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05-07-2009, 10:04 AM
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Location: Piedmont, CA
35,989 posts, read 63,770,105 times
Reputation: 20095
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05-07-2009, 10:21 AM
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1,303 posts, read 3,663,272 times
Reputation: 223
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 18Montclair
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I can understand why US cities rank rather low on the quality of life list (#29 is the highest rank for a US city). It has to do with healthcare. One of the main parameters for this ranking is availability of healthcare... countries with Universal healthcare tend to rank high on the list. Because of the large number of uninsured in the US, this brings the numbers down for US cities. Also crime overall tends to be higher in the US then other developed countries.. especially crimes committed with guns because of our rather liberal gun laws.
The infrastructure ranking was quite surprising. Singapore I can understand.. but Atlanta?? I mean utilities are quite reliable and inexpensive, but public transit is quite lacking, especially when you compare it to other US cities like DC, New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. Plus, Atlanta has some of the worst traffic and longest commute times in the nation, that too me would indicate an inadequate and inefficient transportation infrastructure. |
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05-07-2009, 10:25 AM
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Location: St Simons Island, GA
23,123 posts, read 41,218,377 times
Reputation: 15876
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lilmusket
I can understand why US cities rank rather low on the quality of life list (#29 is the highest rank for a US city). It has to do with healthcare. One of the main parameters for this ranking is availability of healthcare... countries with Universal healthcare tend to rank high on the list. Because of the large number of uninsured in the US, this brings the numbers down for US cities. Also crime overall tends to be higher in the US then other developed countries.. especially crimes committed with guns because of our rather liberal gun laws.
The infrastructure ranking was quite surprising. Singapore I can understand.. but Atlanta?? I mean utilities are quite reliable and inexpensive, but public transit is quite lacking, especially when you compare it to other US cities like DC, New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco. Plus, Atlanta has some of the worst traffic and longest commute times in the nation, that too me would indicate an inadequate and inefficient transportation infrastructure.
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That came as a total surprise to me, too...it's far and away the #1 complaint of Atlanta residents. |
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05-07-2009, 11:27 AM
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196 posts, read 963,368 times
Reputation: 123
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Hey, Boston moved up 2 slots...good to see
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05-07-2009, 01:26 PM
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Location: New England & The Maritimes
2,116 posts, read 4,693,256 times
Reputation: 1114
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18Montclair posted some obscure ranking that SF is high on?
that's out of the ordinary.
EDIT: (just kidding, I love these lists. Aaaaand Boston is number 3 for US. not too shabby.)
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05-07-2009, 01:35 PM
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Location: Piedmont, CA
35,989 posts, read 63,770,105 times
Reputation: 20095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWereRabbit
18Montclair posted some obscure ranking that SF is high on?
that's out of the ordinary.
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Point taken about my homerism. 
Now if we can only knock off Honolulu 
But the Mercer Ranking is hardly obscure. Its a pretty widely read and reported on ranking that looks at a host of issue. |
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05-07-2009, 02:26 PM
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Location: Greater PDX
1,018 posts, read 3,964,367 times
Reputation: 954
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LovinDecatur
That came as a total surprise to me, too...it's far and away the #1 complaint of Atlanta residents.
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Which quickly makes one wonder about the accuracy of the other rankings on the list. |
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05-07-2009, 02:34 PM
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Location: In the heights
34,945 posts, read 34,281,368 times
Reputation: 19211
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I dislike all the anti-Sunbelt posts on this board, but I just can't comprehend how Atlanta would be number 1 for infrastructure in the US. It's got a fantastic and busy airport, but the heavy traffic and underdeveloped public transit system places it below quite a few other cities when it comes to infrastructure.
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05-07-2009, 03:01 PM
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Location: roaming gnome
12,390 posts, read 27,346,890 times
Reputation: 5834
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no surprises on the qol cities. been to most of them, would agree. they reflect in most of the posts here.
ATL is up there b/c of the interstates connecting the south and airport guys. I'm sure they are ranking airport passengers. UPS is also HQ'd there and one of the largest USPS hubs.
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05-07-2009, 03:12 PM
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Location: Houston Texas
2,907 posts, read 3,303,632 times
Reputation: 877
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American cities listed, quality of life for who??
...The rich or poor, but not the middle class who are the majority in America
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