Off topic chat and Why is the Lehigh Valley forum so quiet?

[PacoMartin]

Originally Posted by MatildaLoo

As those elderly citizens die off, there aren't younger people to replace them; hence a loss in population. People look at that loss of population and think "gee, maybe there's a reason people are leaving."

As the entire country gets older and older, places like Pennsylvania should stop growing at some point (except by migration). A total of 37 counties in PA were down from their peak population in 2010 and 30 counties peaked in 2010.

When I78 was finished in 1989 it was good for the Valley because now you could go to New York city in a straight shot. When 33 was completed in January 2002 it tied in the valley access to I78. Possibly the new bridge across the Lehigh may be the last major transit project.

No transit improvements for years. If there is no population increase, there is no need for new homes, new schools or even new stores. Geriatrics will clearly flourish.

When President Johnson signed Hart-Celler Immigration Bill on Oct. 3, 1965 it was estimated that 18 million legal immigrants came in the first 30 years. Lets assume another 25-30 million came in the next 17.5 years.

But as the immigrants stop coming (at least to the Northeast), and more and more of the country starts heading for Zero Population Growth, how will the economy adapt?

I realize that this conversation applies more to Western PA where only Butler County is now at it's peak population, but that is primarily people spreading out from Pittsburgh.



I have been asked to envision what this country would look like if we had not aborted 50 million babies, and instead took in 50 million immigrants.

[PA.Dutchman]

It is probably because so few residents of the Lehigh Valley know English anymore and how to use a PC. I have walked from 10 TH to the Allentown Post Office at 5 TH and Hamilton and back again and only heard English from the Postal Clerk.

One other time I heard English at 6 TH and Walnut and that was a Cop giving a person a ticket.

[toobusytoday]

PA Dutchman, I think you need to go out a bit more... I go to church in West Allentown many of whom live in Allentown, all speak English very well, own computers and are very nice people. I have heard more Spanish over the years when I go to some places more in Center City, but I'm okay with that. When my ancestors arrived in America a couple of hundred years ago they also didn't know English.

[MatildaLoo]

Originally Posted by PA.Dutchman

It is probably because so few residents of the Lehigh Valley know English anymore and how to use a PC. I have walked from 10 TH to the Allentown Post Office at 5 TH and Hamilton and back again and only heard English from the Postal Clerk.

One other time I heard English at 6 TH and Walnut and that was a Cop giving a person a ticket.

Well, I guess every forum on C-D has one of these guys. We were bound to get one here eventually.

[loose cannon]

PA Dutchman is part of a dying breed. Uncultured, sitting at home, listening to Gunther, and watching Channel 69. You have been passed by. There is no room for you in the new Progressive Lehigh Valley.