re: Louisiana Tops Mississippi as the worst state according to Politico

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Its also remarkable how you see a random poll/ranking and believe everything it says.

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Statistics showing a problems in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are not random or new. I'm not taking this particular ranking as gospel, but these statistics are easy to find.

I've lived in Louisiana most of my life. It isn't like I have no experience with the state. Sure anecdotally these aren't issues for most posters, but they hold the state back from better opportunities.

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Kansas and West Virginia are the two shittiest states, and it's not close.

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Not at all the case. I've lived all over the country, and settled in Kansas. I can't speak for West Virginia, as I've only been through it once. But I've lived substantial portions of my life in 3 states: Illinois, Louisiana, and Kansas (and shorter stints in Virginia, Indiana, Florida, and Arizona).

Kansas is the cleanest state I've lived in and has the best roads and highways in the country. Are there shitty areas of the state? Sure, as with anywhere else. But from Manhattan to Kansas City exists vibrant college communities, good job opportunities, low crime rates, and lots of beautiful scenery. Nice people. Good public schools. Great place to raise a family.

I wouldn't extend these observation to the southwest, with the exception of the roads still being great out there. Garden City, Liberal, and Dodge are all absolute shitholes: lots of crime and shitty schools. Wichita isn't a favorite of mine. Neither is Topeka. But Manhattan, Lawrence, Johnson County, and parts of KCK are great areas to live. Lots to do, low cost of living, and opportunity everywhere and in every vocation or profession.

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middle to upper middle.

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Thinking back on this, the biggest difference I have noticed after living in the MS Coast, DFW, and Baton Rouge is access to quality public schools.

In Baton Rouge, most middle class families are burdened with the added expense of private school education because most public schools are not very good.

In the better parts of the country that just doesn't seem to be the case. Private schools tend to be reserved for those wanting a faith based education, or for the upper middle class and beyond.

To be fair, underperforming public schools are driven down by having a lower common denominator. Nevertheless, the brightest kids at the majority of these schools will still be successful wherever they end up afterwards. The biggest difference in their education appears to be the breadth of what they are exposed to, and how hard they are challenged academically. They simply are not pushed as hard because teachers have to dumb things down so everyone can keep up.

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This isn't something new. These kinds of measurements have gone on for decades. Louisiana has been in the very bottom part of them for all of that time. Nothing has changed.

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True... but do you really think we are worse than Mississippi?

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Perhaps the bitterness is a product of years or decades of trying, and coming to the realization that the huge issue is only going to get solved when the huge issue decides to do something about it itself

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Thanks JBE

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it interesting that people who have displayed maps showing the demographics of the USA are labeled as a racist. How can you fix the problem if you aren't even open to discussing some of the underlying issues?

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It's because some people see a certain race and assume they will just be poor and uneducated. That doesn't address the issue of why those populations are that way. Perhaps it is marginalization or it could simply be lack of caring all around.

Anecdotally I've witnessed a bright and shiny new school pop up to only still produce the same mediocre results. As the saying goes: You can't make chicken salad out of chicken shite.

Finally, it seems like as a country we are beginning to admit that these entire communities need to be overhauled. Unfortunately our government seems to think just giving handouts works better than actually providing opportunities for training and better paying jobs.

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Searcy County AR..

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my dad moved here recently, now it all makes sense...

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people who don't give a frick and expect to be paid regardless

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True, but you're also assuming most of them don't care. Perhaps they don't, but I think it's why we need to overhaul the education system. More HS's need to split off into having a college prep and trade route.

Imagine knowing you don't want to go to college, and having to spend several more years in HS to get a seemingly worthless diploma. Most of the jobs one can get with only a HS diploma have a very low ceiling. Instead these kids could be learning a trade, and even begin interning while in school.

While the earning potential for some may still be lower, many trade jobs pay much better than starting salaries for jobs requiring a bachelors.

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Tigerdroppings dot com. Where hand bras are a bannable offense but blatant racism is encouraged

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So is it your assertion that the vast majority of the black belt counties don't have much higher poverty, obesity, and crime rates than average (all heavily weighted in lists such as these)? Is a factual observation racist? Or is it just comparing and contrasting data points on a map? Making observations about certain areas, where data can be compiled about measures of quality of life, doesn't make one racist.