[Stormcrow73]

Originally Posted by bchris02

Does anybody think Arkansas would fare better in national statistics if we had a major city like most other states have? Our "cities" like Fayetteville and Little Rock would be considered small towns in most other states. Most of the state's population resides in rural, sometimes impoverished areas. In reality, despite the horrible statistics that get brought up again and again in our state, the larger towns such as Fayetteville, Little Rock, Rogers, etc do very well statistically, but the rural areas, especially in the delta drag down our numbers. In addition, it takes urban areas to bring cultural attractions and knowledge based jobs, both of which Arkansas can't seem to attract.

This is not an attack against rural dwellers or those that prefer a rural lifestyle. Its a great question because I think that the state government can keep increasing spending on education, health, etc all it wants but it will be difficult to make a lot of progress in this state with population density spread so thin and most of the state's population not having access to the services even if they are provided. Thoughts?

Agree

Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08

I think as the state invests more in trying to send more kids to college, [I'm trying to think optimistically about the lottery....] we will see more businesses come.
At the same time, the state should also invest in the talent that it has here. We can't keep relying on outsiders to come make our state great. We need to invest in small businesses, give them the resources to thrive, etc.

I think as we see our population numbers rise [hopefully], we'll probably see more cultural events,concerts, etc. It's a catch 22 basically. We don't have the population for such events but without the population...such events are not feasible.

I would love for Little Rock/North Little Rock to be about 600,000 people...and that's just Little Rock/North Little Rock. Of course I'd also like to see more investment in public transportation to handle the growth and a "new urbanism" feel come to the area. I hate how car-centric central Arkansas is.

Agree

Originally Posted by bchris02

It doesn't matter how many kids graduate from college in Arkansas, unless we can get some knowledge-based jobs in this state, off to Texas they will go...

Doubly agree!

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I happen to agree with you on this..We had the same situation in NM. If the kids did go on to higher education many of them left the state and yes, move to Texas.

I will add one more thing to this thread, do too many of us put to much emphasis on a college education? Many jobs do not require advanced educations and are perfectly good, pay well and offer advancement. I think we can all look around us, look at some of our friends and family members to realize some things are over rated. The more important thing is to get kids to use the brains God gave them to the best of their ability and this comes from within the family as much as from our public or private schools. Too many families are too busy with thier own problems to help kids develop a love for reading, a knowledge of georgraphy or building self confidence in their kids. But that is another subject altogether.

I think like has been mentioned we are a rural state, just like WV, Ms and a few others, will we ever be anything else? Probably not is our life time, but that is ok. Part of the charm of AR is the rural life.

Nita

Mmmmhmmm. I said this same thing once and was heartily rebuked.

[Howest2008]

Arkansas is doing OK it's not a financial powerhouse and gleaning magnet of culture attractions , but it has one small city with a skyline and Metropolitan Area of a medium sized city , Little Rock Arkansas. Arkansas other MSA is Wal-Martville...North-West-Ark which has THE NUMBER ONE Fortune 500 Corporation Wal-Mart Inc. and Tyson Chicken
Ranked 88 so you see Arkansas main problem , is a inferiority complex.
Oh By the way Little Rock Arkansas also have (2) Fortune 500 Companies Alltel Inc. and Dilliard's Dept. Stores (BUCK UP) Arkansas.

[RogMar]

Originally Posted by Howest2008

Arkansas is doing OK it's not a financial powerhouse and gleaning magnet of culture attractions

OH..........!!

We *got* culture attractions!

Shoulda seen the culture what was growing on Tommy Joe Spurling's walls after the 'Super Tuesday' tornado!

*Everybody* went over to look at it!



Seriously....isn't Arkansas "The Natural State"?

Not the "We've got lot's of concrete...business..and auto pollution so- ya'll-come-on-down" state?

These threads that people have that say we need more....business...restaurants..culture...shopping ..trains....clubs....

Whatever

OK, unless things have changed, people generally live somewhere that they can make a living, then *vacation* somewhere to relieve all that stress they've built up by camping & fishing, hiking, feeding slot machines, sitting on a boat in the ocean watching floor shows, sitting in a tropical island drinking foo-fo drinks, or whatever else trips their trigger.

Arkansas is a very big tourist destination.

Lots and lots of people are very fond of our rivers, lakes, woods and mountains, ruralness, antique shops, folk festivals, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.

They live and work in the environment that some clamor to bring more of to this state, and they sure don't want to spend their precious week of freedom doing the same thing from a hotel room.

Many yearn for more technical occupations, expanding this industry or that industry.

Well.....guess what, kiddo......it ain't gonna happen.

Arkansas will never compete with the *many* hubs of development. It will never be the educational destination or cultural destination du jour.

It's just Arkansas.......with rivers, lakes, woods, and mountains, with a handful of sizeable cities strewn across it.

I, for one, hope that doesn't change. That would certainly defeat the reason that many who have moved here, or have stayed here, or yearn to come here, nestle in their mind, and keeps many of us smiling in those last minutes of wake late at night.

Natural....as in "nature"?

[Timtheman]

RogMar,

It is always a big mistake to define a state by urban culture. Culture is much richer than that -- and Arkansas has plenty.

[ridicter]

Originally Posted by RogMar

OH..........!!

We *got* culture attractions!

Shoulda seen the culture what was growing on Tommy Joe Spurling's walls after the 'Super Tuesday' tornado!

*Everybody* went over to look at it!



Seriously....isn't Arkansas "The Natural State"?

Not the "We've got lot's of concrete...business..and auto pollution so- ya'll-come-on-down" state?

These threads that people have that say we need more....business...restaurants..culture...shopping ..trains....clubs....

Whatever

OK, unless things have changed, people generally live somewhere that they can make a living, then *vacation* somewhere to relieve all that stress they've built up by camping & fishing, hiking, feeding slot machines, sitting on a boat in the ocean watching floor shows, sitting in a tropical island drinking foo-fo drinks, or whatever else trips their trigger.

Arkansas is a very big tourist destination.

Lots and lots of people are very fond of our rivers, lakes, woods and mountains, ruralness, antique shops, folk festivals, wildlife, and outdoor recreation.

They live and work in the environment that some clamor to bring more of to this state, and they sure don't want to spend their precious week of freedom doing the same thing from a hotel room.

Many yearn for more technical occupations, expanding this industry or that industry.

Well.....guess what, kiddo......it ain't gonna happen.

Arkansas will never compete with the *many* hubs of development. It will never be the educational destination or cultural destination du jour.

It's just Arkansas.......with rivers, lakes, woods, and mountains, with a handful of sizeable cities strewn across it.

I, for one, hope that doesn't change. That would certainly defeat the reason that many who have moved here, or have stayed here, or yearn to come here, nestle in their mind, and keeps many of us smiling in those last minutes of wake late at night.

Natural....as in "nature"?

Vibrant cities and preservation of Arkansas' natural heritage aren't mutually exclusive. Arkansas should remain the Natural State as far as I'm concerned, but with vibrant cities and better performance on objective indicators (like bachelors degrees rate).

Vibrant cities are not to be confused with the mindless encroaching sprawl that ruins rural life and the countryside; we're talking smart growth. Making Little Rock and Fayetteville more vibrant will not hurt the rural lifestyles of those in Newton County or wherever.

Arkansas has a unique culture that should be studied, understood, and appreciated. With this sense, Arkansans can have a better sense of self and better determine their future. But no one should be blinded by nostalgia; times change. Processes, customs that are considered quaint or tradition don't deserve holy reverence of their sake.

No one expects Little Rock to become a technological capital or to compete with the hubs of industry, but we expect it to be better.

[bchris02]

Originally Posted by ridicter

Vibrant cities and preservation of Arkansas' natural heritage aren't mutually exclusive. Arkansas should remain the Natural State as far as I'm concerned, but with vibrant cities and better performance on objective indicators (like bachelors degrees rate).

Vibrant cities are not to be confused with the mindless encroaching sprawl that ruins rural life and the countryside; we're talking smart growth. Making Little Rock and Fayetteville more vibrant will not hurt the rural lifestyles of those in Newton County or wherever.

Arkansas has a unique culture that should be studied, understood, and appreciated. With this sense, Arkansans can have a better sense of self and better determine their future. But no one should be blinded by nostalgia; times change. Processes, customs that are considered quaint or tradition don't deserve holy reverence of their sake.

No one expects Little Rock to become a technological capital or to compete with the hubs of industry, but we expect it to be better.

Exactly. We can preserve the natural beauty and rural areas and have a vibrant urban center at the same time. Look at Georgia - if you have spent any time in rural southern Georgia you would have no idea you were so close to Atlanta, one of our nation's top cultural and technological cities. And after all, it wasn't that long ago Atlanta wasn't near what it is now. With a little investment and forward thinking, in 30 years Little Rock could be on that path. One thing about Arkansans is many people around here feel threatened by growth and change. If people don't want anything to do with the rat race, they don't have to be a part of it, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be an in-state option for those who want to live in the 21st century.

[Fasder]

It doesn't matter how many kids graduate from college in Arkansas, unless we can get some knowledge-based jobs in this state, off to Texas they will go...

100% of reason why I live in Dallas. In my field, I can not move back to Arkansas. And if I moved back for something related to my field, I would incur a 30-40% pay decrease.

No one expects Little Rock to become a technological capital or to compete with the hubs of industry, but we expect it to be better.

I Agree, while I do not expect Little Rock to become a Global City ... IE: Global city - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, the state and communities can move forward and still keep Arkansas culture, history, and uniqueness.

I am pleased personally to see that the Arkansas EDC has targeted IT and Data Centers for growth. But concerned that they are not targeting more Green areas for growth such as LEEDS, Sustainable Power, and Industry Green type programs for light business. ( See Welcome to ArkansasEDC )

It does not take a Major Metro city to become spotlighted for progressive actions. Take something like Corpus Christi, Texas that is slated to become first large-scale citywide wireless network to be implemented in the United States (See Corpus Christi to Celebrate Completion of First Large-Scale Citywide Wireless Network ). CC is not that much larger than Little Rock.

[PurpleLove08]

We already have the auto pollution, at least the central Arkansas area does.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality?s Air Division is ready to launch a free gas can exchange program for Crittenden and Pulaski Counties in an effort to improve air quality by reducing ozone levels in those counties. Crittenden County currently is designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being in non-attainment for the national ozone standard. Pulaski County may also be facing a non-attainment designation in the next few years.

Reduce Pollution, Exchange Your Old Gas Can For Free - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR

Central Arkansas violated the eight-hour ozone standard prescribed by the Environmental Protection Agency in March of 2008. Based on the EPA’s published schedule holds, the Governor of Arkansas must recommend a non-attainment area in central Arkansas by March 2009, and the EPA must make a formal non-attainment declaration by March 2010.

Metroplan | Little Rock, Arkansas

A lot of times I see smog over Little Rock when I'm coming off a certain hill in NLR. You don't see it on the ground level but when I used to ride the bus downtown and get off, I'd often get headaches from the fumes from the cars.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by LiveTodayLez08

We already have the auto pollution, at least the central Arkansas area does.



Reduce Pollution, Exchange Your Old Gas Can For Free - todaysthv.com | KTHV | Little Rock, AR



Metroplan | Little Rock, Arkansas

A lot of times I see smog over Little Rock when I'm coming off a certain hill in NLR. You don't see it on the ground level but when I used to ride the bus downtown and get off, I'd often get headaches from the fumes from the cars.

If you get headaches from the fumes, thank goodness you do not live in an area that has a real smog problem. The balance between clean air and progress is a hard one..Of course the realy heavy smug areas normally lie in cities surrounded by mountains...

Keeping the air clean as small cities become larger is a tough one. There are so many things contuibuting to the air polution, not just industry, but car fumes, fireplaces, charcoal grills just to mention a few.. Urban developement brings in people, more cars, more of everything.

I wonder where the balance lies?

Nita