Alabama is expected to lose one U.S. House seat after 2010

[Highpointer]

Originally Posted by sammac

If you read the posts above it is easy to know why they are losing a seat and population growth is slow in Alabama. They are to busy still wishing the Confederate war succeeded instead of moving on and realizing the war is over.

Based my interpretation of this, it would be better for Alabama to embrace more Northern values rather than trying to maintain its Southern heritage. The Southern heritage is viewed in a negative way by many people from the North and other parts of the USA, and the South is commonly viewed as being less sophisticated, less highly educated, and has a lower standard of living than the North. For example, I have suggested to both my brother and sister who live in the northeastern USA to consider a move to the South, but they have replied to me with their negative opinions about the South and therefore wouldn't consider such a move.

Government statistics, for example, show that states in the South have a lower per-capita income and people have less healthier lifestyles (i.e. higher rates of smoking and obesity and less likely to exercise) than people in states in other parts of the USA. Therefore, it would appear to me that economically and culturally Alabama should seek to become more like a Northern state in order to enhance its population growth and standard of living.

Ken Akerman

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by sammac

I have been to AL a few times and think it is a great place to live and most of the people I met are great people, it is just a few hypocrites that ruin it for all.

Care to be more specific? Who's a hypocrite?

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

Based my interpretation of this, it would be better for Alabama to embrace more Northern values rather than trying to maintain its Southern heritage.

OMG!!
From comments seen on the Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee forums, I am DELIGHTED that people are not rushing to Alabama.
Granted, I am in North Alabama, which some LA (Lower Alabama) folks think is akin to Indiana, but this is not as big a deal here in Alabama than some folks outside the state seem to think.

[wallstreet1986]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

Based my interpretation of this, it would be better for Alabama to embrace more Northern values rather than trying to maintain its Southern heritage. The Southern heritage is viewed in a negative way by many people from the North and other parts of the USA, and the South is commonly viewed as being less sophisticated, less highly educated, and has a lower standard of living than the North. For example, I have suggested to both my brother and sister who live in the northeastern USA to consider a move to the South, but they have replied to me with their negative opinions about the South and therefore wouldn't consider such a move.

Government statistics, for example, show that states in the South have a lower per-capita income and people have less healthier lifestyles (i.e. higher rates of smoking and obesity and less likely to exercise) than people in states in other parts of the USA. Therefore, it would appear to me that economically and culturally Alabama should seek to become more like a Northern state in order to enhance its population growth and standard of living.

Ken Akerman

First of all Birmingham metro has a lot of office parks is a big medical center and has a good economy. There is a lot of new housing all over in places like Trussville and Hoover. I don't want it to be another Atlanta that would take away from the moderate sized southern city and add to sprawl and commute times. Not everyone likes big cities and I don't for one.

Economically Northern states have high taxes, high insurance costs, high housing costs, high heating and gas costs, liberal pro-union policies that erode the standard of living for many. I do not agree that the standard of living is higher in the North, plenty of people moving from places like Long Island cuz they can afford a house on southern salaries and aren't paying 13k/year in property taxes for a small 3 bedroom house on a 1/4 acre lot.

The South has an attractive business climate in addition to the lower costs, it stands nothing but to benefit from that. Some places are backward and don't want anything new in -- that doesn't describe metro Birmingham. If Demopolis, Alabama doesn't want new business thats its problem. Sad but there are high standards of living to be had elsewhere in the state. And then there's the other component to high standard of living --
Friendly people
abundance of outdoors and cool scenic places
warm weather and long summer (if you hate heat and humidity don't come down but if you can deal with it enjoy hot summer nights, ac and a dip in the pool then its fine)
lower commute times and reasonable cost of living
laid back feel

A high standard of living is not about buying a 5 bedroom development house and a Range Rover. Its about affording a nice life and being able to do stuff like travel, eat out, visit family. Unfortunately the ideal is the former in the North and there are a few victors that are able to transcend the costs and tax policy to afford the former. The rest are bankrupting themselves to afford the former lifestyle in an increasingly socialist and hostile living climate. Be glad you don't have the Illinois tollway, 3.35/gallon gas, 10k property taxes and 400-500k cost for an entry level home; well then again its way worse in a place like Los Angeles.

[linkbr]

Granted, I am in North Alabama, which some LA (Lower Alabama) folks think is akin to Indiana

there ya go. Probably why no one's rushing to surround themselves with such demographics.