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Oh, yes they are. Poverty, drugs and guns. They all go hand in hand. Only the locations differ.
Cities are incredibly safe these days. Like I mentioned in a previous post, gentrification is pushing the undesirable elements out of the area. Areas that may have warzones in the 70s and 80s are now home to programmers, doctors, lawyers, etc.
Sounds like there will be a "huuuge" jobs boom for rural Americans who want to clean houses and pick grapes.
And leave a similar legacy for their children.
I think that both cities and rural ares have their pros and cons.
But the OP's post is not an indictment of rural America. It is just a data driven view of the problems that face rural citizens (per the article cited).
If I were a rural denizen, I'd welcome the discussion and hope that it led to attention and maybe improvement. Personally, I live halfway between one of America's biggest cities and farm country. The view ain't half bad from here. Very low crime, excellent job opportunities, well informed neighbors and anything you want less than an hour away.
The majority of tiny towns in rural areas has far lower crime than even the "lower crime" big cities. Look it up yourselves on citydata right here. So while there are problems, they are safer still overall than many nice urban neighborhoods. Even a nice urban neighborhood is often within very easy walking distance from a terrible neighborhood. Gangs and whatnot are not however going to bother driving 100 miles away into the "boonies" without a great reason.
Also, in order to make rural life "worth it", you better have at least a little bit of living off the land skills. If you treat a cabin in the woods like it's a highrise condo, staying inside on your computer until you need to go to the store, then it perhaps makes little sense to live there. You need to grow some food, can, hunt, fish, do home improvement etc to truly live country. You can get by with less income if you utilize the advantages of a bountiful land.
I drove through the rural Midwest once. Talk about a cesspool. Entire towns where the residents collectively had fewer than 10 teeth, rusted out junk wagons, stray dogs roaming the street, boarded up storefronts with broken out windows, heroin addicts sprawled out on the cracked sidewalks spilling into the rain gutters - and these were some of the nicer parts.
I drove through the rural Midwest once. Talk about a cesspool. Entire towns where the residents collectively had fewer than 10 teeth, rusted out junk wagons, stray dogs roaming the street, boarded up storefronts with broken out windows, heroin addicts sprawled out on the cracked sidewalks spilling into the rain gutters - and these were some of the nicer parts.
That is not unlike the drive I took from Punta Gorda to Orlando. Even with the windows up and A/C on, I needed a shower when I got to my destination. Not that Orlando is anything to brag about!
That is not unlike the drive I took from Punta Gorda to Orlando. Even with the windows up and A/C on, I needed a shower when I got to my destination. Not that Orlando is anything to brag about!
The most disgusting rest stops I've ever seen were in Florida. Absolutely filthy. I've seen better public facilities in third world countries.
I drove through the rural Midwest once. Talk about a cesspool. Entire towns where the residents collectively had fewer than 10 teeth, rusted out junk wagons, stray dogs roaming the street, boarded up storefronts with broken out windows, heroin addicts sprawled out on the cracked sidewalks spilling into the rain gutters - and these were some of the nicer parts.
I've been to some big coastal cities before. Man what a dump. Whole neighborhoods with graffiti every 5 feet and overgrown lawns choked with weeds and litter. Bums aggressively panhandling at every street corner wearing pee and sweat soaked rags. Gunshots, police and ambulence sirens sounding off at all hours of the night. Old brick buildings crumbling apart with strung out looking hookers and the stench of dumpster juice everywhere. And I was told that this was supposed to be the hip trendy part.
I've been to some big coastal cities before. Man what a dump. Whole neighborhoods with graffiti every 5 feet and overgrown lawns choked with weeds and litter. Bums aggressively panhandling at every street corner wearing pee and sweat soaked rags. Gunshots, police and ambulence sirens sounding off at all hours of the night. Old brick buildings crumbling apart with strung out looking hookers and the stench of dumpster juice everywhere. And I was told that this was supposed to be the hip trendy part.
All of you describing your life in the country is like hearing a horror story for me.
I bet you are all happy. That is great!!!! I'm happy you enjoy your lifestyle. I know you are happy for me too and wouldn't ever make a personal attack because I choose to live differently. Nah -- especially you people in the country -- you all are so warm and friendly and neighborly.
I do not understand why anyone cares where someone else lives. Why can't people just leave other people alone?
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