Why do so many people hate the Midwest? (low crime, place to live)

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by miamiman

Miami are two cities with low city populations in comparison to metro populations, but both are major cities because they are either the headquarters of many major companies or they serve as regional hubs.

Are you kidding me? The only major corporation based in Miami is Burger King and a couple of cruise lines. Every thing else is Latin American business having absolutely nothing to do with the U.S economy. It's outer regional cities like Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach probably have more influence on the American economy than Miami and all we are is a huge call center capital and some technology. I can't believe you would completely write off all of those fortune 500 companies based in Cincy and call Miami a "headquarers of many major companies" in the same thread.

[j33]

well, when one's ignorance is willful, it is almost impossible to dissuade that person from it.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by miamiman

This is one time I'm actually not going to prove you wrong. Why you harbor such hatred for AZ, I'll never know. You obviously have never been to AZ from your ignorant comments. Your hatred has obviously jaded so severely you to make statements such as "most states have everything you mentioned, and the a lot more on top of it." Really?!?! I didn't know Illinois had massive canyons! I didn't know Iowa had a desert! I didn't know parts of Missouri had an alpine climate!

It's clear that you enjoy the Midwest becuase you perceive it to have all the amenities that other parts of the country offer. If you are happy there, good for you. I require certain things that I know the Midwest cannot offer me. Therefore, I will never live there. Sorry to let you down.

Ive been to AZ more times than I can count. Ive been in every corner of that state, hiked almost all ranges, even been stupid enough to go to Nogales. lol Im there at least once a year, sometimes twice, one time I was there 3 times in one year. I dont harbor a hatred for AZ, I love the state, its just a shame that Phoenix's ugly butt plumped down on the Sonoran Desert. I will say however, that AZ is not as diverse as most states. Ive shown you that Oklahoma is the most diverse state in the nation, but apparently you didnt take notice.

Yes, Illinois DOES have canyons (of course nothing on the grand scale of the Grand Canyon). Try Starved Rock State Park or Matthiessen State Parks, along with Apple River Canyon State Park.


Some of these canyons go on for a very long time. I hiked Matthiessen's canyons last fall and hiked for 3 hours and only covered about 1/2 the park.


Of course we also have tons of agricultural areas:


As well as rivers and lakes (natural! That have water in them! lol):




We also have very steep terrain in some areas of the state (contrary to most peoples' beliefs):


Heck, sometimes you can find cornfields amongst the rolling hills:


Even a small ski resort or two.




Lets throw some swamps in, why not?




One of said swamps butts up against the Pine Hills range, which is chock full of different types of rock material:


Throw in some palisades along the biggest river in the USA...:


While Im at it, shall I mention the arid areas of the state that harbor prickly pear cacti and sand dunes?






Not to mention dozens of miles of beachfront...:


...on one of the largest freshwater bodies on earth:


I even found prickly pear amongst some woods the other day!




Lets spice it up with some Shawnee National Forest action too!







Yes, midwestern states are VERY diverse. I hope some of what I showed you can help illustrate my point. And Illinois isnt even as diverse as most midwestern states!

[vegaspilgrim]

If you want to talk Fortune 500 companies, I compiled some information that I think is more important than just the number of Fortune 500's in each city. I went on Fortune.com and looked up the number of Fortune 500 companies in each state, looked at the municipality each was located in, and then organized them according to metropolitan area. Here's my findings of the number of Fortune 500 companies in each metro area of the midwest:

Chicago: 29 (not too shabby!)
Minneapolis: 19
Detroit: 16
Cincinnati: 9
St Louis: 8
Milwaukee: 8
Cleveland: 7
Columbus: 6
Omaha: 5
Indianapolis: 3
Toledo: 3
Kansas City: 2
Akron: 2
Des Moines: 1
Madison: 1

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

...on one of the largest freshwater bodies on earth:

That turquoise water color looks like Fort Lauderdale Beach (and for comparisons sake, I gave Miami Beach picture which tends to have nicer water)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

That turquoise water color looks like Fort Lauderdale Beach

Sandbars. Also, with the invasion of the terroristic mussels, theyve cleaned up the water in most of the great lakes, sometimes making the water clear enough to see to a depth of 25-30 ft!

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Ive shown you that Oklahoma is the most diverse state in the nation,

Oh Steve-o, I don't want to pick a fight with you, because I actually agree with you about most stuff, but you simply aren't going to win that argument. California obviously has the most diverse scenery in the union, bar none. Second place would be the four corners states: CO, UT, AZ, and NM-- and YES, that includes Arizona. Oklahoma doesn't even come close. I think it's laughable anybody would even pretend to compare OK with AZ.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Oh Steve-o, I don't want to pick a fight with you, because I actually agree with you about most stuff, but you simply aren't going to win that argument. California obviously has the most diverse scenery in the union, bar none. Second place would be the four corners states: CO, UT, AZ, and NM-- and YES, that includes Arizona. Oklahoma doesn't even come close. I think it's laughable anybody would even pretend to compare OK with AZ.

Anyone else? Anyone?
TravelOK.com:* The All-Terrain Vacation

Really, Oklahoma has 10 (!!!) ecoregions. You need to see it to believe it. I suggest people take a visit before they try and argue.

[yayoi]

Originally Posted by miamiman

I think we can go without Procter and Gamble. God forbid I go without Oil of Olay and Sunny D. . Secondly, the bananas Chiquita distributes don't come from the Cincinnati area. They obviously could relocate somehwere else. Cintas distributes uniforms? I am sure operations could be switched to another city, as I doubt any of the uniforms are made in Cincinnati. Kroger is NOT a national grocery chain. Kroger is regional. Fifth Third is NOT a national bank chain. E.W. Scripps is not that important. God forbid I go without the Denver Rocky Mountain News or HGTV. G.E. Aviation is not even located in the city of Cincinnati and has a number of branch facilities. Lastly, W&S Financial Group is just another insurance company. Hartford, CT is obviously the center of insurance in this country.

Well it doesn't matter what you think. I'll let the profits speak for themselves.

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by fort lauderdale

Are you kidding me? The only major corporation based in Miami is Burger King and a couple of cruise lines. Every thing else is Latin American business having absolutely nothing to do with the U.S economy. It's outer regional cities like Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach probably have more influence on the American economy than Miami and all we are is a huge call center capital and some technology. I can't believe you would completely write off all of those fortune 500 companies based in Cincy and call Miami a "headquarers of many major companies" in the same thread.

Uhhh, just becuase Miami's business interests are international doesn't negate the fact that it's a major city. Who cares what Miami does or doesn't do for the U.S. economy. It's still the unofficial capital of Latin America, and serves as major destination of so many Americans.

It's obvious that you harbor an intense dislike for South Florida, and it shows through your post. If you think Cincinnati and Indianapolis are major cities, good for you. I don't.