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Oddly enough, I don't think of tornadoes as one of the worst things about Oklahoma. That's because the general population is very well educated on tornadoes, the local weather coverage is very informative, and lastly there are tornado sirens all over most communities. If there's even a chance that a tornado may form within your vacinity, there's a pretty good chance you'll know about it. And even if you manage to see a tornado, it's extraordinarily unlikely that you'll actually be hurt by it.
Balance this with where I live now near the east coast. Tornadoes have still been known to occur around here, but people don't know anything about them & there are no tornado sirens. Frankly, I'm far more nervous about tornadoes where I live now than I ever was while living in Oklahoma.
Note that I have seen 3 tornadoes in my life. I was not injured in any of these storms, nor was the building in which I took shelter. Also know that it is extremely unusual to see this many tornadoes in one lifetime. Guess I'm just lucky.
What I don't like
1. Toll roads - especially toll roads within city limits like the south loop in the Tulsa area.
2. Not quite as liberal as I'd like. Note that there are plenty of liberals to be found (Oklahoma does elect Democrats from time to time), but back in '04 there were a lot more "W" bumper stickers to be seen than "Kerry" stickers.
3. Land-locked. A trip to the ocean is a major event. This has always been kinda hard on my mom as she loves the ocean, but she choses to stay in Oklahoma, anyway, so it can't be that bad.
4. The vicious cycle that is the "brain drain". There honestly are a lot of young people who would love to stay in Oklahoma if only there were more job opportunities for them there.
As for the heat, that's true across the whole lower half of the country. My tips are to (1.) buy a light-colored car with a light-colored interior and if at all possible (2.) stay inside & enjoy the air conditioning. I've also found that the bugs in Oklahoma didn't seem any worse than most other places. Luckily, modern science has given us bug repellant! So that problem is easily remedied.
There are lots of things I really like about Oklahoma. The people tend to be kinder & friendlier than lots of other places (a fact I took for granted until I traveled a bit). I was very active in the Tulsa arts scene when I lived there & found that there was plenty to do every week for anyone who wanted it. Plus, it's actually possible for teachers and nurses and the like to actually own a home - a feat that is impossible in other parts of the country.
I haven't seen litter here. Well, come to think of it people are always throwing beer and hamburger bags out their car window and onto our property. People in the country have the same problem. It gets to be a mess up and down our street, mostly in the summer when the weeds are cut down.
The thing with pollution is that Tyson Chicken Farm is polluting our waters. People are banning together to try to fight it. But there is pollution everywhere. You couldn't really swim in the ocean in San Diego. You are not suppose to swim in the rivers here either.
nmnita: The above poster was only answering the question. I am sure they believe that there are good things here.
And it is true, it is conservative here, and there is a lack of cultural things to do. I didn't do them when I was in California so I don't miss them. And I don't care if a place is conservative or not.
The good doctors here don't stick around either. They leave for higher paying jobs elsewhere. But I have found some good doctors here that either haven't left or won't leave.
But the good outweighs the bad, and you can find the bad in any State. There is no paradise on earth.
I haven't seen litter here. Well, come to think of it people are always throwing beer and hamburger bags out their car window and onto our property. People in the country have the same problem. It gets to be a mess up and down our street, mostly in the summer when the weeds are cut down.
The thing with pollution is that Tyson Chicken Farm is polluting our waters. People are banning together to try to fight it. But there is pollution everywhere. You couldn't really swim in the ocean in San Diego. You are not suppose to swim in the rivers here either.
nmnita: The above poster was only answering the question. I am sure they believe that there are good things here.
And it is true, it is conservative here, and there is a lack of cultural things to do. I didn't do them when I was in California so I don't miss them. And I don't care if a place is conservative or not.
The good doctors here don't stick around either. They leave for higher paying jobs elsewhere. But I have found some good doctors here that either haven't left or won't leave.
But the good outweighs the bad, and you can find the bad in any State. There is no paradise on earth.
It was his total, what I found, blasting of the state. I don't like to see anyone blast anything as there is good and bad, no matter what.
Yes, like many smaller states and many states without several metro areas, it is going to be more conservative, but certainly not anymore than some states I can think of.
Doctors, we have some of the same problems and yet, we have outstanding medical facilities as well, especially when you consider the size of the state. golly, here in our county we don't even have a hospital. We voted a mill levey last year, but so far, the country seems to think we are too poor to support the added taxes. You talk about a poor county and state!!!
You are right, no Utopia. Too many people think they can go into a state and bring with them all the good about the place they used to live, not realizing no two places are the same. For those who choose to leave, that's ok, again, though, they need to realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
I guess you don't live there now, is there anything good you can say about the place? Actually, from what I have heard, one of the reasons major companies do not locate is the higher cost of business tax even though the overall tax rate in OK is the lowest in the country.
Nita
There's plenty I like about the place! That wasn't the question being posed, though. I was just answering the question.
The reason you're giving about lower taxes drawing businesses is the one the right-wing politicians in OK looooove to give when giving tax breaks to big businesses. It's true that certain industries who are looking for the lowest possible operating costs (which includes paying the lowest possible salaries, by the way) will move to Oklahoma because it's cheap. I was referring to types of industres that hire a lot of college graduates, however. The leaders of those industries will tell you that they will locate in places where they can hire the best and brightest, and where those people want to move and stay. They'll pay higher taxes to be able to do that. That's why there's no shortage of jobs for college grads in New York, New England, Chicago area, California, etc., despite their much higher tax rates. Oklahoma does the things to attract the low paying jobs, but not the education-requiring creativity-based jobs. That's why we have a brain drain.
It was his total, what I found, blasting of the state. I don't like to see anyone blast anything as there is good and bad, no matter what.
Of course there is good and bad, and had the poster asked for the good, I would've given it. I've said positive things about Oklahoma on other threads where that was the topic. The poster here asked for the bad, though, so I gave it.
Just for you, though, Nita: I love the down-to-earth people, the cheap cost of living, the Red Dirt music scene, the Woody Guthrie festival, the Paseo district in OKC, The Flaming Lips, the lakes and rivers, OSU, Mike's College Bar, The Ouachitas, and the wide-open spaces. I lived there for over a quarter of a century. I would've left at age 18 if I hated it. I just went back to visit recently and had a blast.
You'll also note that I said I didn't think the tornadoes and hot weather were that big of a deal. Hot weather doesn't seem to keep people from flocking to Arizona, Texas, and Florida. I've seen one tornado ever in Oklahoma. (That's the same as the number I've seen in the Rocky Mountains, where they're not supposed to happen, and the same number that Brooklyn, NY has had in the last week.)
Of course there is good and bad, and had the poster asked for the good, I would've given it. I've said positive things about Oklahoma on other threads where that was the topic. The poster here asked for the bad, though, so I gave it.
Just for you, though, Nita: I love the down-to-earth people, the cheap cost of living, the Red Dirt music scene, the Woody Guthrie festival, the Paseo district in OKC, The Flaming Lips, the lakes and rivers, OSU, Mike's College Bar, The Ouachitas, and the wide-open spaces. I lived there for over a quarter of a century. I would've left at age 18 if I hated it. I just went back to visit recently and had a blast.
You'll also note that I said I didn't think the tornadoes and hot weather were that big of a deal. Hot weather doesn't seem to keep people from flocking to Arizona, Texas, and Florida. I've seen one tornado ever in Oklahoma. (That's the same as the number I've seen in the Rocky Mountains, where they're not supposed to happen, and the same number that Brooklyn, NY has had in the last week.)
ok, you win, I will get off my high horse, it is just your remarks seemed so negative. Yes, the OP did ask about 5 things not so good.
Nita
ps; just one more thing, as I have mentioned NM has more problems that OK ever thought of having and yet, is viewed by Fortune magazine, one of the best places for new business.
ps; just one more thing, as I have mentioned NM has more problems that OK ever thought of having and yet, is viewed by Fortune magazine, one of the best places for new business.
Nita
Having lived in both states, that makes perfect sense to me for the reason I gave earlier. NM, because of the mountains, outdoor rec opportunities, and more artsy/creative/hip vibe in some places like Taos and Santa Fe, is a place educated creative people are more likely to want to stay than OK is, in my experience. I agree that there are problems there (worse poverty than in OK even!), but it's a place I would've loved to settle if I could've found a good job there. Some of my friends were able to, but many ended up in Colorado or Texas. I hope Fortune is right that things are looking up there. I'd love to live in the mountains in Northern NM if I could afford it.
Having lived in both states, that makes perfect sense to me for the reason I gave earlier. NM, because of the mountains, outdoor rec opportunities, and more artsy/creative/hip vibe in some places like Taos and Santa Fe, is a place educated creative people are more likely to want to stay than OK is, in my experience. I agree that there are problems there (worse poverty than in OK even!), but it's a place I would've loved to settle if I could've found a good job there. Some of my friends were able to, but many ended up in Colorado or Texas. I hope Fortune is right that things are looking up there. I'd love to live in the mountains in Northern NM if I could afford it.
Northern NM is a paradise, the entire state is truely the Land of Enchantment when it comes to wide open space beauty, but most of the state is one big problem. Albuquerque is getting more corporations, still the majority of the jobs are in the lower income range (this is true many places) our taxes keep going up, yet there is very little improvement anywhere. Yes, Sante Fe and Taos are like a different state. The richest county in the United State (about 2 years ago) and the poorest were both in NM.
I think our biggest problem is the laziness of so many here. Arkansas and Oklahoma may be poor and to some degree backwards but the people are not lazy. Uneducated, lacking in material things, niave, yes, but not lazy. There is a big difference. Remember, I am generalizing; there are acceptions to any statement.
Nothing religious really bothers me- even if someone tries to rub my face in their belief I just do it back. If they don't do it to me, I am fine. (But since I'm Christian, I don't think that'll be an issue.)
The only problems I have are heat, tornados and bugs (HATE bugs. Especially spiders!) but it seems like thats on alot of lists lol. =)
1) Conservative mindset. (And I don't mean fiscally conservative, which I don't mind as much. I mean the Bible Belt style of xenophobic social conservative.)
2) Not a lot of things to do entertainment-wise, as far as art, culture, etc. There's some, but you have to dig for it. (This is kinda related to #1, in a way.)
3) Not a lot of fun, artsy/progressive/hip kinds of neighborhoods with diversity. Paseo in OKC is an exception, and there are a couple of others, but not like most places have. This is also related to #1.
4) Pollution in lakes and rivers. (In fairness, this is bad many places these days, but it hits hard in Oklahoma where water recreation is one of the main things there is to do for fun.) This could also be related to #1, as environmentalism is seen by many as as some sort of liberal conspiracy, and pro-business mindsets prevail at all costs. There isn't curbside recycling in most places, for example.
5) Not a lot of good paying jobs for college grads. This is somewhat offset by low cost of living, but there's a definite "brain drain" with many people ending up in Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, etc. Besides the lack of such jobs, I think many also choose to leave due to the things I listed in 1-4, and many companies choose not to locate in OK because so many creative/intelligent/progressive types don't stick around. It's all related, and a bit of a bad cycle that needs to be broken.
The summer heat can be oppressive, yes, but no worse than in most of the southern half of the U.S. As far as tornadoes go, I think I maybe saw one in the 25+ years I lived there, and never personally knew anyone who lost anything from one. Neither of these things would be in my top 50, let alone top 5.
1. While Oklahoma is still plaqued by a conservative mindset, it's not nearly as bad as it was over 5 years ago when tattooing, casinos and lotteries were still banned along with closing liquor stores on election day. Also there is no longer controversy over soft porn, such as Penthouse and the Tin Drum.
2&3. With demands of work and raising kids, a lot of people don't have time to go out anyway for entertainment. Besides, as high in cost as cable TV has become, one might as well stay home and enjoy what's on the tube. Going to church is a lot of peoples' idea of getting out. Churches don't charge admission.
4. If people want to do something about pollution, they're simply gonna have to say no to new hog farms, cow lots and mass chickens, and doubly so, if they're proposed to be located next to lakes and streams.
5. It's hard to know what do to with the state's brain drain. Stillwater and OSU are trying to do something about it with the Oklahoma Technology and Research Park.
Weather extremes can be a nuisance in Oklahoma what with droughts and brush fires last year and nearly daily rain and flash flooding this year. New people when moving here should keep that in mind and not live in fire and flood prone areas.
If you experienced the massive bug problem in Florida, then you know the bugs in Oklahoma don't amount to much.
Last edited by StillwaterTownie; 08-12-2007 at 08:45 PM..
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