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I'm from the north (New York State to be specific) and have traveled in the south. The arrogance and ignorance you describe is far, far more pronounced in northern states, particularly New England, than in the south, let alone the inter-mountain west. Part of that is simply lack of experience with other areas and cultures, an effect of a net out-migration rather than in-migration. You have a great many people moving into the south from northern states, bringing those seperate exeriences and backgrounds with them. In my area (mountain west) we have a great deal of in-migration from the NE and especially California. Of course those most likely to "migrate" are those more willing to experience change and embrace different experiences. Many in the NE have never lived far from where they were born and have little experience with people even from other regions of their own country.
We have a great many people leaving the failing "rust belt" states of the north east and "midwest" (I'm thinking Michigan/Ohio...I think those are considered "midwest") and heading to growing, prosperous southern states...but I don't know many heading the other way.
While growth in Ohio has been stagnant over the years, we aren't by any means dead. In fact job growth is indeed on the rise here. Cleveland is finally starting to re-invent itself, and continues to be one of the leaders in the healthcare industry. Not to mention, we just opened a casino last year which has really increased the buzz downtown. The Ford plant in Brookpark (just outside of Cleveland) is receiving 450 jobs to produce the 4 cylinder 2 liter "Ecoboost," which is being moved from Spain. Those jobs should all be in place by 2015. Good news for an area that certainly has taken a hit in manufacturing. Nope... we aren't dead yet. And given that the next boom will probably be fresh water, and the fact that all of the Great Lakes states and Canada signed a pact to not pipe the water from it's watershed to places in the desert southwest, this may produce an opportunity for further growth in the region. In other words, if you want fresh water, and plenty of it, then you'll have to move to where there is plenty of it.
As for Ohio being mid-west, it depends who you ask. For someone in Columbus... you'd probably hear yes. For someone here in Cleveland... well... some would say northeast. I think honestly Cleveland is really a transitional point where it goes from northeast to midwest, as we have influences from both.
Mainly because the South is so often associated with being the backwards part of the country. Not that all of the South is, or that all people there are. But the South does in fact have a boat load of issues (lower average IQs, lower education, higher pornography viewing, more teen pregnancies, most obese, poorest, has the bulk of the religious extremists, ultra conservative etc.)
This doesn't exactly make the South look desirable.
Many if not most of what you contrubute as issues of the South are related to long-term economic issues moreso than geography and culture. The poorer inner cities of every northern state exhibit the same lower IQs, lower education, pregnancy and obesity that you attribute to the South. The biggest difference...in the last 20-30 years many of our Southern states have become economic powerhouses, particularly in manufacturing. This in turn has done a great deal to improve the economic condition of residents as whole.
In that same time, many Northern states have continued to fail. Businesses are closing or moving and unemployement is up. Drive through Buffalo, Detroit, Flint, Cleveland, Rochester or Northern NJ and you will see mile after mile of abandoned warehouses and factories. Neighborhood after neighborhood of abandoned or run-down houses. Now take a drive through South Caroline or Alabama, you will about trip over brand new factories and many more under construction. New housing construction going on. At the rate things are going, in another 20 years the "escape from New York" city model will be the standard for the NE.
While growth in Ohio has been stagnant over the years, we aren't by any means dead. In fact job growth is indeed on the rise here. Cleveland is finally starting to re-invent itself, and continues to be one of the leaders in the healthcare industry. Not to mention, we just opened a casino last year which has really increased the buzz downtown. The Ford plant in Brookpark (just outside of Cleveland) is receiving 450 jobs to produce the 4 cylinder 2 liter "Ecoboost," which is being moved from Spain. Those jobs should all be in place by 2015. Good news for an area that certainly has taken a hit in manufacturing. Nope... we aren't dead yet. And given that the next boom will probably be fresh water, and the fact that all of the Great Lakes states and Canada signed a pact to not pipe the water from it's watershed to places in the desert southwest, this may produce an opportunity for further growth in the region. In other words, if you want fresh water, and plenty of it, then you'll have to move to where there is plenty of it.
As for Ohio being mid-west, it depends who you ask. For someone in Columbus... you'd probably hear yes. For someone here in Cleveland... well... some would say northeast. I think honestly Cleveland is really a transitional point where it goes from northeast to midwest, as we have influences from both.
I'm happy to hear some positive news from the area. I hope for the same for Western NY. Being from there and with family and friends remaining, I would like to see the area turn around.
Agreed on the mid-west question...it was a debate when I was there as well. Some questioned if Buffalo was considered "mid-west". Culturally, the area was more aligned with Detroit or Cleveland than with NYC or Boston. Not a bad thing.
Or, us Southern liberals could tell them about how many towns here are still divided along racial lines and how being politically difference can result in cars with Obama stickers being keyed or Houses with Obama Biden Signs having dummy's strung up in a tree and "hung".
Northern states are just as rural as southern states. Actually, you can make a case that they're more rural. Southerners need to stop with this stupid idea that they have a lock on what being rural or "country" means.
Correct. I've spent some time in rural PA...... as backwoods as any place in the USA.
1) Texas has some pretty crazy rules regarding death sentences, etc. . .Which will get it some scorn. Though I don't think it will be a liberal mocking point forever. . .Texas is going Purple, and then blue - its only a matter of time
2) Its poor, takes from the feds more than giving back, and uneducated (and 4th highest poverty. Why wouldn't you mock it?
Because that's racist. Try reading a little about demographics in the USA.
And someone from Chicago shouldn't mock anybody until you clean up your crime and politics.
1) Texas has some pretty crazy rules regarding death sentences, etc. . .Which will get it some scorn. Though I don't think it will be a liberal mocking point forever. . .Texas is going Purple, and then blue - its only a matter of time
2) Its poor, takes from the feds more than giving back, and uneducated (and 4th highest poverty. Why wouldn't you mock it?
Just like Chicago gets mocked for producing terrible politicians and suffers from a ridiculously high crime rate.
Oh, and speaking of uneducated, you may want to re-write your second point. You have numerous punctuation errors.
Southernern are in general more conservative, more religious, and more into guns. They are more into suburban living and car culture. The South can be diverse in the urban areas but most if the rural South is white. That's why liberals hate it.
None of what you said is true. Nothing. Not one thing.
Northern states are just as rural as southern states. Actually, you can make a case that they're more rural. Southerners need to stop with this stupid idea that they have a lock on what being rural or "country" means.
One of the biggest problems is how the South (and rural America) is represented in the media. Practically everything that comes from TV and Hollywood is produced in NY and CA, and most people in entertainment are openly Liberal and dislike the heavily Conservative south.
There's no shortage of TV shows that specifically make fun of white trash rednecks (Honey Boo Boo, Duck Dynasty, etc.); these shows just perpetuate negative stereotypes. In addition, Southerners in TV shows and movies are often used as buffoons, naive, racist or religious nutjobs. These portrayals only further reinforce pre-existing bigoted attitudes towards people in the South or rural Americans.
The irony is, shows like "Real Housewives of (enter city here)" and Jersey Shore actually show more stupidity than Honey Boo Boo and Duck Dynasty. The guys on Duck Dynasty have accomplished so much more than those other idiots on Jersey Shore, RH, etc.
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