the quality of CO institutions across the board. Texas should avoid this.
As part of the discussion for TABOR here in Texas, there was talk of making it more flexible in times of recession. From what I've read, it seems like a workable way to keep down government spending, and with some flexibility built in, Texas could avoid the problems CO experienced.
Reticuli
02-05-2005, 06:09
And I just heard that your mayor in San Diego is resigning over a pension scandal. Of course, TIME magazine named him one of three of the worst mayors in the US. One of them, the mayor of Detroit, is running a city failing under his watch.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that :eek:
Corona Luminai
02-05-2005, 06:12
I voted California, but the other states do have their problems too though.
Azerbaijim
02-05-2005, 06:42
As part of the discussion for TABOR here in Texas, there was talk of making it more flexible in times of recession. From what I've read, it seems like a workable way to keep down government spending, and with some flexibility built in, Texas could avoid the problems CO experienced.

I would be very careful before adopting a TABOR in Texas, making sure that the best possible formula is implemented. While the effects of TABOR in CO were painful, they would pale in comparison to a failure in Texas or California. CO is much smaller and demographically different than a huge state like Texas, and consequentially, the ramifications of a 20% budget cut are less significant.

In addition, when revision is needed, TABOR is complex and confusing to many, which makes reform through statewide vote almost impossible. We have bipartisan support for Ref. C, endorsed by the newspapers, chambers of commerce, city councils, school boards, sewing circles, middle school choirs, etc...and it is STILL polling at less than 50%.

Get it right the first time, avoid cuts and painful decisions. The UT Football team needs every dollar it can get to beat those Sooners.
Mazalandia
02-05-2005, 19:10
If I am correct about what I heard about california, then it's the most screwed. As I understand it, the californian constitution states that if a proposal is set forward in a certain way and has an X amount of support, then it is enacted whether it is in the best interest of the state or not. As I understand it, even Governor Arnie can not overrule it once it hits that point of support. This is a large part of the deficit, but I'm not sure if I got it exactly right.
Another thing is all those idiots in Malibu trying to stop the floating LPG station of the Californian Coast. You are in an energy crisis, and you are worrying about something you need to look for right on the horizon on a almost perfectly clear day to catch a slight glimpse of? Stupid bastards.
Yubira
02-05-2005, 22:28
indeed. though lesser illinois (all that stuff that isn't part of the chicago area) is a bit strange - those people voted for alan keyes.

Oh, them, well, I really can't speak on their behalf. Frankly, there's not much in common between Northern and Southern Illinois besides the governor, a lot of corn fields, and some three highways connecting us. Frankly, I don't know any Southern Illinoisan city besides Carbondale and the "famous" Cairo. Yeeeah, pretty sad.
Palauu
03-05-2005, 11:57
I'm telling you people ... it's Florida. There is something seriously wrong with Florida. Watch the news, America's Most Wanted, Cops, etc .... whenever some mass child rapist, multi-million dollar con artist, woman beater, or serial killer is talked about, they're either from Florida, live in Florida, were last seen in Florida, or got caught by the cops in Florida.
Florida sucks.Not to mention that it's the state that produced Anita Bryant, the hanging chad and most recently, the Schiavo histrionics.
GameTZ
12-05-2005, 01:53
Scary stuff. I read about it a while ago, sex toys are illegal and you can't go to bars without applying for some kind of license first :eek:
If I ever visit the USA, I won't go near there.

This is all bogus (to one degree or another):

1. Sex toys are not illegal. If you want to get them, they are available through stores or mail order. It's not hard to find them.

2. You don't have to have anything other than a driver's license proving you are over 21 in order to get into a bar. In order to get into one that allows smoking, though, there's a $5 charge that gives you a two week membership in that and many other private clubs. Smoking is banned almost everywhere except private clubs and private homes.

Utah's a great place:

http://www.utah.gov/visiting/index.html


--GameTZ
Cumulo Nimbusland
12-05-2005, 07:13
Washington state. Especially after the Democrats outright stole the governers election. A true theft of my rights as a voter. Hopefully the courts will clear this up.

Ha! Haha!

Living in Oregon, I have heard plenty about the issue in Washington.

When they announced that Rossi (R) won, and it was extremely close, it was obvious that the democrats would contest. However, when they did, Rossi and fellow republicans said "Get over it. Rossi won, stop wasting taxpayers' money to stretch out the election." And that's almost a quote.

I remember thinking at the time: "I bet if they decide Gregoire (D) really won, Rossi will do just the same thing that the democrats are doing now." I didn't really believe it would happen, but when it did I was astonished to find out that I was exactly right.


The election is so close that nobody is ever going to know who actually won, and if you believe you know it means you are letting your bias get in the way of your common sense.

When democrats challenged the election, republicans said give it up. I offer the republicans their own words: give it up. You're wasting taxpayers' money. Don't be a sore loser.



On another note, I picked Texas, but I think I would have picked Utah had it been on the list. The person that said Oregon had a point about the education, but there are plenty of good things here as well, and in my opinion most states are worse off than us.
Lazdixi
12-05-2005, 07:50
You people do know that most of California isn't in any way like Hollywood and Malibu, right? Only the southern part near the coast is. The rest of California is filled with hippies (in some northern parts like Humbolt and along the coast), hicks (in the rural parts of the valley and in the mountains), and yuppies (in the central valley and Bay Area). I've only been south of Santa Cruz maybe three times in my life. We have a diverse number of screwed up people.

Understand, I'm not trying to defend California. We are probably one of the most screwed states in the union.
Texpunditistan
12-05-2005, 08:01
I'm going for texas. Nothing beats having to call the cops to drag legislatures back across state lines for a vote.
Yeah... you definitely got us on that one... but don't forget... it was Democrats that we had to drag back to Austin, kicking and screaming, to actually do the jobs they were elected to do.

I'm surprised that the People's Republic of Oregon isn't on the list as well.
Cumulo Nimbusland
12-05-2005, 08:12
Yeah... you definitely got us on that one... but don't forget... it was Democrats that we had to drag back to Austin, kicking and screaming, to actually do the jobs they were elected to do.

I'm surprised that the People's Republic of Oregon isn't on the list as well.

Wow! I've never heard that one before!

I'm so proud. ;)

I only wish that we would secede from the Union. You don't seem to realise that we are quite divided politically. There are basically two regions in Oregon, the northwest (populated) part of the state, and the rest. The "rest" is conservative. They would never support a "People's Republic of Oregon."

The "northwest" is democratic. They would still likely not support a "People's Republic of Oregon."

But then, I guess that was somewhat of a joke. :)
WarriorsHope
12-05-2005, 08:55
I voted texas. I'm from a quiet farming community in Iowa who currently lives in south Texas. Lol, I voted texas before thinking about it. After all, how hard can it be to get water from Mexico when it was part of the treaties written in the last few years. Well, according to our wonderful governor, he doesn't want to offend mexican officials and it took two years and a breaking of the drought in this area to get them to finally start following a treaty that's been in effect for 20 years.
Stop Banning Me Mods
12-05-2005, 09:31
You guys are fools to pin it on California. They have the most successful economy in the entire country, and are richer by capita than all the other states. Something must be going right.

I'm going to say Texas. Having a flat-tax rate is one of the stupidest ideas I've ever come across. I mean seriously folks, if the money is there, why don't we take it? How else are we supposed to fund this godforsaken country? RICH FUCKS! WE NEED TO TAX THEM TILL THEY COMPLAIN!

Anyway, that's a whole other rant. I think Texas is fucked up because of it's incredible classist attitude. And fast food. Texans are the biggest fatasses in the entire country.
Stop Banning Me Mods
12-05-2005, 09:34
Wow! I've never heard that one before!

I'm so proud. ;)

I only wish that we would secede from the Union. You don't seem to realise that we are quite divided politically. There are basically two regions in Oregon, the northwest (populated) part of the state, and the rest. The "rest" is conservative. They would never support a "People's Republic of Oregon."

The "northwest" is democratic. They would still likely not support a "People's Republic of Oregon."

But then, I guess that was somewhat of a joke. :)



But us leftists aren't asking you. We are going to take this glorious state, and you damn better like it. JK, but seriously, we could pull off some wonderful socialist reforms here, if only Bush would stop fucking with our Assisted Suicide laws and moronic illiterate voters wouldn't vote down essential zoning laws that keep Portland so nice.
Stop Banning Me Mods
12-05-2005, 09:53
Now, from one Portlander to another, is it just me? Or did we suddenly become a hotbed for revolutionary sentiments and leftist radicalism? I'm not complaining in the least bit, but have you noticed that at all?
Eli
12-05-2005, 12:45
Massachusetts

They've been electing a known murderer to the Senate for over 30 years.
Markreich
12-05-2005, 13:28
Connecticut... I don't know how we're not on the list...

* Our tax freedom day (the day at which point you've paid for all taxes) was 9 May.

* Connecticut’s Business Tax Climate Ranks 37th in the nation

* Sales Tax above National Median; Gasoline and Cigarette Taxes among the Highest in the Nation

* $5,407,465,000 in property taxes during fiscal year 2000 (latest year available from the Census Bureau).
That equals $1,588 per capita, which ranks Connecticut 3rd highest in local government property tax collections.

* Per dollar of Federal tax collected in 2002, Connecticut citizens received approximately $0.65 in the way of federal spending.

* On a state-by-state basis, Connecticut has ranked 43rd or lower on Federal spending for 20 years, except for 1985, when it was 37th.

* We can't buy alchohol on Sundays or after 9PM on any other day from stores, and you can't carry it out of bars/restaurants.

* Our Governor was just impeached.

* The mayor of Bridgeport (largest city in the state) was removed for corruption.

* The mayor of Waterbury (5th biggest city) was removed for sleeping with his prostitute's children

* And everyone thinks we're all rich Martha Stewart types. Because of western Fairfield County.

* Average salary for K-12 teachers: $54,300, the highest in the nation. Yet, our test scores for 8th graders show 33% are below grade level in math, 36% in science, and 28% in reading.

* We have no major sports teams.

* Sikorsky, for the first time ever, will not build the new Presidential helicopters.

* ... AND WE STILL HAVEN'T KILLED THAT BASTARD MICHAEL ROSS!
Vaitupu
12-05-2005, 19:06
* ... AND WE STILL HAVEN'T KILLED THAT BASTARD MICHAEL ROSS!
face it...the man will never die. CT is basically 3 states in one...the west (rich) the middle (about national average), and the east (rural and relatively poor).

just for amusement, I'm gonna put this in here to defend CT.
"I'm from Connecticut. Not New York, not Boston, and sure as hell not Jersey. Connecticut. We don't have parkways here, they're highways and as far as I'm concerned, its 84, 91 and thats it. We don't go to bars in highschool. We drive 65 mph in our SUV's to Bridgeport to go to the "packy". Not the liquor store but the package store and we make damn sure we get there before 9. We dont have stupid accents and we lock our doors when we go to New Haven. We love nothing more than watching our Huskies own shit in March. We enjoy a good party in the woods and afterwards we go to our diners because everything else is closed. We don't get bunked, hammered, smashed, or plastered here. No no, we get Cocked and we're damn proud of it. I'm from Connecticut and I fuckin love this place."

And for some interesting comparison, this is how the states rank for per student spending from 2001-02 fall enrollment


DC(13,000) New York (11,000), Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusets, Alaska, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Indiana, Oregon, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, US AVERAGE (7,500), New Hampshire, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington, Texas, Kansas, California, Hawaii, NEbraska, Iowa, South Carolina, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Utah, North Dakota (4,500)

Note: numbers are approximate. I'm going by a graph in my book, so I'm doing my best to estimate exact numbers.
Iztatepopotla
12-05-2005, 19:28
I don't know, but there must be a reason to keep Hawaii so far away from everyone else. And New Mexico has Mexico in it, even if it's new that can't be good. Mmmh, apart from that, maybe Cancun.
Rummania
12-05-2005, 19:33
Oh, here's another one. The Washington legislature considered a bill to divide the state into two, with an eastern and western part. It didn't get much support, but it was highly publicized in that state. There are big differences there. The east is agricultural with a few mountain cities, and the west is urban. The east is conservative, the west is liberal. And the east is bone dry, while the west has water. It sounds like a non issue, but one must considier that water disputes are far more frequent out west these days.

God I hope we split. I live in the West, and it's time we cut those ingrates loose. Western Washington pays the most tax dollars in Washington State, but the most is spent in the East. We essentially pay for their education, roads and precious farm subsidies. Without the West, Eastern Washington would be one of the poorest states in the union. Meanwhile, the bridges and viaduct in Seattle are falling apart and we don't have the money to rebuild them because we're paying thousands of rednecks to not grow wheat. Screw 'em. They can even have Dino Rossi as governor of their third-world backwater.
Dominant Redheads
12-05-2005, 21:04
Massachusetts

They've been electing a known murderer to the Senate for over 30 years.


:D ...one problem among many but California is still worse.
Cumulo Nimbusland
12-05-2005, 21:33
Now, from one Portlander to another, is it just me? Or did we suddenly become a hotbed for revolutionary sentiments and leftist radicalism? I'm not complaining in the least bit, but have you noticed that at all?

Well, sort of. I mean, the city of Portland itself is full of EXTREME lefties (not that I'm complaining ;) ). But, well, we still have to win over Clackamas County, where I live. I mean, Milwaukie is liberal, but it's a big county with a lot of rural area.... and sadly that makes it overall "slightly conservative". Washington County is somewhat liberal...

Heck, I'll just post a map of the blue vs. red by county of the US here:

http://img219.echo.cx/img219/2514/ust4mq.jpg
Pracus
12-05-2005, 21:36
I'm appalled. Why isn't Mississippi on the list? We are arguably the most ignorant, most racist, and poorest state in the union. The only things we excel at are iliteracy and syphallis.
Drunk commies reborn
12-05-2005, 21:38
Why is New Jersey not on this poll?
Because New Jersey kicks ass.
Spamtastica
12-05-2005, 21:40
California has it's problems, that's for sure. But nonetheless, it's a state of about 30 million people and we get a smaller proportion of federal funds for our size, compared to other states. We're essentially a seperate country forced to operate as a U.S. state.

Sounds about right.
Frangland
12-05-2005, 21:47
California, in a land slide
Drunk commies reborn
12-05-2005, 21:50
I'm telling you people ... it's Florida.

There is something seriously wrong with Florida.

Watch the news, America's Most Wanted, Cops, etc .... whenever some mass child rapist, multi-million dollar con artist, woman beater, or serial killer is talked about, they're either from Florida, live in Florida, were last seen in Florida, or got caught by the cops in Florida.

Florida sucks.

The problem with Florida is that the northern part is a redneck area, like Alabama, and the rest is a "second chance state". If you screw up your life anywhere else in the USA you will somehow end up trying to start over in Florida. They've accumulated drunk drivers, drug addicts, and assorted undesirables over the last few decades because of that fact.
Robot ninja pirates
12-05-2005, 21:50
New York City is awesome. I can't say much about the rest of the state as there are more cows than people, but it's the greatest city definately in the country and one of the best in the world. There aren't many places you can hear a half dozen languages simelteneously. I've been to 14 different states, and it can get a lot worse. Of all I've been to, the worst was Kentucky. *shudders*
Frangland
12-05-2005, 21:51
You guys are fools to pin it on California. They have the most successful economy in the entire country, and are richer by capita than all the other states. Something must be going right.

I'm going to say Texas. Having a flat-tax rate is one of the stupidest ideas I've ever come across. I mean seriously folks, if the money is there, why don't we take it? How else are we supposed to fund this godforsaken country? RICH FUCKS! WE NEED TO TAX THEM TILL THEY COMPLAIN!

Anyway, that's a whole other rant. I think Texas is fucked up because of it's incredible classist attitude. And fast food. Texans are the biggest fatasses in the entire country.

nice attitude: punish success

commies...

I am not a proponent of the flat tax either, per se, though i do like the idea that the rich are not taken advantage of to pay for those who are too lazy to support themselves or are too busy having a dozen kids just for the tax breaks.

get this through your head: you cannot raise up the poor by bringing down the rich. Your assignment: find out who said that.
Carnivorous Lickers
12-05-2005, 21:52
Because New Jersey kicks ass.


I'm in NJ. I have things pretty good here. The place I live in is consistently numbered one of the safest cities in the country. We're by the ocean.The schools are good.The people are good.
Dont think Newark or Camden when you think NJ. thise are toilets and every state has them.
Drunk commies reborn
12-05-2005, 21:58
I'm in NJ. I have things pretty good here. The place I live in is consistently numbered one of the safest cities in the country. We're by the ocean.The schools are good.The people are good.
Dont think Newark or Camden when you think NJ. thise are toilets and every state has them.
Absolutely correct. It's a great state that just happens to be home to Camden, the most dangerous city in the USA. Outside areas like that we've got the best of the country and the city.
Carnivorous Lickers
12-05-2005, 22:19
Absolutely correct. It's a great state that just happens to be home to Camden, the most dangerous city in the USA. Outside areas like that we've got the best of the country and the city.


I'm originally from NY-moved to NJ three years ago following a job. I used to come to the New Jersey shore on vacation. I wish I moved here a long time ago. Its a great place to raise kids. My kids are beach bums. Our neighborhood is great, the schools are progressive. The cost of living is a bit high, but I feel I'm getting my money's worth.
Markreich
13-05-2005, 02:16
face it...the man will never die. CT is basically 3 states in one...the west (rich) the middle (about national average), and the east (rural and relatively poor).

just for amusement, I'm gonna put this in here to defend CT.
"I'm from Connecticut. Not New York, not Boston, and sure as hell not Jersey. Connecticut. We don't have parkways here, they're highways and as far as I'm concerned, its 84, 91 and thats it. We don't go to bars in highschool. We drive 65 mph in our SUV's to Bridgeport to go to the "packy". Not the liquor store but the package store and we make damn sure we get there before 9. We dont have stupid accents and we lock our doors when we go to New Haven. We love nothing more than watching our Huskies own shit in March. We enjoy a good party in the woods and afterwards we go to our diners because everything else is closed. We don't get bunked, hammered, smashed, or plastered here. No no, we get Cocked and we're damn proud of it. I'm from Connecticut and I fuckin love this place."

And for some interesting comparison, this is how the states rank for per student spending from 2001-02 fall enrollment

DC(13,000) New York (11,000), Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Massachusets, Alaska, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Indiana, Oregon, Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, US AVERAGE (7,500), New Hampshire, Kentucky, Ohio, Washington, Texas, Kansas, California, Hawaii, NEbraska, Iowa, South Carolina, New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota, Idaho, Nevada, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Utah, North Dakota (4,500)

Note: numbers are approximate. I'm going by a graph in my book, so I'm doing my best to estimate exact numbers.

I can pretty much go with all that, but we do SO have parkways: The Merritt and the Wilbur Cross (route 15!)...
Turkishsquirrel
13-05-2005, 02:28
I live in CA and I say we're screwed. A $35 billion debt is going to take ages to get out of. We're buggered.
12345543211
13-05-2005, 02:37
...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/RainyRaver/elec.jpg

You tell me.

Look, I hate Bush too, but there is no way that Mississippi's avg. IQ is 85. Or that any state has any IQ near that. Its impossible.
The Eagle of Darkness
13-05-2005, 02:39
nice attitude: punish success

commies...

I am not a proponent of the flat tax either, per se, though i do like the idea that the rich are not taken advantage of to pay for those who are too lazy to support themselves or are too busy having a dozen kids just for the tax breaks.

Or those who lost their jobs to 'downsizing' and 'restructuring' and 'streamlining' and whatever other euphamisms show up. Or those whose parents ruined their chances at a good education, so they're stuck on low-wage jobs and don't have the time to get a better education to improve their wage. Or... well, any of those other people who are poor through no fault of their own.

Incidentally, the 'Screw the poor, we're rich, we're keeping our money, they're only poor because they're lazy' attitude is known as 'lassiez-faire'. Over in Britain, we got rid of that concept... let's see... about a hundred years ago.

get this through your head: you cannot raise up the poor by bringing down the rich. Your assignment: find out who said that.

I'd argue that statement, but it doesn't really matter. Forcing them to do without their third car is hardly 'bringing down the rich'. Ensuring that they don't die of preventable diseases/starve to death is, however, 'rais[ing] up the poor' to some extent.

To clarify the beginning of that -- you /can/ raise up the poor by bringing down the rich. You just end up with a new set of poor, is the problem. So while it's technically possible, it's a cycle. We don't like cycles.
Mercaenaria
14-05-2005, 01:14
Jesus jumping Christ on a flaming cross! I can't believe Kansas isn't on this poll? I mean, they can't even teach evolution in their schools, and apparently feel the assinine need to make a farsical court trial out of it. My vote is for Kansas. Bloody jamrolls need to get with the 21st century...
Cumulo Nimbusland
14-05-2005, 02:39
Look, I hate Bush too, but there is no way that Mississippi's avg. IQ is 85. Or that any state has any IQ near that. Its impossible.

Well, and Oregon is the "lowest" of the Kerry IQs...

There is a disclaimer on the bottom that it "should not be taken as fact"

However, I still think it's true that in general, people who vote democratic tend to have a higher IQ than people who vote republican.


THIS IS NOT FLAMEBAIT! Just pointing out that for people who work in rural areas, modern education is not a priority. It's more of a priority to know how to work the farms. And, rural areas constantly vote republican, because they believe in those ideals.

Basically what I'm saying is, it is not the fact that they are republican that makes them have a lower IQ.


Plus, this is just an opinion, so it may be inaccurate.
Vaitupu
14-05-2005, 06:50
I can pretty much go with all that, but we do SO have parkways: The Merritt and the Wilbur Cross (route 15!)...


haha...see, you refer to it as 15!! Yeah, we do have the merritt and wilbur cross, but I really don't think I've refered to them by that...I'm pretty sure its always by the numbers. Oh, and I HATE the merritt. My car has broken down there atleast 6 times. Its cursed, I tell you.


Because New Jersey kicks ass.


it's a toxic waste dump and you know it ;)


and are richer by capita than all the other states.


Actually, CT and NJ are the two richest per capita. CT finally got the title back for having the richest county (Fairfield just beat out Orange CA) Granted, that is entirely because of Western CT and Northern Jersey, but thats okay




By the way, another strike against Connecticut. We have no real beaches, just the disgusting sound. Thanks alot Long Island.
Markreich
14-05-2005, 15:39
haha...see, you refer to it as 15!! Yeah, we do have the merritt and wilbur cross, but I really don't think I've refered to them by that...I'm pretty sure its always by the numbers. Oh, and I HATE the merritt. My car has broken down there atleast 6 times. Its cursed, I tell you.

It's in parenthesis for a reason... it'd be kind of silly for me to call it the Parkway when you just said CT didn't have any. :D
I call it the Merritt when I'm in FFLD county and 15 when I'm in New Haven County. Dunno why... Most people I know call it the Parkway.

I like the Merritt, if for no other reason than at least it has trees so it's not so unbearably bad as being stuck on 95...

By the way, another strike against Connecticut. We have no real beaches, just the disgusting sound. Thanks alot Long Island.

Actually, the CT beaches are good right now (well, compared to the 70s and 80s). Long beach in Stratford is ok, as is Silver Sands in Milford.... Norwalk & Fairfield is actually good!
Uginin-minor
14-05-2005, 16:41
Well, I voted Florida. What kind of state makes laws to push the sex offenders so they can't be near the city schools which are in the real city? They will now have to go to the suburbs where the families live. Good idea.... NOT.

Also, it seems that every month I hear that some 6 year old kid was tasered by the cops cause he was whining or something, and it all comes from this state. The cops there are freaky.

However, if VA was on the list, I may have voted for it instead. Virginia still had a law against fornication up until 2 months ago. They were going to pass a law against wearing your pants so that the top of your underwear was showing too. The national news picked it up and ruined the bill, thank goodness. The southern part of the state is full of rednecks. (Used to live there myself.)

North Carolina isn't fucked up at all.... You just have mega-liberals living next to bible thumping conservatives. And not many fights.
QuentinTarantino
14-05-2005, 16:42
Apperently Alabama is really racist, violent and crime ridden.
Selgin
21-05-2005, 18:17
Well, and Oregon is the "lowest" of the Kerry IQs...

There is a disclaimer on the bottom that it "should not be taken as fact"

However, I still think it's true that in general, people who vote democratic tend to have a higher IQ than people who vote republican.


THIS IS NOT FLAMEBAIT! Just pointing out that for people who work in rural areas, modern education is not a priority. It's more of a priority to know how to work the farms. And, rural areas constantly vote republican, because they believe in those ideals.

Basically what I'm saying is, it is not the fact that they are republican that makes them have a lower IQ.


Plus, this is just an opinion, so it may be inaccurate.
Your opinion is not even logical. IQ is a measure of intelligence, not of education level. An 8-year old could test at a higher IQ than you - that doesn't mean they have the knowledge or education.
Cumulo Nimbusland
21-05-2005, 18:55
Your opinion is not even logical. IQ is a measure of intelligence, not of education level. An 8-year old could test at a higher IQ than you - that doesn't mean they have the knowledge or education.

True and good point. I obviously meant 'amount of education'... educatedness (I know, it's not a word, but hey, if GWB can make them up so can I).

But, here's the kicker, education CAN affect IQ. So, having a better education CAN mean a higher IQ.