[ogre]

Quote:
Originally Posted by karibear
And you've never heard of "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"? I don't care what the statistics say, you'd have to use a team of horses to get me anywhere near the eastern seaboard!

#99 Yesterday, 09:10 PM
StillwaterTownie

What's so bad and far out wrong about the eastern seaboard? Was New York City one heck of a scary place?

#100 Yesterday, 09:26 PM
karibear

Not my cuppa tea. After spending 30+ years in rural Alaska, I don't think it would like me any more than I'd like it. And I grew up in a major city, so I do know what cities are like. <<<shudders>>>

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Well . . . "One man's meat is another man's poison." Oscar Wilde (?, I think)

[Annemieke Roell]

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

Is he teaching appraisal or sarcasm today?

Appraising. In this family I am the sarcasm expert .....

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by Schousse

Appraising. In this family I am the sarcasm expert .....

Wow!

[Annemieke Roell]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

NO WAY AM I KIDDING!! Unlike you and a lot of people, I have spent a long time studying statistics dealing with the quality of life in the various states and it was very easy to conclude that states with higher taxes coincide with a higher quality of living than in Oklahoma. For instance, Massachusetts is rated one of the healthiest states in the union while Oklahoma is one of the least healthiest. All New England states rate as better places to live than Oklahoma. There's fewer unmarried teen pregnancies. The death rate is lower in those states. The suicide rates are lower. There's fewer fatal traffic accidents. There's not as much public corruption. All this doesn't come from such states having lower taxes than Oklahoma. They are higher. But statistics aren't everything. Life is how you make it. If life is hell in New England, you leave it behind. If life is hell for you in Oklahoma, you leave.

Having lived on Cape Cod for almost 25 year (still have family and property there) I can GUARANTEE you that the cost of living is much lower and the quality of life much higher in OK vs MA.

Not only are statistics not everything, they can be interpreted an way you like. The level of health may be higher, but considering that more people have insurance in MA (look at Cape Cod which is a favorite reirement community with people on Medicare etc), this is likely true. On the other hand, public assistance for those without insurance bites the big one n MA vs Oklahoma.

Teenage preganancies ..... I am not sure if that can be contributed to education or rather culture.

We also have tribal governments and their own benefits here in OK.

I could go on line by line, if I had the time and desire. I guess my point is that one cannot judge on statistics. They are not reliable.

[LadyRobyn]

Originally Posted by TheComputerGuy

That's easy!

She wants 2 boxes of "Don't CA my OK" bumper stickers
and She doesn't think OK liberals are as communistic as CA liberals.
(I'm sure she won't hesitate to correct me if I'm wrong.)

Originally Posted by Synopsis

That's exactly what she meant! A liberal in Oklahoma would be conservative in California. A conservative in California would be a liberal in Oklahoma.

And I'll take 2 boxes of Don't CA my OK as well!

[_redbird_]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

NO WAY AM I KIDDING!! Unlike you and a lot of people, I have spent a long time studying statistics dealing with the quality of life in the various states and it was very easy to conclude that states with higher taxes coincide with a higher quality of living than in Oklahoma.

Let's make sure we are all on the same page as far as definitions. Quality of Life per Wikipedia:
Quality of life
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quality of life is the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people. Unlike standard of living, quality of life is not a tangible concept, and therefore cannot be measured directly.
Furthermore, quality of life consists of two components. The first is a physical aspect which includes such things as health, diet, as well as protection against pain and disease.
The second component is psychological in nature. This aspect includes such things as stress, worry, pleasure and other positive or negative emotional states.
It is virtually impossible to predict the quality of life of a specific individual, since the combination of attributes that leads one individual to be content is rarely the same for another individual. However, one can assume with some confidence the higher average level of diet, shelter, safety, as well as freedoms and rights a general population has, the better overall quality of life said population experiences.

Understanding quality of life is today particularly important in health care, where monetary measures do not readily apply. Decisions on what research or treatments to invest the most in are closely related to their effect on a patient's quality of life.

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

For instance, Massachusetts is rated one of the healthiest states in the union while Oklahoma is one of the least healthiest.

Yes, but do higher taxes result in a healthier state? There are other factors such as culture. Here in Oklahoma, we have a very high percentage of Native Americans, and as a Native American I know first hand my People have a much higher rate of diabetes along with obesity, etc. But being a fattie does not result FROM lower taxes or higher taxes. It stems from diet and exercise. And I might add, pound for pound, we are the happiest people you could ever meet!! (see my jolly smile?)

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

All New England states rate as better places to live than Oklahoma. There's fewer unmarried teen pregnancies. The death rate is lower in those states. The suicide rates are lower. There's fewer fatal traffic accidents.

These statistics may be true, but are they correlational or causitive? I don't think any teenager girl is going to say, "Gee, synopse/CG, the taxes are low here in OK, so let's do it until the cows come home!"
Less fatal traffic accidents? Those are probably because we have so many rural hwys and when there is a wreck here, it is usually pretty nasty.

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

There's not as much public corruption. All this doesn't come from such states having lower taxes than Oklahoma. They are higher. But statistics aren't everything. Life is how you make it. If life is hell in New England, you leave it behind. If life is hell for you in Oklahoma, you leave.

Personally, the NE seaboard can have the gold seal standard of high posh living, but Oklahoma is where I choose to live and I could care less about the NE state's standards or stats.
I am sure there are a lot of folks who will agree with Stillwater, and I am usually one of them, but on this issue, Oklahoma may be bassackwards, but it is "home" for me.
My tribal roots are here and although I make fun of okies every chance I get, I prefer living here to any other state.

P.S. I have only lived in CA, KS, and TX.

[colleeng47]

"Quality of life" is a subjective term. To some people that means having the government provide many services for which they pay a lot of taxes. They like it that way, and can't imagine living any other way. It makes them feel secure, and that's fine. To others it means having the government stay the h*** out of their lives, and "I'll take care of me and mine, thank you very much." They can't imagine living any other way and it makes them feel secure. If we all felt the same way there would be some very populated states and some very empty ones.

It doesn't mean one is right and one is wrong, it just means we like to live our lives differently. Saying one place has a superior quality of life is ludicrous. It really depends on what makes you feel happy and secure.

[_redbird_]

Hello docgary2, you might want to look up ptsum here on CDF. He is a good person who knows a few things about Cherokee traditional healing arts.

I don't think too much about political leanings, but I would have to say Liberal here in Oklahoma can mean allowing someone into the express checkout lane at the grocery store with more than 10 items. And not causing a stink about it or getting one's panties in a scrunchie over it.

Originally Posted by docgary2

I don't count myself as a 'Liberal' but a 'Libertarian'
ie Libertarian party and I often read lewrockwell.com
My hesitancy to get involved with Repubs and Dems is
largely due to the scandals and hypocricy that goes
up in the upper echelon of Washington.
I have seriously considered Talequah as a place to settle
down, but wonder if I would fit in after being an ex pat
for so many years, especially after living in China/Hong Kong
and Taiwan, having learned Mandarin and finding Asian customs
and ideas regarding 'being liberal' quite different than
the thoughts of my own countrymen.
Any thoughts or comments are certainly appreciated. I am interested
in Cherokee and Native American customs due to my work as a
healer (homoeopathic, herbs) and interest in Chinese Medicine.

[Annemieke Roell]

Unlike you and a lot of people, I have spent a long time studying statistics dealing with the quality of life in the various states

And you would know this how?

I use statistics extensively for my work BUT am well rounded enough that statistics on their own mean very little. Geographical competence is needed to properly interpret these statistics.

Of course, actually having lived in the areas being commented on helps

[TheComputerGuy]

If New England is so great, why would I be going to OK?
(And no, I'm not on crack!)