Worst thing about NC... (Charlotte: cul-de-sac, closing, bus)

[mhuzzell]

Originally Posted by uncletupelo

please stay over in your liberal, socialized little world. we do not need another complainer like you in NC. We have enough complaining yankee transplants. Why are you so bitter. You should try getting over it. Unions are for lazy people. Screw unions. They have done wonders for the american auto worker while ruining the industry. Stay bitter.

Why am I bitter? I'm bitter because I agree with urbancharlotte's comment above: "Neither side of the political spectrum should have TOTAL dominance" -- but the fact is, Neoliberalism, a.k.a. Neoconservativism, does have total dominance in American politics. Both Republicans and Democrats are right-of-center; there is no functional Left in the U.S. anymore (nor much of one in the U.K., for that matter, although here there is at least a national memory of one.

Why, also, am I bitter? Because I over the course of my life I have watched Wake County get torn apart by developers. Beautiful forests chewed up and spit out into ghastly piles of broken trees, red earth laid bare like an open wound, ticky-tacky houses with unnatural, fertilizer-dependent lawns put up in their place. Because every time I come back to visit, more of it is gone. And because the way this has been allowed to happen is due in no small part to the Neoliberal consensus described above.

For what it's worth, uncletupelo, I was born and raised in North Carolina and my family has been there for around 350 years. I belong in North Carolina. It's in my bones. It's in my soul. And it twists my guts up in knots that I just can't stomach living there anymore. I had to get away; it's maybe the place most important for me to fight for, but I can't do that while living there -- I find it far too depressing. So don't you dare tell me you "don't need another complainer like me" in NC. You need a million more complainers. You need to complain before it's too late, and I need to keep complaining from afar.

[Outta-NC]

No really good diversity of ethnica culture here. Food choices are not many if you talk about variety and diversity. Pretty much all typical American style Fridays or Applebees type restaurants where you can close your eyes and order from the menu. Not a lot of good southern style restaurants in the Raleigh/Durham area as many have sold out.

I have many other complaints but since you only asked for one.

[Outta-NC]

Originally Posted by prwfromnc

Gee, uncletupelo, what is about liberals and Yankees that you hate so much? North Carolina isn't all that, and yes, I am a North Carolina native! I've lived here all of my life, and I'm glad that a lot of Yankees and liberals are moving down here to bring about some change here. Now, I don't like how a lot of them complain about life here when they chose to move here, however, I don't like how backwards North Carolina still is in certain areas, either! Other than Charlotte and the larger metro areas in this state, I could care less for the rest of North Carolina.

I agree. North Carolina pretty much sucks. Has some good outdoors amenities but aside from that it's not for everyone. Many have moved here to ride the capital investments and move on just like many other cities and states have experienced throughout the history of this nation.

It is America and we will continue to look for decent housing and economy since much of the jobs have left this nation. But my goal is not to stay in this state for long. I think 5yrs should be enough. Housing didn't drop tremendously and as soon as the market begins to pickup by next year, homes will not be as affordable as they were 3-5yrs ago. Taxes will certainly go up as has auto and home owner insurance already. Congestion was getting bad and slowed because of layoffs but the economy will come back. If it were not for outsiders looking to develop this state it would still be only an agricultural state. But because of large corporations seeking tax breaks this place is going to over devleop. It will be over congested but I don't think it will still have nice places to party and visit like florida. Heck it doesn't even have an amusement park. The best they can do is the crappy annual NC state fair which is all about animal judging.

[Outta-NC]

Originally Posted by mhuzzell

Dang, this is a long-running thread...

Unions in NC would be great! Given decent unions, socialised medicine, and proper urban/suburban planning and infrastructure, I would move back home in a second. As it is, though, I can't quite bring myself to make that leap -- I'll stay in the UK, thanks.

Last time I worked in NC (in 2006) minimum wage was $5.15 an hour and had been that way for about a decade. I was making $6.30/hr at one job, and $7/hr at another, and both of these were supposed to be "good" wages for the work I was doing. I understand it's gone up now (due to a rise in federal minimum wages) but it's still fallen steadily in real terms since the 1970s. A strong union movement would help alleviate that, and lift hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians out of poverty.

That aside, though, in response to the OP, the worst thing about North Carolina, by far, is the RECKLESS SUBURBAN SPRAWL -- for its own sake, but also for its attendant deforestation and other nasty environmental effects, like increased pollution from all those necessitated cars, and from construction and lawn-chemical runoff.

So no polution in the UK or suburban sprawl??!! WOW... do you walk or drive around the UK with your eyes closed?

[DanielleNC]

Originally Posted by Outta-NC

No really good diversity of ethnica culture here. Food choices are not many if you talk about variety and diversity. Pretty much all typical American style Fridays or Applebees type restaurants where you can close your eyes and order from the menu. Not a lot of good southern style restaurants in the Raleigh/Durham area as many have sold out.

I have many other complaints but since you only asked for one.

Here you go:

America's Foodiest Small Town: In the Magazine : bonappetit.com

Where to Eat in America's Foodiest Small Town: The Bon Appetit Foodist: Blogs & Forums : bonappetit.com

We've got the diversity too.

[Outta-NC]

Originally Posted by uncletupelo

please stay over in your liberal, socialized little world. we do not need another complainer like you in NC. We have enough complaining yankee transplants. Why are you so bitter. You should try getting over it. Unions are for lazy people. Screw unions. They have done wonders for the american auto worker while ruining the industry. Stay bitter.

Uh sorry.... unions did not screw american auto workers. Corporate executives and americans buying foreign did. However, foreign vehicles have made it big here cause of crappy quality american cars. They can't compete anymore. Greedy corporate america. Why can Kia / Hyundai offer great warranty and not GM or other american auto builders?

Why are american farmers selling out to big developers is the bigger question? They are screwing citizens out of basic affordable nutrition like vegetables and dairy. Don't get me started...

Southerners are loving the so-called YANKEE move here and create opportunity for them. Better homes, better jobs, better pizza. Popa Johns!!!

[Outta-NC]

Originally Posted by prwfromnc

eek, I'm totally with you about getting more Unions here in NC! First of all, I can talk from experience on how Unions take care of their workers. My dad retired from a trucking company that had a Union right before Christmas in '02, and he got a nice Union pension, plus he is able to get Social Security on top of that. My dad is so well off, he doesn't ever have to work again for the rest of his life, unless he really wants to get out of the house. A lot of retired people are living on fixed incomes and have to take on a part-time job just to make ends meet. Now you tell me if having more Unions are not worth it? It's about time that we get more Unions in Nort Carolina that will stand up for more employee rights, and put and end to that ridiculous right-to-work or at-will employee law crap, period! And for a lot of people that say that Unions run a lot of companies out of business, I think it's nonsense. First of all, If Unions are the reason for companies going out of business, resulting in high unemployment rates in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, etc., then what's North Carolina's excuse? There isn't a large union presence in North Carolina, and our unemployment rate is as high as those places, so that proves my theory right, it seems.

You hit it on the head!! I'm in IT and salaries here suck!!! Southerners jack up prices because we YANKEES are wealthy right. Shoot if we were we wouldn't be trying to struggle on 30k jobs. I make more than that but ~ 30k is the median salary here. We need unions in IT and many other jobs. I just love on how some bent up intimidated feeling southerners about YANKEES can just fire you for no reason cause of the dumb at-will law. BTW, all americans are YANKEES... talk to Europeans and Australians...

[Outta-NC]

Originally Posted by prwfromnc

Is Yankeeland the same as Disneyland? Sorry, I needed a big laugh today!

YANKEELAND is a place that REDNECKS (southerners) know nothing about because they would have to cross their state line to get there but wouldn't know how. When you think backwards you end up going backwards.

[PeaceChild]

Originally Posted by Outta-NC

You hit it on the head!! I'm in IT and salaries here suck!!! Southerners jack up prices because we YANKEES are wealthy right. Shoot if we were we wouldn't be trying to struggle on 30k jobs. I make more than that but ~ 30k is the median salary here. We need unions in IT and many other jobs. I just love on how some bent up intimidated feeling southerners about YANKEES can just fire you for no reason cause of the dumb at-will law. BTW, all americans are YANKEES... talk to Europeans and Australians...

I agree. I was in IT field before my car accident. The pay was really good up here.

I moved to Arkansas briefly and applied at Walmart Headquarters in Bentonville, AR for an IT position. Went and took the drug test and came back for second interview, only to be told I would be making $9 per hour. Ten years in IT and $9 per hour?

It was obvious by the look on my face that he knew I was a little shocked. He told me; "well, I know that you make more in the North, but we are after all, in the business to make money." Needless to say, I declined the position. I wanted to tell him where to put it, but I think he already knew what I was thinking. I hightailed it back to Michigan. We have Walmart up here, but I refuse to go there. Too many other places to shop.

The jobs do suck down there. I don't understand how anybody can make it down there. One of my son's lives down there and he is constantly in the red. Not a big spender either. He's constantly having to put up with nasty boss too.

One time when I was down there I took my car to an auto repair shop. The guy came out and I told him I had a problem with my engine. It was obvious by the sound of my voice that I wasn't from that area. He then proceeded to walk to the back of my vehicle. I knew right then he was going back there to look at my license tag to see where I was from.

That made my blood boil. I asked him what the heck he was doing. You going to charge me more because I'm from out-of-state? Told him he was a jerk and left.


You're absolutely right about us all being Yankees. When a friend of mine was in Germany during the VN era, he met a girl. They were both black. She was kind of flirting with him, until he opened up his mouth. She then started yelling that he was a Yankee and to get the hell away from her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He told me her skin was darker than his and he didn't understand it all.

So, they don't like us over there, I asked him?

[uncletupelo]

Originally Posted by PeaceChild

I agree. I was in IT field before my car accident. The pay was really good up here.

I moved to Arkansas briefly and applied at Walmart Headquarters in Bentonville, AR for an IT position. Went and took the drug test and came back for second interview, only to be told I would be making $9 per hour. Ten years in IT and $9 per hour?

It was obvious by the look on my face that he knew I was a little shocked. He told me; "well, I know that you make more in the North, but we are after all, in the business to make money." Needless to say, I declined the position. I wanted to tell him where to put it, but I think he already knew what I was thinking. I hightailed it back to Michigan. We have Walmart up here, but I refuse to go there. Too many other places to shop.

The jobs do suck down there. I don't understand how anybody can make it down there. One of my son's lives down there and he is constantly in the red. Not a big spender either. He's constantly having to put up with nasty boss too.

One time when I was down there I took my car to an auto repair shop. The guy came out and I told him I had a problem with my engine. It was obvious by the sound of my voice that I wasn't from that area. He then proceeded to walk to the back of my vehicle. I knew right then he was going back there to look at my license tag to see where I was from.

That made my blood boil. I asked him what the heck he was doing. You going to charge me more because I'm from out-of-state? Told him he was a jerk and left.


You're absolutely right about us all being Yankees. When a friend of mine was in Germany during the VN era, he met a girl. They were both black. She was kind of flirting with him, until he opened up his mouth. She then started yelling that he was a Yankee and to get the hell away from her. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He told me her skin was darker than his and he didn't understand it all.

So, they don't like us over there, I asked him?

I have a great job as do most all of my friends. I own a nice home and one on the coast and I have earned every dime that I have. There plenty of great jobs in NC. That is an understatement. With your attitude, I certainly would never give you a job. But again, I would only hire fellow southerners so that strikes you from the list.