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The culture: Sports, NASCAR, universities, history, diversity, big families, small communities, strong values, military bases, low taxes, RTP, SAS, Billy Graham, Rev. Barber, Moral Mondays, Jesse Helms, Howard Coble, Right-to-Work, The Avett Brothers, James Taylor and Andy Griffith
The food: Food trucks, craft beer, sweet tea, farmer's markets, Krispy Kreme, Pepsi, Cheerwine, Bojangle's, Hardee's and Lexington Barbecue (can you tell I'm hungry?)
The nature: Outer Banks, Blue Ridge Mountains, parks, greenways, lakes, waterfalls, whitewater, fishing, camping, four distinct seasons
The built environment: Barns, brick, boats, furniture, textiles, lighthouses, solar farms, Carowinds, US Whitewater Center, Hunt Library, Biltmore Estate, Tweetsie Railroad, Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington and Asheville
I agree with you. When I moved here I was surprised that groceries are taxed here. It adds up over time...
A lot of people complain about the various taxes. I'm almost certain it's because we were one of the LAST states to get a lottery. Every state that borders us has had one for years. It makes me wonder how much NC dollars went to TN, SC, and VA over the years.
Likes:
Being near friends and family
Cost of living is reasonable
Greenways and active lifestyle
Schools are generally decent
Family-friendly activities
Revitalization of downtown
The climate, even in the summer
Job market
Dislikes: The direction our government is taking
Lack of public transportation
The whole native NC versus transplants - who cares? (I'm a native, but could not care less where you are from)
The fake polite southern thing that some folks still do. You don't have to be a jerk but don't fake nice either.
Yes to all of that. I'm a native and I love interacting with people who aren't. It broadens life experience and personal growth, IMO. The public transportation thing is annoying, but realize there are no million plus population cities in NC; traditionally rural economy. Any where that's sprawling where people drive cars will have garbage public transportation options.
As far as the Northern exclusion, that's strange to me. I'm from a mid city city in NC, Winston and I grew up with Northerners. It wasn't a big deal. I didn't realize people didn't like it until I went to ECU. I learned that CARY was an acronym for relocated Yankees. Ouch. I think Northerners have improved our state vastly in certain areas (economic) and folks can be resentful. I used to work at WFU law school with a student who was a UNC alumnus and Charlotte native. She told me they routinely get flack for not having enough NC natives enrolled. But, to be honest, most NC natives aren't academically qualified to get into that school. That's reflective of certain educational deficiencies, but that's another conversation for a different day.
Honestly, I wish all taxes were on nonessential goods, fees and services. Why penalize people for working or companies for investing in new jobs?
I think that's the direction NC wants to be headed.
NC is all about taxing the people whose income can least afford it, as in groceries, clothes, utility bills, no EITC, no personal exemptions on state income tax, all income is taxed the same at 5.75%, no property tax circuit breaker for low income families, and since the McCrory team has come in, state taxes on the bottom 80 percent of taxpayers has increased while the top income earners and corporations have seen a decrease.
...and if you go outside the cities, you encounter these people.
mod cut
Last edited by SunnyKayak; 08-27-2016 at 06:02 PM..
Reason: off topic meme
Yes to all of that. I'm a native and I love interacting with people who aren't. It broadens life experience and personal growth, IMO. The public transportation thing is annoying, but realize there are no million plus population cities in NC; traditionally rural economy. Any where that's sprawling where people drive cars will have garbage public transportation options.
As far as the Northern exclusion, that's strange to me. I'm from a mid city city in NC, Winston and I grew up with Northerners. It wasn't a big deal. I didn't realize people didn't like it until I went to ECU. I learned that CARY was an acronym for relocated Yankees. Ouch. I think Northerners have improved our state vastly in certain areas (economic) and folks can be resentful. I used to work at WFU law school with a student who was a UNC alumnus and Charlotte native. She told me they routinely get flack for not having enough NC natives enrolled. But, to be honest, most NC natives aren't academically qualified to get into that school. That's reflective of certain educational deficiencies, but that's another conversation for a different day.
Uh I'm sure there are at least a 100 people in the state who could qualify to be in the entering class of a middle tier law school now if you mean economically qualified I agree
Yes to all of that. I'm a native and I love interacting with people who aren't. It broadens life experience and personal growth, IMO. The public transportation thing is annoying, but realize there are no million plus population cities in NC; traditionally rural economy. Any where that's sprawling where people drive cars will have garbage public transportation options.
As far as the Northern exclusion, that's strange to me. I'm from a mid city city in NC, Winston and I grew up with Northerners. It wasn't a big deal. I didn't realize people didn't like it until I went to ECU. I learned that CARY was an acronym for relocated Yankees. Ouch. I think Northerners have improved our state vastly in certain areas (economic) and folks can be resentful. I used to work at WFU law school with a student who was a UNC alumnus and Charlotte native. She told me they routinely get flack for not having enough NC natives enrolled. But, to be honest, most NC natives aren't academically qualified to get into that school. That's reflective of certain educational deficiencies, but that's another conversation for a different day.
I think many NC natives dislike Northerners not because they are from the North, but because they have completely changed the dynamic of the state. Southerners, especially older ones REALLY dislike change, traffic, and fast-paced lifestyle. I feel really bad for a lot of natives because they have been priced out of their own city/area.
My grandparents live in an older area of North Raleigh which is growing, but fairly slowly. The value of their home has been increasing, but they would be hard pressed to find anything else in Raleigh in their price range.
My parents had the same problem. They sold their house in North Raleigh because they wanted something a little newer, but around the same size. They were forced to buy a home in Angier because most newer homes in Raleigh, Cary, and Apex were a minimum of $300,000.
Don't even get me started on the roads and schools. The state hasn't been doing a great job of keeping up with the growth. I moved to Fort Worth, TX a few months ago and this area has been doing a great job of keeping up with the population boom.
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