There's perhaps something amiss in a ranking that places Red Lake County at the absolute bottom of the nation when it comes to scenery and climate. As I noted in my original story, the USDA's index places a lot of emphasis on mild weather and a little less on true scenic beauty, which of course is harder to quantify. But there's no doubt that the Red Lake County region is flat-out gorgeous. In a phone interview, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar called it a "stark beauty," and I think she's right. And you can see that beauty everywhere, from the open farm country to the craggy bluffs and hills of the river valley.Lists that take account of climate are going to systematically undervalue The North. That said, Ingraham did not visit in winter.
For some of us, it takes a place as small as Red Lake County to drive home just how big this country really is.
September 6, 2015
"I called this place ‘America’s worst place to live.’ Then I went there."
From WaPo writer Christopher Ingraham (who "writes about politics, drug policy and all things data" and "previously worked at the Brookings Institution and the Pew Research Center"). It ends:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
31 comments:
Maybe he should wander around and take an honest look at that crap hole city in which he resides. I lived just outside D.C years ago. the scenery, other than man made monuments is poor. The climate is horrid. And all those charming, friendly, inviting people he met for the story.... they are rare birds in D.C.
I went to Wisconsin once in Summer. I had to buy a sweatshirt. And pants. Long pants.
I lived the 1st 34 years of my life in the north until I relocated to Florida with my wife and 3 young children 2.5 years ago.
I am often asked about the weather from friends back home. How great is it, they ask. My standard response is it is even better than you think.
Our quality of life has improved so much (kids can go outside EVERYDAY) that I get upset that with myself that it took an internal company transfer for this to happen and I wasn't smart enough to come up with this on my own.
Anyone that thinks Wisconsin is the worst place to live needs to go spend a summer in the Phoenix, AZ valley.
No. Sgt Ted.
Respectfully.
Downtown LA on a weekend.
or
Lower Wacker Drive.
Literally.
Shitholes.
Home is where the heart is. Corny, but true. As far a weather. Its an attitude. You can go outside every day in MN. It's just a matter of adjusting your attitude and developing new interests. Or you can just get in a foul mood and stay there. Your choice.
"There's no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate preparation."
-- My Sister-in-Law
I rarely agree with Sen. Al Franken, but his rebuttal to the reporter was something like, Actually, the worst place to live is in DC at the Washington Post.
When I lived out east, I found the natives there incredibly provincial. In Rhode Island, they know Rhode Island and Florida. That's it.
If you like four seasons, the upper midwest is nirvana. At present, alas, I'm only fond of three seasons -- winter has fallen into disfavor :)
I found the natives there incredibly provincial. In Rhode Island, they know Rhode Island and Florida.
You could have saved yourself the trip and just watched Family Guy. ;)
But to be fair, we have heard of Texas and California too.
There’s got to be lots of places much worse than Red Lake. I nominate Rio Grande City, Texas. On the border, 120 miles inland from the Gulf. Brutal desert heat, high humidity and no rain, but then nobody goes there for the weather or scenery. It’s home base for low-level Mex cartel smugglers. You could probably get some good Tex-Mex, but nobody is going there for the enchiladas.
Read the article. Sad to still see there are still folks who visit rural America and say "Gee there are nice people here!"
Now this caught my eye: "Gun culture is strong in the region". I'm assuming its because the writer has a gun perspective based on this.
What's the difference between a "gun culture" and a "gun violence culture".
Maybe he should visit Anacostia next.
(PS: I'm not a gun guy)
Dave,
I grew up in the northeast (Berkshire County, MA). When I was a kid, I went out everyday with my friends. Florida is an ugly hellhole.
SGT Ted said... [hush][hide comment]
Anyone that thinks Wisconsin is the worst place to live needs to go spend a summer in the Phoenix, AZ valley.
Not all bad. On a cold night might dip below 100 degrees occasionally.
My wife's last job before retirement was as a nurse case manager for a major insurance company, primarily workman' compensation cases. She managed the care telephonically for clients in several states including California and Minnesota. She often told me often told me of the different attitudes of clients in different states. Clients in California often hired lawyers and did everything they could to milk the system for as much and as long as they could. The lawyers would forbid my wife from contacting the clients directly even for things as routine as a doctor's appointment. More billable hours for the lawyer, more months of payments for the clients. The attitude of most of her Minnesota clients was completely different. They wanted to know how soon they could return to work. Good people up in Minnesocold.
Grew up in northern MN, spent many yrs in the Navy including 3 in Jacksonville FL. 95 deg & 95 pct humidity from Mar to Nov. Fire ants in the grass, cotton mouths in the ditches. Huge, colorful, ominous spiders in the bushes. If kids went outside, they kept to the roads or sidewalks. "Palmetto bugs" (i.e. Cockroaches) and small transparent scorpions and subterranean termites either in the house or would be at some point. Mortgage companies required homeowners to buy "termite bonds" to protect their interest in the home. Did not see the appeal of Florida, and could not wait for a transfer.
The worst place to live inspired the dullest article to read. I live in NYC. Not necessarily the best place to live--billionaires excepted--but it does inspire interesting writing......Is it better to have a happy marriage with Kathy Bates or or two vexatious years with a hot stripper?
I had same opinion of the south till I went there. Alabama was gorgeous.
New Orleans in the meantime was dirty and smelled like mold. Granted it was a few years after Katrina, and there was no mardi gras going on, but didn't get the charm of the place at all. It was hot, humid and dirty looking.
"Downtown LA on a weekend"
Thankfully, no one lives in Downtown LA.
EMD
Many thousands of young professionals make downtown their home. Multiple condo complexes built in last decade.
The population of Red Lake County has gone from 12,185 in 1910 to 4,089 in 2010. That is Detroit-type decline.
Dear city folk. Please stay home and leave our horrible ugly fields and trees and streams to us. Thank you. Go away.
EMD So the downtown loft craze is officially Over?
William, if you have to ask you won't understand the answer. Oh, and you should have that looked at.
Roadkill711 That's why we let New Yorkers move there.
"(kids can go outside EVERYDAY) "
I noticed this with my kids in Orange County. I built a whole electric train a\setup when my sons were small. They never played with it. Ditto for toy soldiers and Erector Sets.
My grandson is the same. My younger son built a pool last summer and the kids are in it 7 months of the years and sometimes the other five. I would not live in LA but Orange County is great. However, millions agree and housing prices are crazy,
Pil. 3.14 Note he said "I didn't actually do any shooting." Why not, Mr. Inquiring Reporter? You have a great opportunity for a new experience and a chance to interact with the locals in their chosen milieu.
Dave:
I lived the 1st 34 years of my life in the north until I relocated to Florida...Our quality of life has improved so much (kids can go outside EVERYDAY)
I grew up in rural New England, and once I was in elementary school, I spent a fair amount of time outside EVERYDAY- at least when it wasn't raining. If you are dressed for it, there is no problem going outside in cold weather. Keep moving and dress for it, and cold weather isn't bad. Similarly, there are a lot of people in the Southland who stay indoors during 90+ degree summers. Get out in the hot weather- it isn't so bad once you acclimate.
When people move from the south to the colder north, they often do not follow the locals and dress in layers, which means that they are absolutely miserable in cold weather.
He went to the wrong Red Lake.
Red Lake County is a nice farming community.
Red Lake the town is part of the Red Lake Objibwe reservation and is a hell hole of poverty. Your tax dollars at work destroying culture and replacing it with dysfunction.
William, I think you might be surprised: From her performances, Kathy Bates could be far more interesting than a couple of strippers. Just sayin'.
I live in Red Lake County - born and raised, now I'm raising my kids here. For most people who read the article here the main feeling was disbelief - this is the worst? Yes it gets cold, no doubt about it, and no ocean or mountain views, but really? The worst? Whatever. My kids go outside every day too, whether it's winter or summer - dress appropriately. Your life is what you make of it, whether you're in cold weather or warm, there are many things that can make a place horrible to live in, not just the weather or the scenery - or whether your neighbor has a gun (mine have several as do we, and we haven't shot each other yet).
Post a Comment