Ohio Bashing!!!! (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati: ski resorts, best cities, 2010)

[Traveler87]

I don't know why some people have to continue to bash the state of Ohio. I understand some people have certain opinions about a state, and thats fine to state it, but when you go out of your way, even starting arguements over it, that is wrong. Certain people look at the negatives that Ohio has to offer. That is getting old. I am beginning to think they are just negative people and live very negative lives. Please name me one state that doesn't have its fair share of problems? Please, just one state.

Ohio has one of the largest economies in the country. If the U.S. were to loose Ohio, they would loose 11.5 million people bringing the U.S. back under the 300 million mark, over 461 billion dollars in GSP, if Ohio were its own country we would have the 17th largest economy in the world. We have large cities, a great landscape, one of the best infrastructures in the country, and a diverse growing population. We have different regions of the state, like the hilly SW and SE, the great valleys of the NE and the rolling farmland of the NW. We have Amish country, and large cities with diverse populations. Lake Erie, the Kelly Islands, the Ski Resorts in the NE, the great boating lakes across the state, the many interstates that make our state a hotbed for cross-country activity.

Ohio has 28 fortune 500 companies. That is 5th in the nation. We currently are the 7th most populated state in the country. We have the 15th largest city in the country, soon to be 14th when Columbus possibly passes up San Fran.

This state is diversifying its economy faster than many others. Our new government in place has been doing a great job of bringing in new tax incentives to make Ohio one of the most business friendly states in the county by 2010. Cleveland is working towards bringing in tech companies, and being around the works of the Silicon Valley, and Ohio is a much cheaper place to start a company than California.

We have one of the fasting growing housing units in the country. We are in the top 13 states as far as tourism spending goes. Ohio spends almost 13 billion dollars on tourism a year. We have great parks like Cedar Point and Kings Island, each bringing in over 3 million a year, and both are in the top 50 visited theme parks in the world.

Our cities are transforming themselves:

Cleveland- A metro with Akron/Canton of over 3 million people. One of the fastest growing downtown populations in the country. A national park only minutes from downtown. A rapidly growing rapid transit system. A lakefront that is getting redeveloped every year. Great urban beaches with great views of the skyline (Edgewater Park). Beautiful suburbs that many cities wish they could have. Shaker Heights, Lakewood, Brecksville, Avon Lake, Bay Village. One of the best metro park systems in the country. Cleveland has one of the largest banking assests in the world over 300 billion. Cleveland has one of the fastest growing international airports in the country. 1.6 billion is going into Hopkins International in the coming years. It is home to the largest law firm in the world. A growing diverse population, Cleveland is one of the most multicultural cities in the country.

Cincinnati- One of America's greatest riverfront cities. A bustling riverfront. The Banks Project was just approved. Cincinnati is currently buildings its new tallest skyscrapper. A skyline that offers a great mix of new and old. Brand new sports venues line the rivefront. A bustling economy. Home to Procter and Gamble and Macy's Inc. Both located downtown. One of the greatest urban colleges calls Cincinnati home. University of Cincinnati, the most modern urban campus in the country. Cincinnati is a growing city population, and a good growing metro population.

Columbus- One of the Midwest's newest cities. A rapidly growing metro area, a city that is growing at a great rate. Columbus is one of America's best college cities. Many people from around the world flock to OSU, and end up staying in the area after college. The Ohio State University is the largest college in the country. Columbus offers great districts like German Village, Short North and The Arena District. All are booming areas of the city, experiencing new growth, and German Village is taking advantage of its old history. Columbus is home to numerous fortune 500 companies, and Nationwide has its headquarters downtown. Columbus was also voted one of the top 10 best cities for blacks to live in.

Overall, Ohio has so much to offer. Its the people that come in here, start arguements and bash the state because they have had a bad experience here. I wanted to move out of Ohio when I got out of highschool. I went to Kent State because of state residency, and now while going through college I have realized what Ohio has to offer. I am getting into urban design, and I plan on staying in Ohio, with great oppurtunities in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati, that are all going through billions in new development. Ohio has one of the most diverse economies in the country. Our population is diverse, and our history is rich. We have a growing immigrant population, but it is not exploding like states out west and down south. We are not experiencing the terrible growth like other states, that puts a hamper on our infrastructure. Many states wish they could offer what Ohio does, but that comes with time and growth. Ohio has had so much time to development and become a key player in the American economy. You don't just generate 461 billion dollars into the American economy if you are a small state. This state offers a lot of America's top 100 places to live as well. Ohio offers so much, and some people refuse to see that.

This thread is made for positive posts only please. Another poster went out of his way to make a negative thread, just because he had some bad experiences here, and started an arguement with me, when I never even stated that I was arguing. Very childish, but what can you do? Please post some POSITIVE POSTS PLEASE.

[EarthBound?]

Ok, Ohio does have some good looking ladies. Sorry thats all good point about Ohio I can think of .

[Traveler87]

Originally Posted by SeabeeBolt

Ok, Ohio does have some good looking ladies. Sorry thats all good point about Ohio I can think of .

LOL thats fine, thats your opinion, and you have a right to state it. Sorry not everything has worked out for you in Ohio. Some must realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and some places of the country offer different things for different people. To each their own right?

[EarthBound?]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

LOL thats fine, thats your opinion, and you have a right to state it. Sorry not everything has worked out for you in Ohio. Some must realize that the grass isn't always greener on the other side, and some places of the country offer different things for different people. To each their own right?

Now thats the spirit .

[mccarley]

Originally Posted by Traveler87

I don't know why some people have to continue to bash the state of Ohio..

I know how you feel. I'm from Mississippi and we make the bottom of every list. But, I believe the mayor of Toledo is a nut.

[luvnthebeach]

I agree with you traveler! People do seem do go out of their way to bash Ohio and I don't get it. Truly, besides the long cold winters (which some people love) Ohio is a great place to live, a great place to raise families, and a place with LOTS of job opportunities with a decent cost of living! People are friendly and down to earth. Plus...Ohio has the Buckeyes which speaks for itself Go Bucks...O-H...I-O
The state of Ohio is one of the best places I've ever been, how's that for positive?

[Stephan_K]

Sounds exactly like CA 25 years ago before it came to be what it is today............Hummm.

Hopefully OH won't turn out like CA, the gov is definitely pushing for it though.

[wrightflyer]

I love being able to hike/bike without being worried about wildlife (FL aligators, AZ rattlesnakes, bears in the mountains). If you see the countryside, it can be rather pleasent. It's the cities (and yes, every city has its problems) that worry me, but at the same time the cities do define Ohio.

[SCBeaches]

I don't like the cities - or cities anywhere for that matter - but you can't beat Ohio's small towns and countryside. Very Americana- apple pie, porch swings, red barns, church socials, hay rides, pumpkin patches, fall leaves, apple butter, mashed potatoes, family reunions, picnics, town squares, patchwork quilts, historical buildings, friendliness, hobo dinners, American-made cars, soda fountains....... THAT, to me, is what the backbone of Ohio is all about. I grew up there and lived there for the first 25 years of my life and wouldn't trade those years for anything!

Yes, I hear people from all over the country bash Ohio for all kinds of reasons and I always stick up for my home state and its people! If these people could experience the small-town charm and values that I grew up with, they would know exactly what I mean.

I read on so many of the CD forums that people are looking for "Mayberry -like" towns to raise their children in and all they have to do is look to rural OH and they will find just that.

[Art1979]

If I were Aristotle, I'd have Books No. 2, 3, 5, and 7 analyzing the situation in Ohio and 4, 6, and 8 on an ideal solution. Unfortunately, inspiration strikes when I have the least amount of time available to write. Regardless, a basic principle of American life is choice. Generally speaking, people are entitled to do what they will with their life. If they want to stay, great, if they want to move (for whatever reason), then that's just as acceptable.

What I have decided to do as of late, is accept areas for what they are rather than curse/praise their existence. It tends to show everything in a different light. You can take in the good with the bad and vice versa. It's all about removing filters. As H.L. Mencken would say "Criticism is prejudice made plausible."