DaveinElma Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 http://thehill.com/capital-living/new-member-of-the-week/190629-berg-sees-north-dakota-as-good-economic-example-for-the-nation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 http://thehill.com/capital-living/new-member-of-the-week/190629-berg-sees-north-dakota-as-good-economic-example-for-the-nation So what does this have to do with race? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 So what does this have to do with race? Duh, North Dakota doesn't have many black people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Looks like im moving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostbitmic Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 40 below keeps the riff raff out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 40 below keeps the riff raff out. No it doesn't - but they don't stay as long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 40 below keeps the riff raff out. Didn't stop Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveinElma Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 Didn't stop Dave. Thats South Dakota genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Koko78 Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 It's amazing what can happen when your state regulations aren't designed solely to chase out any company that doesn't grease the appropriate palms. Though I must admit that I can't understand how that state can function without regulations requiring years worth of environmental studies to see the impact that a minor amount of increased car traffic will produce prior to them being allowed to build a building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juror#8 Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Just when you think that you've progressed enough away from Mississippi circa 1950, someone reminds you that 60 years moves slower in some parts of the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olivier in france Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 is that really hard to look good when you have to govern an oil rich land like that one? Last time i've checked Alberta, Norway, Qatar and Bahrein had no deficit issues either... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B-Large Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 http://thehill.com/capital-living/new-member-of-the-week/190629-berg-sees-north-dakota-as-good-economic-example-for-the-nation "People here have a lot of responsibility from and early age," he said. "When someone is out plowing the field with their father in a $100,000 tractor and it breaks down, they don't just walk home and turn on the TV." with all due respect, if you spent 100K on a tractor and it breaks, what other alternative is there than to give up and watch Dancing with the Stars? I have a patient who is in Oil and Gas, he said they simple cannot find people to hire in North Dakota.... some of it being people unable to move because of the home not selling, others not willing to do that kind of work and some because of the harsh long winters.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Didn't stop Dave. I'm disappointed in you Tom. If you are going to use the wrong state you at least could of got a reference to the Black Hills in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Tom Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I'm disappointed in you Tom. If you are going to use the wrong state you at least could of got a reference to the Black Hills in there. If you and Dave are to damned dumb to understand that it gets cold in South Dakota, too, then I can't help you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 North Dakota, much like Wyoming and other prosperous states, exists in a world that, IMO, isn't comparable to the states that are facing budget issues. The fact is, these states almost always feature a much higher per capita federal funding rate. The money goes further in those states because it has to do less. IMO, large urban areas necessitate expenditure that puts any given state in a rough spot. It costs much more to maintain a city like New York or Boston than it does to support a state like ND. Hell, ND's population of 680,000 is half the size of the Rochester, NY Metro area...... People, specifically large groups of them, put stress on the world. Stress on resources and stress on systems. Thats why you see states like that in the black....they're basically tending an 8x8 garden and comparing it to acres and acres of vital farmland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 If you and Dave are to damned dumb to understand that it gets cold in South Dakota, too, then I can't help you. too, and how can it get cold in "South" Dakota? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyobilzfan Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 North Dakota, much like Wyoming and other prosperous states, exists in a world that, IMO, isn't comparable to the states that are facing budget issues. The fact is, these states almost always feature a much higher per capita federal funding rate. The money goes further in those states because it has to do less. IMO, large urban areas necessitate expenditure that puts any given state in a rough spot. It costs much more to maintain a city like New York or Boston than it does to support a state like ND. Hell, ND's population of 680,000 is half the size of the Rochester, NY Metro area...... People, specifically large groups of them, put stress on the world. Stress on resources and stress on systems. Thats why you see states like that in the black....they're basically tending an 8x8 garden and comparing it to acres and acres of vital farmland. Oh really? So Wyoming's AAA S&P credit rating is due to all the federal govt money we get? LOL! I completely agree that states with large populations have many more challenges. It's they WHY in WHYoming that we intend to keep our population at a sustainable level. Fortunately, the lack of unions, affordable housing, and a harsh climate make our state not likely to grow into the next Florida. But we are all quite happy to have you all come here to hunt, fish, and check out the scenery when the weather is good. Come, visit, spend your money and go back to your fiscal sinkholes. We like it that way! By the way, to the bolded... you really believe that our state prospers because of all the federal money we are given? LOL! If the federal govt didn't possess over half of the state's land, we would be more than happy to escort every federal worker to the border with a free ticket to Rochester. We have a low population because not very many people are left in this country who really want to WORK for a living. No free ride and tons of freebies here= less people. Most people who come last less than two years because they don't want to work or live in a place that won't support them if they don't. Good to see you, Larry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCinBuffalo Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Oh really? So Wyoming's AAA S&P credit rating is due to all the federal govt money we get? LOL! I completely agree that states with large populations have many more challenges. It's they WHY in WHYoming that we intend to keep our population at a sustainable level. Fortunately, the lack of unions, affordable housing, and a harsh climate make our state not likely to grow into the next Florida. But we are all quite happy to have you all come here to hunt, fish, and check out the scenery when the weather is good. Come, visit, spend your money and go back to your fiscal sinkholes. We like it that way! By the way, to the bolded... you really believe that our state prospers because of all the federal money we are given? LOL! If the federal govt didn't possess over half of the state's land, we would be more than happy to escort every federal worker to the border with a free ticket to Rochester. We have a low population because not very many people are left in this country who really want to WORK for a living. No free ride and tons of freebies here= less people. Most people who come last less than two years because they don't want to work or live in a place that won't support them if they don't. Good to see you, Larry! The only criticism I have of this is: what happens when native Wyomans? (I have no idea what to call you, and that's funny) get old/get a chronic disease/get hurt at work? Chances are they move out of your state, and end up in New York. Understand, I am not saying this is your fault. I am saying that because of our dopey legislature, and Sheldon Silver in particular, we attract people from all over the world, never mind country, looking for a handout...or actually really needing a handout, because it's the best option for them. States like New York are where states like Wyoming dump their troubled people. It's states like NY's fault for volunteering to be the dumpster, but let's be accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyobilzfan Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 The only criticism I have of this is: what happens when native Wyomans? (I have no idea what to call you, and that's funny) get old/get a chronic disease/get hurt at work? Chances are they move out of your state, and end up in New York. Understand, I am not saying this is your fault. I am saying that because of our dopey legislature, and Sheldon Silver in particular, we attract people from all over the world, never mind country, looking for a handout...or actually really needing a handout, because it's the best option for them. States like New York are where states like Wyoming dump their troubled people. It's states like NY's fault for volunteering to be the dumpster, but let's be accurate. Thanks for the honest question. But first indulge me with a little cynical humor (you'll come to find it's in a lot of my babble)... NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE is considered a TRUE Wyomingite (I like your version better) unless there is DNA evidence that your placenta was left here at birth. The rest of us riff-raff from places like WNY are given the cold shoulder (anyone from east of the Mississippi is, to be fair) even more than "westerners" from other states. If you tell someone here you are from WNY, they think it's just west of Manhattan. You really have to be a thick skinned person to live here for a LONG time before you MIGHT be "accepted". That aside, if you do make it through the first couple of years, if you are (like me) a gun-toting (concealed weapons are legal here now opinionated, willing to work hard among the rattlesnakes (figuratively and literally) type of person, AND you understand the "Code of the West" (legally adopted as our state motto now I believe)... you have a chance to grow old and make it to the point where you are chronically diseased/disabled. We have lived here for almost 20 years, and were fortunate that the people around here needed our expertise more than we needed them. Advantage: wyobilzfan. It allowed us the opportunity to become "squatters" (anyone owning less than 1000 acres). Some WNYers actually fit in quite well here, having grown up in the shadow of Hell that is NYC and having that "chip on our shoulder". It also helped that my husband was born under a cactus out in Eastern Oregon in far more desolate country than wyoland. All of this is written so you understand the context of the question you asked... There's a term that is still used here called "cowboy up". The best example of that I can give you is the great ranching friend of ours who dropped over dead at 80 after stacking his pickup with salt licks for his cows in the middle of January. You need to see a picture of this guy. He broke his back and pelvis after getting bucked off a horse when he was in his 40's. That put him down for a couple of months. So they hired some ranching workers to run the ranch until he got out of his cast. He was literally curved like a "C" from his back never healing straight for the rest of his life. At the end of his life, he could still outwork most people half his age. He was up before dawn every single day of his life and died exactly how he wanted to... he fell over dead in front of his barn. This remains a place where "outsiders" are still scrutinized for "suitability", and it takes time for that to happen. There is still a VERY strong majority in this state who vow that lazy people don't belong here. And the definition of "lazy" means that if you don't have a job and accept govt benefits (VA disabled different story) and cannot support yourself and/or your family, you don't belong here. And if you are born here and somehow grow up with that mentality, you will leave because the state discourages anyone from taking long term govt support for just about ANYTHING. You don't see signs here for "we accept food stamps" at very many places, if any outside maybe the "larger" cities of Casper and Cheyenne (both about 100,000 pop). For those who do live here, when it's tough times... neighbors help neighbors. Plenty of rich people live here because they are either "land rich" or they came here to escape the insufferable taxes and regulations in other states, or "celebrity ranchers". Most of Wyomingites would be more than happy to offer up Jackson HOLE (or J-HOLE as the residents call it) to Idaho or some other stupid state that likes to cater to the uber-cosmo celebrity artsy fartsy types. J-HOLE is over exposed to the world, and we'd prefer some other state to take it, and Idaho seems the best fit. While they only spend their money on their multi-million dollar mansion ranches in J-HOLE, the rest of the state relies a LOT on donations for public service. In the county where I live, the amount of money that is available for scholarships, senior services, people with medical emergencies who cannot pay for care... it's amazing. We actually have a free clinic in our little local town where you can get health care if you can't afford it. It is staffed by volunteer HCPs. Where there are cracks in services like some of the most remote areas, neighbors take care of each other. The community is more of an extended family if you will (only if you aren't the "black sheep" of course). Bottom line: If you are a younger person in this state and are not willing to work your ass off in the oil & gas fields, or ranching for Daddy, or have some kind of professional job, you will end up moving to another state. You will find that outside of the transients who come and go here, the basic mentality is you better suck it up and work until you drop, or if you are "retired", you better still be contributing something to make your community better. If you can't work because you are REALLY unable to do so, people take care of their own. They don't expect, nor often will accept a handout. But bring over a pot of stew or show up to help do something to help our neighbor, that gets you some brownie points around here. And if you are considered "welfare trash"... you will often hear loud comments in the checkout line at Walmart (still hated here by the natives). People here are not afraid to make rude comments about the contents of your grocery cart if they know (as most do) if you are a "welfare puke" and are buying crap. That's probably the best context I can give you about how people here handle disability. By the way, we don't "export" many native or long term residents to other states so they can collect benefits. LOL! There aren't enough of us (just over 500K in the whole state) to make a dent in any big state's coffers. Those people are simply returning to their native state that is much more forthcoming with freebies, or they find another state to suck off of, but they generally don't last here very long because our system of taking care of one another has a clause; you have to prove your worth in order to make it here. This place is really only a good place to live if you have this basic context in mind. It's sure not for everybody, and to be honest, most here hope it stays that way. People from other places love to refer to how "backward" we are... you have no idea how much amusement that provides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoYouSeeWhatHappensLarry Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Oh really? So Wyoming's AAA S&P credit rating is due to all the federal govt money we get? LOL! I completely agree that states with large populations have many more challenges. It's they WHY in WHYoming that we intend to keep our population at a sustainable level. Fortunately, the lack of unions, affordable housing, and a harsh climate make our state not likely to grow into the next Florida. But we are all quite happy to have you all come here to hunt, fish, and check out the scenery when the weather is good. Come, visit, spend your money and go back to your fiscal sinkholes. We like it that way! By the way, to the bolded... you really believe that our state prospers because of all the federal money we are given? LOL! If the federal govt didn't possess over half of the state's land, we would be more than happy to escort every federal worker to the border with a free ticket to Rochester. We have a low population because not very many people are left in this country who really want to WORK for a living. No free ride and tons of freebies here= less people. Most people who come last less than two years because they don't want to work or live in a place that won't support them if they don't. Good to see you, Larry! Well, Wyoming IS #1 in the country in terms of federal aid per capita receiving almost three times as much per person as the 25th ranked state of North Carolina....I can't imagine that makes effective governance more difficult. Wyo, I'm sure Wyoming is beautiful. However I sincerely doubt that the reason Wyoming has a low population is because "people in this country don't want to work." I'm positive that if the manufacturing industry, which has seen job levels (not productivity levels which are as healthy as ever) plummet in the last 20 years or so, moved all of their operations to "work-friendly" Wyoming, the employees would follow...leaving their former metropolis heavens like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester, etc. It has absolutely nothing to do with a desire to work (of which I can assure you there is a healthy level of) and everything to do with the fact that Wyoming is (again, no disrespect as im sure its very awesome if youre into that sort of thing) relatively inconspicuous as a state. It's in the "middle of nowhere" with no major attractions or draw points. It likely doesnt offer the same accessibility to travel as most other population centers. These are things that matter to people. EDIT TO ADD: The biggest airport in Wyoming is in Jackson...in 2008 it saw approximately 300k enplanements at the airport. The small airports of Syracuse, Rochester and Albany NY all saw at least 3x that many in the same year. Thats ignoring Buffalo (7+ x as many) or either NY airport (one over 30x as many with the other almost 80x as many) Wyoming is for a very particular group of people. The fact is, there aren't that many of those people that exist. But that doesnt mean that Wyoming holds an "inherent work ethic" that others don't hold.....it means they have a very specific set of interests and values that Wyoming seems to cater to. For others, Silicon Valley is that place. For those, they would rather have starbucks at every corner so they can have a latte as they continue to refine and improve superconductors, helping to dramatically increase the technological capability of civilization. It seems to me to be a "to each his own" type situation....not a "they don't want to work!!!!" situation. I highly doubt that the major population centers of LA, NYC, Chicago were formed exclusively by people saying "we can move there and never work!!!!" especially when you look at cost of living in those areas. There's poverty in those areas because 1) Population outpaces jobs 2) People moved there wishing to take part in the American Dream and ultimately failed 3) The successes of a relatively small population has driven up cost of living to astronomical heights Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts