What the Best Places in America Have in Common - hint (upper Midwest)

[Anonymous]

“The lesson is that people seem to thrive—not always in high salaries but in health and life chances—when inequality is low; when landownership is widespread; when social connection is high; and when corruption and violence are rare. The social leveling that is characteristic of communities in the upper Midwest is more than just a quaint cultural feature. It is the foundation of a community’s well-being. Until these regions’ virtues are shared nationwide, poverty and disadvantage will continue to haunt America.”

This is chilling. There are a lot of dog whistles in here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“The lesson is that people seem to thrive—not always in high salaries but in health and life chances—when inequality is low; when landownership is widespread; when social connection is high; and when corruption and violence are rare. The social leveling that is characteristic of communities in the upper Midwest is more than just a quaint cultural feature. It is the foundation of a community’s well-being. Until these regions’ virtues are shared nationwide, poverty and disadvantage will continue to haunt America.”

This is chilling. There are a lot of dog whistles in here.

Not really, is this actually news to any adult with a brain?
It is common sense to assume that places with homogeneous populations with similar cultures/values are safer, more similar to each other in terms of HHI, people automatically feel closer to each other, etc.
I am a POC by the way.

[Anonymous]

Interesting since this book seems to disprove that.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Kids-American-Dream-Crisis/dp/1476769907/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J3PN0HOGDN4C&keywords=our+kids+the+american+dream+in+crisis&qid=1691713856&sprefix=our+kids%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1


Social mobility is very low in Ohio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting since this book seems to disprove that.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Kids-American-Dream-Crisis/dp/1476769907/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J3PN0HOGDN4C&keywords=our+kids+the+american+dream+in+crisis&qid=1691713856&sprefix=our+kids%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1


Social mobility is very low in Ohio.

Ohio is NOT the Upper Midwest 🙄

[Anonymous]

I grew up in MN but would never live there as an adult…the weather is absolutely horrible. Super depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting since this book seems to disprove that.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Kids-American-Dream-Crisis/dp/1476769907/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J3PN0HOGDN4C&keywords=our+kids+the+american+dream+in+crisis&qid=1691713856&sprefix=our+kids%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1


Social mobility is very low in Ohio.

Ohio is NOT the Upper Midwest 🙄

More to the point, Ohio generally doesn't rank high in the indices the authors use.

[Anonymous]

What these places have in common is economies driven by farm subsidies and large military installations. So for all the talk of gubmint off our backs and self sufficiency, well, what can we say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a place for people who don’t require much from the world. They are happier with less. Doesn’t make them less, it is just a difference. I come from there. I wouldn’t go back for all the money in the world. Who wants to live longer in Iowa?

I’ve been to Iowa several times and often thought that, apart from the cold winters, one of the university towns there like Ames or Iowa City would be a great place to live or retire.

[Anonymous]

It probably is unpopular to say this but there's a big overlap between cultural homogeneity and high levels of social trust and willingness to share together for the common good. Diverse areas have incredibly low levels of social trust and people don't and refuse to think in terms of the common good. When I speak homogenous, I do not mean white versus everyone else. But a dominant culture. Japan is a perfect example. Bhutan is another one. Various European countries are great examples, although other European countries are also struggling with declining social trust and faith in a common shared good emerging with growing diversity.

I'm just being pragmatic about it. I know enough of history that there is definitely truth to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a place for people who don’t require much from the world. They are happier with less. Doesn’t make them less, it is just a difference. I come from there. I wouldn’t go back for all the money in the world. Who wants to live longer in Iowa?

I’ve been to Iowa several times and often thought that, apart from the cold winters, one of the university towns there like Ames or Iowa City would be a great place to live or retire.

Both are very underrated with tons to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It probably is unpopular to say this but there's a big overlap between cultural homogeneity and high levels of social trust and willingness to share together for the common good. Diverse areas have incredibly low levels of social trust and people don't and refuse to think in terms of the common good. When I speak homogenous, I do not mean white versus everyone else. But a dominant culture. Japan is a perfect example. Bhutan is another one. Various European countries are great examples, although other European countries are also struggling with declining social trust and faith in a common shared good emerging with growing diversity.

I'm just being pragmatic about it. I know enough of history that there is definitely truth to it.

Birds of a feather flock together.

[Anonymous]

Sounds wonderful and makes sense. I wish not every discussion defaulted to race. Like really NOtHInG else matters?!
It’s crazy making and enough to turn someone into a racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It probably is unpopular to say this but there's a big overlap between cultural homogeneity and high levels of social trust and willingness to share together for the common good. Diverse areas have incredibly low levels of social trust and people don't and refuse to think in terms of the common good. When I speak homogenous, I do not mean white versus everyone else. But a dominant culture. Japan is a perfect example. Bhutan is another one. Various European countries are great examples, although other European countries are also struggling with declining social trust and faith in a common shared good emerging with growing diversity.

I'm just being pragmatic about it. I know enough of history that there is definitely truth to it.

Completely agree. Diversity is not our greatest strength.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are some of the whitest places in the whole country, so of course there are fewer people being held back unfairly.

What a strange claim. Cities like Detroit, Chicago, Flint, Milwaukee, etc are in the upper Midwest and plenty diverse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting since this book seems to disprove that.

https://www.amazon.com/Our-Kids-American-Dream-Crisis/dp/1476769907/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J3PN0HOGDN4C&keywords=our+kids+the+american+dream+in+crisis&qid=1691713856&sprefix=our+kids%2Caps%2C180&sr=8-1


Social mobility is very low in Ohio.

Ohio has been hit hard by the opioid crisis. The upper midwest is also being hit by the crisis, but at a rate about 10 years behind WV and OH. The major issue is that the recovery in the upper midwest will be none existent. Once it gets hit with an issue, that issue takes hold and lasts much longer than other areas that bounce back.