US 'heartland' near historic shift from Midwest (Republic)

[onegoalstl]

Also "Heartland" I usually see Kentucky being called "Heartland"

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Missouri mostly DOES attract retirees, but very few professional jobs- at least not in my career field.

Agreed. If I'd still had to work I likely would have stayed put or moved to a state with more opportunities.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by onegoalstl

Also "Heartland" I usually see Kentucky being called "Heartland"

Kentucky is a strange state in many ways... I don't really think it is very representative of the US as a whole at all.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Kentucky is a strange state in many ways... I don't really think it is very representative of the US as a whole at all.

How so and why not? We recently drove the length of it, spending a night in Louisville, and except for being more built up, it didn't seem much different than it did in the early 70s when I was stationed at Fort Knox.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

How so and why not? We recently drove the length of it, spending a night in Louisville, and except for being more built up, it didn't seem much different than it did in the early 70s when I was stationed at Fort Knox.

You prove my point exactly. Cities like Louisville and many areas of rural KY have been bypassed for years due to a lack of forward thinking, too little focus on education, and much less in the way of job diversification and growth. The areas of the US that have changed very little over the past few decades will continue to beocme LESS representative of the US as a whole due to large-scale changes in other areas of the country. States are fighting states for every job and tax break they can give businesses..

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

You prove my point exactly. Cities like Louisville and many areas of rural KY have been bypassed for years due to a lack of forward thinking, to little focus on education, and much less in the way of job diversification and growth. The areas of the US that have changed very little over the past few decades will continue to beocme LESS representative of the US as a whole due to large-scale changes in other areas of the country. States are fighting states for every job and tax break they can give businesses..

Perhaps so, but you say that as though it were a bad thing. As much of the rest of the country decays socially and educationally, areas retaining time-tested cultural values become more desirable than ever to many people. Why the heck do you think people have been leaving California en mass for the last few years?

Forward thinking? Like that which has ruined the quality of life in much of California, made its public education one of history's most expensive jokes, and bankrupted it economically? That "forward" thinking?

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by CrownVic95

Perhaps so, but you say that as though it were a bad thing. As much of the rest of the country decays socially and educationally, areas retaining time-tested cultural values become more desirable than ever to many people. Why the heck do you think people have been leaving California en mass for the last few years?

Forward thinking? Like that which has ruined the quality of life in much of California, made its public education one of history's most expensive jokes, and bankrupted it economically? That "forward" thinking?

I did not address "forward thinking" with regard to education. Way to make assumptions... As I was saying, areas that continue to be "bypassed" tend to have a much less vibrant economic conditions as well as low levels of educational attainment. People go where the jobs are...

[onegoalstl]

Another factor from Stl losing it's southerness after the civil war is because of the industrialization of the city.

The same thing happend in Baltimore.

Although MO as a whole still has much more southerness than Maryland currently does. Might as well call Maryland New Jersey now. Full of liberals.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by CrownVic95

Perhaps so, but you say that as though it were a bad thing. As much of the rest of the country decays socially and educationally, areas retaining time-tested cultural values become more desirable than ever to many people. Why the heck do you think people have been leaving California en mass for the last few years?

I totally agree. All the "progressiveness" in CA has led to sprawl, failing infrastructure, soaring prices with taxes to match and a significant loss of what has been truly American culture for over 200 years. We left for the "comfort" of middle-America with attendant culture and values and have not had a moment of regret.

Just because something, societally or otherwise, is new and "updated" certainly doesn't necessarily mean it's better. It's only different and that's not always a good thing. California "celebrates" its diversity to what I see as a ridiculous degree and therein lies the problem. What's wrong with America and American? While I applaud the advances made in many areas, many of them socially, they have also watered down what was uniquely both American and Californian. Missions have fallen into decay, history has been revised, beautiful, historic buildings have bee razed to make room for modern, cheaply built and over-priced ones, cities are crowded, English is fast becoming a second language for all and "progressiveness" is tearing apart the fabric of the populace and the state as a whole. Just look to their Legislature for prime examples.

Blech! This just had to get me started, didn't it?

[Cali BassMan]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

We left for the "comfort" of middle-America with attendant culture and values and have not had a moment of regret.

1618 more days, then Adios to the Republica de Califoriegnya.....