I hate my state. Give me advice.
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From: Milwaukee
x2! 5.5% sales tax, much lower cost of living than our neighbors to the south in the Chicago political machine... What is Cook County, IL now? 10, 11, 12%?
Actually, my vote would be NV, TN, or any other state with no state income tax.
Actually, my vote would be NV, TN, or any other state with no state income tax.
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From: NC
Never take a Baptist fishing with you - he'll drink all your beer.
Take two - neither one will drink a single drop...
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From: Whitehorse, Yukon
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From: Joplin MO
Any area you are contemplating moving to - you need to research the cost of living AND the average wages for your chosen profession. I think you will find that they follow each other fairly closely.
The cost of living here in Joplin is about 25 to 30 % lower than the national average - but so are the wages. Socially, you may not care for it that much either - yes, it's predominately conservative Republican, but to someone accustomed to wacko liberals, it may be too far the other way for you. Can you deal with the Bible Belt? Can you deal with Walmart as your primary shopping outlet? I have to drive 75 miles to Springfield to buy a good suit, that's the closest Men's Wearhouse. To shop at true big city stores, I have to go to Kansas City, which is 150 miles.
The cost of living here in Joplin is about 25 to 30 % lower than the national average - but so are the wages. Socially, you may not care for it that much either - yes, it's predominately conservative Republican, but to someone accustomed to wacko liberals, it may be too far the other way for you. Can you deal with the Bible Belt? Can you deal with Walmart as your primary shopping outlet? I have to drive 75 miles to Springfield to buy a good suit, that's the closest Men's Wearhouse. To shop at true big city stores, I have to go to Kansas City, which is 150 miles.
Last edited by glc; Nov 5, 2010 at 10:26 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: New Hampshire
Well I am considered more of a Liberal on here but personally I would say the majority of the members here are much more right of center than most forums. Take my advice how you wish.
I don't know if it makes a huge difference whether a politician is Republican or Democrat. I think they both speak out of both sides of their mouth. I trust little of what either side says; however, I don't want to write government off either. While it is seemingly inefficient, I do feel it serves as a balance to total chaos. I think given the opportunity that business can and would be as corrupt as government. We have the means to vote government out and we have less control over businesses.
Living in Southern California, you are in one of the most liberal areas of one of the most liberal states. Obviously you don't support their goals and that is fine. We all can believe how we wish in this country and have the right to express out opinions. I am a strong backer of that and would defend it to the Nth degree, even if the message the person was saying made my blood boil. Freedom isn't always easy!
As far as signs being in Spanish, that is kind of a reality anywhere there is a Latino population. If they are here legally, they have the same opportunities that we all do to make a living. If they feel their business is better off being signed in Spanish, it's their right to do so. We don't have a national language, so depending on where you go, you are likely to see signs in many languages.
With regards to housing, California is about at the top of the market in prices. Even with the housing crash, the cost of a home their is going to be much more than say in the deep south or rust belt. You have favorable weather and the Pacific Ocean within reach so it costs more. You also have earthquakes which is a reason I choose not to live there
That said, you have to be the one to make the decision where you are happiest. Moving from LA, you are leaving your friends and family behind. You can always call and visit though. You may make a whole new set of friends as well, who knows? You may be wildly successful or fall on your face. It's hard to say.
Myself personally, while I can understand your frustration, I don't think you are going to find any major city significantly different than LA. You will find that a greater concentration of minorities are in the inner cities, you will find major cities tend to be more Liberal than rural areas. If you plan to be a lawyer, this is something to consider. Attorneys in large metropolitan areas tend to make more than rural attorneys.
I have traveled a quite a bit in my life and definitely states like Texas and the deep south are going to be much more conservative. Texas will still have a large Latino population so you won't escape that. Colorado is a beautiful state but again cities like Denver are not going to be strong conservative bastions. The population is about a third Hispanic as well. Taxes are going to be high everywhere, with sales taxes ranging from 6 - 10%. I know in Chicago it is 10%+ and the suburbs are a little lower.
In the end you have to choose your path. This country was founded on the principle of being a "melting pot" and you will be hard pressed to find a metropolitan area that is not very diverse.
All I can say is good luck!
I don't know if it makes a huge difference whether a politician is Republican or Democrat. I think they both speak out of both sides of their mouth. I trust little of what either side says; however, I don't want to write government off either. While it is seemingly inefficient, I do feel it serves as a balance to total chaos. I think given the opportunity that business can and would be as corrupt as government. We have the means to vote government out and we have less control over businesses.
Living in Southern California, you are in one of the most liberal areas of one of the most liberal states. Obviously you don't support their goals and that is fine. We all can believe how we wish in this country and have the right to express out opinions. I am a strong backer of that and would defend it to the Nth degree, even if the message the person was saying made my blood boil. Freedom isn't always easy!
As far as signs being in Spanish, that is kind of a reality anywhere there is a Latino population. If they are here legally, they have the same opportunities that we all do to make a living. If they feel their business is better off being signed in Spanish, it's their right to do so. We don't have a national language, so depending on where you go, you are likely to see signs in many languages.
With regards to housing, California is about at the top of the market in prices. Even with the housing crash, the cost of a home their is going to be much more than say in the deep south or rust belt. You have favorable weather and the Pacific Ocean within reach so it costs more. You also have earthquakes which is a reason I choose not to live there
That said, you have to be the one to make the decision where you are happiest. Moving from LA, you are leaving your friends and family behind. You can always call and visit though. You may make a whole new set of friends as well, who knows? You may be wildly successful or fall on your face. It's hard to say.
Myself personally, while I can understand your frustration, I don't think you are going to find any major city significantly different than LA. You will find that a greater concentration of minorities are in the inner cities, you will find major cities tend to be more Liberal than rural areas. If you plan to be a lawyer, this is something to consider. Attorneys in large metropolitan areas tend to make more than rural attorneys.
I have traveled a quite a bit in my life and definitely states like Texas and the deep south are going to be much more conservative. Texas will still have a large Latino population so you won't escape that. Colorado is a beautiful state but again cities like Denver are not going to be strong conservative bastions. The population is about a third Hispanic as well. Taxes are going to be high everywhere, with sales taxes ranging from 6 - 10%. I know in Chicago it is 10%+ and the suburbs are a little lower.
In the end you have to choose your path. This country was founded on the principle of being a "melting pot" and you will be hard pressed to find a metropolitan area that is not very diverse.
All I can say is good luck!
Well said
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From: Chicago
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From: Houston, TX
I grew up in Minnesota and never dreamed I would ever leave. As fate would have it, I jumped on the "corporate train" and have been relocated around the country several times in my career. I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT IS THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED TO ME!!!
While Minnesota will always be "home", the experiences I have had living in different parts of the country are things I would never trade. Every place I have lived has had it's good points and it's bad points, but the experience of being immersed in different cultures and climates around the country has been one of the best things about my life.
Seriously, in my opinion I think you really short-change yourself in life if you don't move around a bit and experience what it is like to live in other places from where you grew up!
And when the place you're escaping from is California, it's even better, as I can say with absolute sincerity that California is one of the few places I have been where I would NEVER want to live......
While Minnesota will always be "home", the experiences I have had living in different parts of the country are things I would never trade. Every place I have lived has had it's good points and it's bad points, but the experience of being immersed in different cultures and climates around the country has been one of the best things about my life.
Seriously, in my opinion I think you really short-change yourself in life if you don't move around a bit and experience what it is like to live in other places from where you grew up!
And when the place you're escaping from is California, it's even better, as I can say with absolute sincerity that California is one of the few places I have been where I would NEVER want to live......
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 140
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From: Phoenix, AZ
I know exactly how you feel about So Cal, I have many friends that moved from that area to the Phoenix area over the past 20 some years, and have never looked back.
The only problems I have with Phoenix are the illegal aliens from the south have started to take over some areas of this town; and the summers, where the thermometer never gets below 90 degrees, even at night. The general political climate here is somewhat conservative (this was the hometown of Barry Goldwater, Mr. Conservative himself), and continues to be rather conservative.
Home prices here are in the tank, and may not climb back out for years, if not a decade to come. For example, the condo I live in sold to the previous owner in 2005 for $140,000. I bought the same condo in 2009, with cash, as a REO from my bank, for $28,000
. That price is 20% of what it was in the boom, and right now fair market value for this condo would be in the $40,000 to $50,000 range. One condo for sale in this complex is asking $60,000, but has been on the market for 3 months with NO offers yet.
I have been looking myself into moving to a more habitable climate, something more towards Albuquerque, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, Utah, or the "Magic Valley area" or Idaho, but the more I look into that, the more I like what I have here. It may be hot in the summer, but it beats shoveling snow in the winter (I lived in Montana for a winter, shoveling snow was your winter exercise). Right now, the Magic Valley area of Idaho is looking pretty good.
The only problems I have with Phoenix are the illegal aliens from the south have started to take over some areas of this town; and the summers, where the thermometer never gets below 90 degrees, even at night. The general political climate here is somewhat conservative (this was the hometown of Barry Goldwater, Mr. Conservative himself), and continues to be rather conservative.
Home prices here are in the tank, and may not climb back out for years, if not a decade to come. For example, the condo I live in sold to the previous owner in 2005 for $140,000. I bought the same condo in 2009, with cash, as a REO from my bank, for $28,000
. That price is 20% of what it was in the boom, and right now fair market value for this condo would be in the $40,000 to $50,000 range. One condo for sale in this complex is asking $60,000, but has been on the market for 3 months with NO offers yet.I have been looking myself into moving to a more habitable climate, something more towards Albuquerque, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, Utah, or the "Magic Valley area" or Idaho, but the more I look into that, the more I like what I have here. It may be hot in the summer, but it beats shoveling snow in the winter (I lived in Montana for a winter, shoveling snow was your winter exercise). Right now, the Magic Valley area of Idaho is looking pretty good.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Quit yer whining.
You could move to cold Canada wheere everything you buy is subject to 13% tax, and I mean everything.
Pay through the *** for electricity & natural gas, the highest cell phone rates in the world, and then add 13% tax on top of it.
Here's some bills laying around my desk, let's have a look.
Property tax on my 1700 sf house....$4,118 per year
Insurance for my 3 cars and house $4,000 per year (pefect driving record, zero claims)
Electricity averages about $200 a month + 13%
Natural Gas in the winter is about $300 a month + 13% tax (80 bucks in the summer)
Phone & cable = $200 a month + 13% tax
Internet = $100 a month + 13% tax
On top of that, every dollar I earn, the government takes 42 cents of it to pay for lazy asses who dont want to work, and give Quebec lots of extra money because they think they are special and hold the rest of us hostage.
On top of that, our prices for basic neccessities are much higher than what you guys south of the border pay.
Sometimes my wife and I will travel to Watertown, NY to do some shopping, and the grocery prices you guys pay are dirt cheap.
Come over here and you will crap your pants.
$5 for milk
$4-$5 for a pound of butter
$4 loaf of bread
On the positive side though, health care is free, and our crime rates is pretty low compared to America (per capita and everything considered equal)
At least in California youve got hot chicks walking around everywhere, warm temps, sunshine all the time, and beaches all over the place.
Also, you don't have this to look forward to for 4 months a year:
You could move to cold Canada wheere everything you buy is subject to 13% tax, and I mean everything.
Pay through the *** for electricity & natural gas, the highest cell phone rates in the world, and then add 13% tax on top of it.
Here's some bills laying around my desk, let's have a look.
Property tax on my 1700 sf house....$4,118 per year
Insurance for my 3 cars and house $4,000 per year (pefect driving record, zero claims)
Electricity averages about $200 a month + 13%
Natural Gas in the winter is about $300 a month + 13% tax (80 bucks in the summer)
Phone & cable = $200 a month + 13% tax
Internet = $100 a month + 13% tax
On top of that, every dollar I earn, the government takes 42 cents of it to pay for lazy asses who dont want to work, and give Quebec lots of extra money because they think they are special and hold the rest of us hostage.
On top of that, our prices for basic neccessities are much higher than what you guys south of the border pay.
Sometimes my wife and I will travel to Watertown, NY to do some shopping, and the grocery prices you guys pay are dirt cheap.
Come over here and you will crap your pants.
$5 for milk
$4-$5 for a pound of butter
$4 loaf of bread
On the positive side though, health care is free, and our crime rates is pretty low compared to America (per capita and everything considered equal)
At least in California youve got hot chicks walking around everywhere, warm temps, sunshine all the time, and beaches all over the place.
Also, you don't have this to look forward to for 4 months a year:
- find another cable/internet service provider
- find another insurance company
- buy a bicycle, take the bus, or walk to the corner store
- find a different grocery store
- insulate yer house
- install more CFL lighting
- unplug a few of yer beer fridges
- move to NewFoundLand
Another good this is, we don't have many queers.
And if you were to leave, we'd have none at all ...
Oh! Gotta go! - there's someone trying to break into my house, (again) ...
MGD
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Metter, GA
^ You need to :
- find another cable/internet service provider
- find another insurance company
- buy a bicycle, take the bus, or walk to the corner store
- find a different grocery store
- insulate yer house
- install more CFL lighting
- unplug a few of yer beer fridges
- move to NewFoundLand
Another good this is, we don't have many queers.
And if you were to leave, we'd have none at all ...
Oh! Gotta go! - there's someone trying to break into my house, (again) ...
MGD
- find another cable/internet service provider
- find another insurance company
- buy a bicycle, take the bus, or walk to the corner store
- find a different grocery store
- insulate yer house
- install more CFL lighting
- unplug a few of yer beer fridges
- move to NewFoundLand
Another good this is, we don't have many queers.
And if you were to leave, we'd have none at all ...
Oh! Gotta go! - there's someone trying to break into my house, (again) ...
MGD
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 873
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere in the EU
This just in. Life, no matter where you live it is not fair.
You're blaming people, not the place. "Voters forcing you to live . . . " Don't confuse the two. And this relates to your next comment:
You're talking about politics. The politics is not you nor where you live. But, if you make politics so important, here's something I've learned . . . no matter where you go you are going to find unfavorable political results. Focus on something else. If you're going to allow the quality of your life be affected by outside forces, you're wasting your energy.
You've got nothing to complain about with regard to taxes. Wait to you move somewhere else. I did, and learned what taxation really is.
Nor will you, no matter where you move to or who is in power.
Here's some advice. I lived in Los Angeles for 43 years and moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere just three years ago. I was fed up with L.A., especially traffic. I moved to a place that has almost nothing. Is life better? In some respects it is. In some it isn't.
The saying "The grass is always greener . . . ." exists for a reason. If you move, you're going to find that out pretty fast. Life can suck or be great no matter where you are. Stop externalizing your frustrations.
Here's some advice. I lived in Los Angeles for 43 years and moved to a small town in the middle of nowhere just three years ago. I was fed up with L.A., especially traffic. I moved to a place that has almost nothing. Is life better? In some respects it is. In some it isn't.
The saying "The grass is always greener . . . ." exists for a reason. If you move, you're going to find that out pretty fast. Life can suck or be great no matter where you are. Stop externalizing your frustrations.
Last edited by Bluejay; Nov 5, 2010 at 02:27 PM. Reason: language
