Des Moines or St Louis? (schools, closing, taxes)

[mfrerkes]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

Hmmmm??????? This person must be sad and sober....

Yes. Clearly I'm the person here who is going through life strung out on depressants because reality is just too hard to cope with.

[QuadCityImages]

Well.... when I first mentioned that the original poster might not think DSM is a big enough step up from the QC, I worried that it would derail the thread. When the replies brushing off my suggestion were posted, I disagreed, but didn't say anything. Now after a delay we have that battle I was afraid of.

Ferkes, I normally love your stuff, but for some reason the last day or so you're coming across a little too strong. I don't disagree with much of it, especially the occasional DSM-superiority that we run into sometimes, but I suggest you back down a notch. I wouldn't want the best QC-defender to get in trouble on these forums.

Personally I think Iowa is lucky to have a number of cities that exceed people's expectations. I do suggest that people spend some time in the QC before they refer to it as still stuck in the rust belt, or imagine it like it was back in the early 80's. A LOT of people who saw it then are impressed as hell at what we've evolved into.

[mfrerkes]

QCI...I appreciate your concern. I'll try to bite my tongue a little harder, but I'm not going to sit here and let some of these outrageous remarks go unchallenged. The biggest reason these myths (like "the Quad Cities are run-down and have nothing to do") get propagated so much here is because nobody steps forth to point out the record.

I'm tired of people using invalid 20-year-old stereotypes to tear down the Quad Cities, especially towards people who are considering a move here. I would submit many of the people who engage in this activity haven't ever visited the QC and are just spouting these statements because everyone else does the same thing.

It's tiresome, it's wholly inaccurate, and it's not going unchallenged anymore.

[El Rhino]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

QCI...I appreciate your concern. I'll try to bite my tongue a little harder, but I'm not going to sit here and let some of these outrageous remarks go unchallenged. The biggest reason these myths (like "the Quad Cities are run-down and have nothing to do") get propagated so much here is because nobody steps forth to point out the record.
.

Right. I'll quote Top Gun and say "It's not your flying, Maverick, it's your attitude". I'm sure most people here appreciate civil dialogue from either side. You get very snide and confrontational and guess how people are going to respond to that? Sometimes you have something interesting and/or productive to say but it seems like most of the time you're just trying to rattle someone's cage like the light version of RonnieJonez.

Instead of trying to play martyr and say you're going to "bite your tongue a little harder", why don't you just try to be a little more respectful and civil in your initial delivery? If you try that and that does not work, that would be something I would deal with as moderator of this section.

[RonnieJonez]

Originally Posted by mfrerkes

Read the above post I made in replying to capitalcityguy. "Nearly identical" is far more accurate of a comparison than "not by a long shot."

BTW, this whole Iowa Forum has heretofore been predicated on the notion that Des Moines is the only city in Iowa with cultural and entertainment offerings. Why do Des Moines posters become so indignant when somebody has the impertinence to question that myth?

Because when Copernicus discovered the Earth revolved around the sun, they were probably still hoping the Sun revolved around Des Moines.

That's my personal theory anyways. Des Moines is nice for it's size and all that, but their attitude does not help out. No idea why it's like that, but it is. In reality, all they are doing is impressing themselves.

[tiki7]

I'm wondering why you are looking at these 2 particular cities? (I admit, I didn't read through this entire thread so if that is answered, I apologize).

Comparing these 2 is kinda like comparing apples and oranges. If you are looking for a mid size midwestern city, DM is great. If you want something bigger, more exciting, more stuff to do DM is less great but I wouldn't personally pick St. Louis. It is one of the most dangerous cities in America at this time and just kind of has a depressed feel about it...not just in the inner city but even out toward some of the middle class western burbs. Maybe that is just my feel, however. If I wanted to stay in the midwest but wanted something bigger than Des Moines I'd choose Kansas City, Chicago, Omaha or even cold, snowy Mpls over St. Louis. Just my opinion, however, based on travels to all of those places.

[capitalcityguy]

Originally Posted by tiki7

I'm wondering why you are looking at these 2 particular cities? (I admit, I didn't read through this entire thread so if that is answered, I apologize).

Comparing these 2 is kinda like comparing apples and oranges. If you are looking for a mid size midwestern city, DM is great. If you want something bigger, more exciting, more stuff to do DM is less great but I wouldn't personally pick St. Louis. It is one of the most dangerous cities in America at this time and just kind of has a depressed feel about it...not just in the inner city but even out toward some of the middle class western burbs. Maybe that is just my feel, however. If I wanted to stay in the midwest but wanted something bigger than Des Moines I'd choose Kansas City, Chicago, Omaha or even cold, snowy Mpls over St. Louis. Just my opinion, however, based on travels to all of those places.

This isn't meant to be a jab, but an honest question to tiki. I think Omaha is a great city, but I don't see what it would offer that is that much different for someone who wants to live in a bigger city than Des Moines. I think the others you list would be significantly bigger and thus offer things Des Moines doesn't. For example, major league professional sports teams.

[zz4guy]

Where is option C? I would not move to either city. They are completely different towns.

If I was going to go to a city the size of St. Louis I'd head to Chicago, Milwaukee, Indy or something like that.

If I was going to move to a town like Des Moines, comparable cities are Omaha, Madison, Rockford, Quad Cities, etc.

I think the OP should figure out what kind of lifestyle they want to live first.

[tiki7]

Originally Posted by capitalcityguy

This isn't meant to be a jab, but an honest question to tiki. I think Omaha is a great city, but I don't see what it would offer that is that much different for someone who wants to live in a bigger city than Des Moines. I think the others you list would be significantly bigger and thus offer things Des Moines doesn't. For example, major league professional sports teams.

No offense taken. You're right, even though Omaha is bigger it really doesn't have a lot to offer that DSM doesn't. I was just looking at size.

[Pipermackie]

Go with St. Louis or KC if that's not too far west and you can't afford Chicago. Low cost of living, much better food, professional sports of the major league variety, more diversity (although Stl is very very very segregated and racist), and way more to do than Des Moines. If you tend to travel, flying out of KC and StL will be cheaper too. If you choose KC, don't move to central or southern Johnson County--it's too family oriented and soccer mom-ish (just stay out of the 'burbs if you can). If you're single and want to meet other singles, live in trendier areas--downtown, crossroads, westport, the plaza. You must be proactive though. Unlike Chicago, KC doesn't showcase its nightlife or art shows etc..., but there are awesome places outside of Power and Light (which is all owned by one company) and something to do every day. Peruse the Pitch, the local indie paper, like a fiend.