I can no longer say I enjoy living here (Tucson: homes, unemployed)

[psulions2007]

Yup, it looks like the honeymoon is over...sure, I enjoyed the monsoon thunderstorms, the different scenery, and heck, I still love the food...but too much overshadows those small joys:

Since I moved here in August, I have tried...tried to make it work, tried to enjoy it, and tried to get on with what I am here for....but that door is closing fast.

I cannot feel empathy for this state...its citizens...or anything it/they stand(s) for. This state was built on a giant pit of sand...and somehow, that pit of sand works its way through the veins of everyday life here...the way the government acts, the way business is conducted, the education system, and even the way people live their lives. It is all in a giant pit of hot, hellish sand.

When I see many, many students who have graduated from this state's grade school system come to my office or write me an email...and they can barely communicate properly or use proper etiquette when communicating with professors/graduate students...I can feel certain that the future of this state grows dimmer by the minute. Things were not this bad in other states I've been to and lived in...even Florida, which I am famous for not liking. Ever been to the Foothills Mall on a Friday night? The way these kids handle themselves...is unbelievable. It truly is sad.

The way the government and university handles themselves...is ridiculous. UofA is facing a tremendous, $103M cut from the state legislature. This is a huge percentage cut, one that would cripple the UofA if they retained the current levels of tuition, etc. If this cut went through, the UofA's funding would be approximately $296M...divided by 38,000 students is approximately $7790 per student. Did you know that state funding at PSU is roughly $3500/student? Did you know they aren't in any financial crisis? Sure, the in-state tuition at PSU is ~$14K per year...but that is why there are smaller universities and colleges with lower tuition rates (both in PA and AZ). Yet, the University of Arizona...and the Board of Regents...has their respective thumbs up their bums and are threatening to cut out entire departments and colleges on the basis of these cuts. The UofA can survive these cuts...if the leadership is competent. Unfortunately, it is not.


So, in summary, I am sorry Arizona...Tucson...UofA...I'm sorry that I lost what little connection I had to you in the beginning of my time here. However, I feel that if I do not leave soon, I will completely lose my mind and have to be institutionalized. Unfortunately, I do not know when I can leave.

[Mi_Mom]

I have to comment on this one specific paragraph (and I'll leave the rest to others who are more fiscally minded than myself).

When I see many, many students who have graduated from this state's grade school system come to my office or write me an email...and they can barely communicate properly or use proper etiquette when communicating with professors/graduate students...I can feel certain that the future of this state grows dimmer by the minute. Things were not this bad in other states I've been to and lived in...even Florida, which I am famous for not liking. Ever been to the Foothills Mall on a Friday night? The way these kids handle themselves...is unbelievable. It truly is sad.

Yes. Some of the fault is our school system(s) here in AZ and throughout the United States.

But I hope that you lay some of that blame to parents as well. The way that children handle themselves, the expectations that parents have for their children? The groundwork that they lay in their own homes and lives? We've taken so much personal responsibility away from parents AND teens. Constantly expecting things to happen for us, instead of making things happen for ourselves. Generations have lost their self-respect as well as respect for authority and hard work. It's quite sad actually.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Mi_Mom

I have to comment on this one specific paragraph (and I'll leave the rest to others who are more fiscally minded than myself).



Yes. Some of the fault is our school system(s) here in AZ and throughout the United States.

But I hope that you lay some of that blame to parents as well. The way that children handle themselves, the expectations that parents have for their children? The groundwork that they lay in their own homes and lives? We've taken so much personal responsibility away from parents AND teens. Constantly expecting things to happen for us, instead of making things happen for ourselves. Generations have lost their self-respect as well as respect for authority and hard work. It's quite sad actually.

And I agree with you as well-----------personal responsibility starts at home irrespective of race/ethnicity.

That is what separates President Obama from, say Dale Hausner (sp), the serial shooter presently on trial here in Phx.

[psulions2007]

Originally Posted by Mi_Mom

I have to comment on this one specific paragraph (and I'll leave the rest to others who are more fiscally minded than myself).



Yes. Some of the fault is our school system(s) here in AZ and throughout the United States.

But I hope that you lay some of that blame to parents as well. The way that children handle themselves, the expectations that parents have for their children? The groundwork that they lay in their own homes and lives? We've taken so much personal responsibility away from parents AND teens. Constantly expecting things to happen for us, instead of making things happen for ourselves. Generations have lost their self-respect as well as respect for authority and hard work. It's quite sad actually.

It is a regional thing. I grew up in the southeast (FL), and interacted with many graduates of schools in PA, NJ, MD, NY, and OH. There is no comparison to the lack of quality education that is here in AZ. Keep in mind that I'm also not just talking about people who don't go to college....look at this section of an email I and the professor I TA for received last night in regards to a class:

------------
I alao want to apoligixe to pro <removed>, WHaen I spoke to himw I was wearinf
the clothes I has on the night before. When I got home from the bars I GOT A
CALL (Night before clas) frim my brother and was told that not only he died
but he wanted me ti make a speech at his funeral. So in short sorry for my poor
demeaner and for looking like <inaudible> or someone who was up all night writting his
speech. Anywya Ill be back mext class. I have to look on the syllbus for your
office gours bec i would like to have a do over and talk about some wether and
climate. I look forwad to it
--------------

This is someone who was accepted to the UofA and is a student there. This was not a student-student conversation, but a student-professor-TA conversation. Also, this is far from the first time I have encountered this in AZ....however, AZ was the first time I ever encountered this.

[M3 Mitch]

Kids are idiots everywhere, and have been since the Roman Empire anyway. What's your specific beef with AZ? Maybe you would prefer to be in the auto business, unemployed, and freezing your butt off around Detroit?

[psulions2007]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Kids are idiots everywhere, and have been since the Roman Empire anyway. What's your specific beef with AZ? Maybe you would prefer to be in the auto business, unemployed, and freezing your butt off around Detroit?

There is no specific 'beef' I have about AZ...it's everything (except the food). The people, the government, the university I work for, the weather...oh God the weather...the education system in general,..........

Oh, and your hypothetical is pretty dumb. Whereas I would much rather prefer living in Michigan...and yes....in the cold weather that actually has decent variation....I wouldn't be "working in the auto industry"....I would be doing what I'm doing now, except at somewhere like UM.

[fofinger]

Well I suggest you take off before summer gets here, because if you got here in August you haven't really seen it yet.....oh and I might suggest you check out Mississippi....maybe that would be more to your liking.....don't let the door hit ya.....

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

------------
I alao want to apoligixe to pro <removed>, WHaen I spoke to himw I was wearinf
the clothes I has on the night before. When I got home from the bars I GOT A
CALL (Night before clas) frim my brother and was told that not only he died
but he wanted me ti make a speech at his funeral. So in short sorry for my poor
demeaner and for looking like <inaudible> or someone who was up all night writting his
speech. Anywya Ill be back mext class. I have to look on the syllbus for your
office gours bec i would like to have a do over and talk about some wether and
climate. I look forwad to it
--------------

This is someone who was accepted to the UofA and is a student there. This was not a student-student conversation, but a student-professor-TA conversation. Also, this is far from the first time I have encountered this in AZ....however, AZ was the first time I ever encountered this.

Open yourself up to diverse ways of communicating. Never judge.

[ihatetucson]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Kids are idiots everywhere, and have been since the Roman Empire anyway. What's your specific beef with AZ? Maybe you would prefer to be in the auto business, unemployed, and freezing your butt off around Detroit?

Uh, you know Tucson lost 82,000 jobs last year right? and you know more of us are going to be unemployed this year right? Hopefully folks that have been working for years here in Tucson have money saved up, because chances are, you WILL lose your job this year if you haven't already!

[sickofIL]

Students are like this everywhere. Actually more than just students. I constantly see notes sent home from teachers with gramatical errors. I get e-mails with misspellings and gross gramatical errors from our COE, the EVP and VP's at my company. I guess they never heard of spell check.

Kids, try going into any fast food store, or any store for that matter, and go to pay. Then give the kid a different amount than they just typed into the cash register. Example, you buy something for $4.05 and you give them $5.25 so you will get $1.20 instead of a handfull of change. Then they type in $5 and look at you funny because of the quarter. They usually say something like, " I can't figure that out. I already typed in $5."

So besides spelling and grammer they also don't know simple math.

And schools? I am convinced that what makes a good school system is more the parents than the schools. They say that the schools, CUSD 200 (Wheaton/Winfield IL) is very good. However, if I just left it up to the schools, my kids wouldn't learn much. The parents need to teach their kids more than the schools do. I believe that the schools in my district are better because the general population has enough education and time to spend teaching their kids. Usually the districts with schools that are considered poor are in neighborhoods with poorly educated parents that both need to work and do not have the ability or time to teach their kids.

And the state government? You think Arizona is bad? Look at the Illinois state government. Here we have had 3 past governors go to jail and it's likely the current one will go there too. We have had a Secretary of State that had shoe boxes of bribe money stashed all over his house.

So it's not just Arizona. It's everywhere.