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I prefer dress socks with sneakers (those old italians will know what I mean)
ROTFLOL!!!! I just got a mental image of my beloved uncle, who's from the other side (Italy born) & lives in NJ!!! Black socks, sandals (or sneakers), with the Bermuda shorts, belt, undershirt & short-sleveed button-down shirt. Sitting there, in the backyard, sipping black coffee with a biscotti.
I know I'm repeating myself, but I still don't see the hostilities that a few of you are talking about. You can't take what a few people say on an anonymous message board and extrapolate that into the views of a community in general. I have never heard a southerner talk about northerners and their cars. I may have heard jokes about the Mort Seinfeld appearance of some tourists and retirees in Florida, but I don't hear it in NC.
I'm not naive - there are certainly some people who don't care for northerners, just as there are some northerners who don't care for southerners - but by and large I don't see the yankee-bashing that some of you are suggesting. Really, I don't.
Unless you're going into the live-bait or the mobile-home sales business, I doubt that you'll run into people who dislike you simply because you're from "up north".
.I don't want to see Walmarts, Home Depots, Lowe's etc. where I live now in LI, and I happen to live in a town where there aren't any, in fact, the town we live in doesn't even let fast food restaurants here, and I certainly don't want to see it all built up in the small town we are moving to in NC either. That's one of the charms. So although there are many "Northerner's" who obviously want changes like that, there are many who don't. And I know that the obvious response will be that "those are the ones we're talking about", but just how you decifer one from the other. It's really not fair to generalize.
Sorry, but don't kid yourself. One of the towns I used to live in, in NC, and my Mom still lives in is a good example. Basically there aren't any Northerners there. Small county with almost 0 growth. Well, the local government bent over backward until they got a Walmart and now a Lowe's. Of course, downtown is now a ghost town. Government buildings, lawyers offices and Arts council stuff and a pawn shop. That's about it. The inevitable power of saving a nickle on a shirt will prevail.
Sorry, but don't kid yourself. One of the towns I used to live in, in NC, and my Mom still lives in is a good example. Basically there aren't any Northerners there. Small county with almost 0 growth. Well, the local government bent over backward until they got a Walmart and now a Lowe's. Of course, downtown is now a ghost town. Government buildings, lawyers offices and Arts council stuff and a pawn shop. That's about it. The inevitable power of saving a nickle on a shirt will prevail.
If people didn't want Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc they would go out of business. People vote with their dollars, and the votes often go towards the favor of businesses with lower prices when you're talking about durable goods.
If the guy who has been in the hardware business for 100 years had better prices and more selection, I would go to him over the big boxes. But I'm not going to pay him more money for a smaller selection of goods just to keep him in business.
The same doesn't hold true with what I would call "unique" goods. I eat at locally-owned restaurants much more than I do the chain places because the quality of food, the atmosphere, etc. appeals to me. My dollars have voted, and so have others' since those local places have stayed in business.
I would rather pay Home Depot $15 for an extension cord than pay Pop's Store $20 for the same item (assuming that it is even in stock).
People do vote with their dollars. But when you have companies like wal-mart and such obliterating the mom & pop businesses across the United States you are fueling the corporate landscape. Corporate is the only game in town. America was built on Mom & Pop stores that made Main Street a "Meeting Place" for good conversation and comraderie. Its the brainwashing of the american economy into thinking they need stores like these. People can only say "I have to shop at wal-mart--theres nothing left.!!!" I would'nt blame natives for rebuking the corporate climate that comes with "growth". Without MOM & POP Main Streets, this country would never have been great in the first place. Video kills the radio star every time.
It is getting worse with all the big company mergers, competition is getting lost and while places like Wal-mart are suppose to be cheaper now, if wal-mart moves in and other businesses close as a result, they will increase costs as there will be no comp...banks are merging left and right...America as a whole is undergoing a lot now, the middle situation, etc ... it is changing and not all is for the best ... we are starting to head toward the times when prices were high due to no comp, only the very wealthy kids went to college, etc.
we have regulatory bodies that were to help the consumer meanig if a utlitiy wanted to raise rates, perm has to be given, rarely when asked are they told no (so why even have it) and now companies are finding inventinve ways around req permission. for ex here in li with elec, they call it a surcharge, they didn't raise rates, found a different way to get money without asking and despite all the alleged litigation by our lovely government against them, it hasn't changed and won't.
Each state talks about helping cap gas taxes to help the consumer, again all talk - too many corp and govt officials get more $$ why hurt the pot that's helping you (there is a different expression but I am trying to be tasteful)
more and more companies are being de-regulated - which in turn will effect all of us -
It is getting worse with all the big company mergers, competition is getting lost and while places like Wal-mart are suppose to be cheaper now, if wal-mart moves in and other businesses close as a result, they will increase costs as there will be no comp...banks are merging left and right...America as a whole is undergoing a lot now, the middle situation, etc ... it is changing and not all is for the best ... we are starting to head toward the times when prices were high due to no comp, only the very wealthy kids went to college, etc.
we have regulatory bodies that were to help the consumer meanig if a utlitiy wanted to raise rates, perm has to be given, rarely when asked are they told no (so why even have it) and now companies are finding inventinve ways around req permission. for ex here in li with elec, they call it a surcharge, they didn't raise rates, found a different way to get money without asking and despite all the alleged litigation by our lovely government against them, it hasn't changed and won't.
Each state talks about helping cap gas taxes to help the consumer, again all talk - too many corp and govt officials get more $$ why hurt the pot that's helping you (there is a different expression but I am trying to be tasteful)
more and more companies are being de-regulated - which in turn will effect all of us -
Good points. Did you hear they were trying to put a Home Depot on Sunrise Hgwy where the LIPA bldg is? The community has stopped it so far. We will see who wins in the future.
I am guilty of shopping at these big chains too. But when we need something small, we shop at the local hardware and pharmacy. We used to own a small business years ago, so we know how it feels, but JAS was right. Why are people going to pay more of their hard earned $$ to help us stay in business?
Personally, I find that most of the transplants that come down here are happy to be here and get used to being nice and friendly instead of the NY mentality of being rude and abrubt. Having said that...
Good points. Did you hear they were trying to put a Home Depot on Sunrise Hgwy where the LIPA bldg is? The community has stopped it so far. We will see who wins in the future.
I am guilty of shopping at these big chains too. But when we need something small, we shop at the local hardware and pharmacy. We used to own a small business years ago, so we know how it feels, but JAS was right. Why are people going to pay more of their hard earned $$ to help us stay in business?
We are all guilty, we love the mom & pops but cannot justify over-spending.
We want them to be there but rarely go in!
The problem is that the chains hire a ton of people to begin with, and you get it all- great prices & knowledgeable staff. After a few months the staff is cut & you get a few surly kids. Where do the good workers go? I don't know. Anyway, in the meantime,most of the mom & pops close & then we have no choice.
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hostility
