Why Exactly Do Miserable People Stay in Upstate New York? (Buffalo: for rent, mortgage)

[WILWRadio]

Small business grants and loans. In fact, cities and towns that use the auction process to sell foreclosures could instead create a program similar to that of the city of Rome whereby you make an offer on the property and if they consider it a fair sum, they'll sell it to you. Or better yet, sell the foreclosures for a token dollar to potential home owners and business owners and then make this money available to fix up the properties.

[jbertol2]

Originally Posted by harborlady

My grandfather was a psychiatric nurse. When the family would complain, he'd walk around the house saying... "it's all in your head".

(But grampa, I think I needed that finger I just cut off! LOL)

Stepping outside the problems our country has, and looking at things from a sociologist perspective, people left economically frustrated too long will resort to a myriad of destructive behavior or resign themselves to as-is cynicism.

I think folks in general, no matter where they are, have many unrealistic expectations about what government is responsible for, and where their own willpower needs to take charge. These boundary issues become a psychological quagmire some spend their whole lives in.

I've had arguments with my maker often about what a flub it was to face the eyes of human beings outward instead of inward. Sets them on a path of chasing everyone down to control others, instead of controlling themselves.

When personal energy we all have is channeled into constructive endeavors, folks are generally happy. It's the path upward, instead of chasing greener grass elsewhere, only to face the same disappointed expectations again.

Exactly! Nice post.

[BuffaloTransplant]

It would appear to me the thread poster has moved on and wants to heckle upstate NYers. He is only one of a few who are ardently doing this.

I am in Erie County. I moved here in the 1960s from the NY/LI area. I stayed. I had a good career here, I married a local, we had our kids and they are staying here -- even went to college here ( as did their spouses). Do they make a six figure starting salary? Nope, but they have bought houses and can afford to live here. They have good jobs. They looked, searched, did some awful ones along the way and then settled into good jobs.

Upstate NY has lots of good things in it; if you are here only to heckle others who like it, better you should leave!

[ScranBarre]

Excuse me, BuffaloTransplant, but may I respectfully ask if you know how to read? I, SWB, am the "thread poster," and this thread was in no way, shape, or form "bashing NY." I'm actually quite fond of Upstate NY, and I think along with PA it has great potential for rebirth. I just get very tired of people who are economic wash-ups in life taking out their frustrations on either the government or their region as a whole instead of placing the responsibility where it belongs---on one's self. I've read some people defending the whiners as "not being able to afford to move if they only make minimum wage." The only people I know who make minimum wage are those without a degree. If they wanted to live comfortably, they could have very easily applied for financial aid, scholarships, student loans, etc. and dilligently furthered their educations so that they could be enjoying a successful career path now in life instead of being "stuck in a rut." Even here in relatively economically-depressed Scranton I can't name any college graduates who are "struggling." If they're making minimum wage, then they have only themselves to blame. RNs, truck drivers, trades, and a few other well-compensating occupations are available in our region without a degree---just specialized training.

These people have to stop blaming the government for their OWN lack of ambition in life. Struggling financially? Do some Internet research into well-compensating career paths and then determine what skills or qualifications such a position would require. It's not that difficult.

[Lindsey_Mcfarren]

I think the real question is why do people who are misreable stay where they live because its not just upstate New York.

I think some people are misreable no matter where they are, they will find something to complain about.

I have a friend who lives in Maine, it would kill me personally but she LOVES it. Its not the location that is so horrible, every place has something to offer, its the people doing all the complaining that are the problem.

I used to have this older man who was a friend, no matter what was going on in his life, he found a reason to complain. There were things he would complain about, I would offer a solution that he would not do anything about, I told him I thought it was because he would rather complain then fix it, of course he would then have to find something new to talk about.

We are no longer friends. I don't care for the negative attitude and its so pervasive, you can't get away from that kind of thinking. Life is WAY to short to waste it counting up the bad things, why not concentrate on the good things in your life, there is always someone out there worse off then you are.

[Upstate Dave]

Originally Posted by harborlady

I'd like to hear what upstate needs.

Let's pretend I were governor, and will be writing you a check for $50 million from the NYS piggy bank taxes to do with as you please.

How would you deliver the changes you want to see happen so that economic welfare from the rest of the state won't be neccessary anymore? The one condition I'd impose on you is that it has to be sustainable, not a one trick pony.

I realize your question is aimed at others, but I do have a response if I may...

Give the money back! Or better yet- Don't take it and redistribute in the first place! Having Uncle Elliot (or in reality the Senate & Assy) write a check to try and solve upstates issues is bass ackwards and a MAIN factor in why people feel so despondent to begin with. When the populace is brainwashed into believing that the government will "solve" all their little problems for them, they will not learn to do for themselves. Our runaway state-sponsored compassion has a direct causal effect on why the people of this state are leaving, (net losses in population). Those still here are either planning to leave, or swimming upstream against a flood of government "compassion" that places burdens on individuals and businesses. The end result- "It's not my fault/ It's not my responsibility". This is not special to NY only. This happens everywhere, poor & rich nations, just at different levels and degrees.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by harborlady

I'd like to hear what upstate needs.

Let's pretend I were governor, and will be writing you a check for $50 million from the NYS piggy bank taxes to do with as you please.

How would you deliver the changes you want to see happen so that economic welfare from the rest of the state won't be neccessary anymore? The one condition I'd impose on you is that it has to be sustainable, not a one trick pony.

I don't think the writing of a check is the answer.

I think the 2 things that need addressing are the jumpstarting of industries in the area to provide jobs & stimulate the economy, and re-educating the residents in new career choices & alternatives.

Government can "entice" new business to an area through tax incentives, etc. & low-interest education loans can be supplied to residents.

Neither is a "quick-fix", but as I am basing my posts on what I read from other posters on the area (never having lived in that part of NY), a possibility...

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by BuffaloTransplant

It would appear to me the thread poster has moved on and wants to heckle upstate NYers. He is only one of a few who are ardently doing this.

I am in Erie County. I moved here in the 1960s from the NY/LI area. I stayed. I had a good career here, I married a local, we had our kids and they are staying here -- even went to college here ( as did their spouses). Do they make a six figure starting salary? Nope, but they have bought houses and can afford to live here. They have good jobs. They looked, searched, did some awful ones along the way and then settled into good jobs.

Upstate NY has lots of good things in it; if you are here only to heckle others who like it, better you should leave!

I don't think SWB was "heckling" anyone!!

I see what he's talking about on a lot of forums & it's SO funny (sad "funny", not "hilarious" funny) that these same "miserable" people reply to ANY post with the same negative angry tone!!


I remember writing a post on the Fla forum about living here & the wonderful sun/sand/sea/sky/flowers/wildlife/etc & how happy I was & one of these posters replied that it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to be happy in Fla & that I must be lying!!! I couldn't believe the set of cajones this guy/girl had!!


But for some people, they are so miserable & unhappy no matter what/where/who/why/how, they just suck the joy out of everything & in some perverse way, this seems to give them pleasure...

I think THESE are the ones that SWB was thinking of when he started this thread (correct me if I'm wrong please...) & was not out to heckle upstate NYers in general.

[oktaren]

Originally Posted by harborlady

I think folks in general, no matter where they are, have many unrealistic expectations about what government is responsible for

I do as well, which is exactly what is wrong with NYS. The taxes are WAY TOO HIGH to work in such a economically depressed area. It has created a very unfriendly environment for business. The government should be providing 1/10th the services it currently does.

[oktaren]

Originally Posted by harborlady

I'd like to hear what upstate needs.

Let's pretend I were governor, and will be writing you a check for $50 million from the NYS piggy bank taxes to do with as you please.

How would you deliver the changes you want to see happen so that economic welfare from the rest of the state won't be neccessary anymore? The one condition I'd impose on you is that it has to be sustainable, not a one trick pony.

We don't need a check. We need less taxes.