<p>“I swear that people in the NE think the university president moonlights at the Feed & Seed and the Provost’s name is Miss Daisy.”</p>
<p>…and the head of the history department drives 70 mph through campus in a Dodge Charger he calls the General Lee?</p>
<p>Applejack, </p>
<p>I lived in Los Angeles for a long time, and trust me, many people displayed incredible bigotry and ignorance toward the South. A couple of people actually said that “you guys still lynch Blacks don’t you?”.</p>
<p>What is most offensive is that some people in California see Alabama as backward, while ignoring the increasingly apartheid system of education and healthcare in So Cal. The illegal immigrant communities in So Cal are paid slave wages, and they most definitely don’t live in the Beverly Hills, or the Palisades, Brentwood type of communities, etc.</p>
<p>Applejack…</p>
<p>Last year Bama played Penn State at home. The game was an evening game therefore Nittany Lion fans and Bama fans all spent the day together.</p>
<p>Nearly everyone fled to the Ferg to escape the heat and then rainfall of the afternoon. The Ferg was “wall to wall” PSU and Bama fans. We all settled in chairs, on the floor, and on steps…wherever we could find a spot. Bama fans and PSU fans…all mixed together. There wasn’t a Bama side and a PSU side in the Ferg. </p>
<p>During those many hours, we all just talked to each other (and enjoyed eating and watching various sports on the TVs there.) One common theme was present from the PSU fans. They couldn’t believe how wonderful the campus was, how friendly the people are…and how the school dispelled their pre-conceived notions about the South…and Alabama in particular.</p>
<p>It was kind of funny watching the PSU fans first come into the Ferg. They didn’t know what to expect. They had apprehensive looks on their faces. They told me that if they had done this at many other schools they would have been “welcomed” with rude comments, sneers, and such. But, at Bama, the Tide fans came up to them, introduced themselves, chatted with them, and offered to direct them to whatever they needed…a chair, refreshments, or the restrooms. </p>
<p>I had a similar experience with the San Jose State (Calif) fans the week before (but that wasn’t in the Ferg…it was at the tailgating on the Quad.) Many SJSU parents told me that their younger kids (who were with them) said that after walking around the campus, that they want to go to Bama.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. I’ve lived in the Northeast, Midwest, South and a brief stint on the West Coast, so I understand the ignorance different regions have for one another (perhaps the most educated / “worldly” people on the coasts being the worst offenders). And, to be fair, sometimes regions bring it on themselves (New Englanders are reserved, the South is always pulling up the rear of social progress, Californians can be flakey, etc…)</p>
<p>I was just surprised that people lumped the university in with the regional stereotype. People have some negative perceptions of the state of Michigan because of its economy, for example, but they usually assess the University of Michigan separately. I just assumed people would be able to recognize a world class university like Alabama and not burden it with archaic regional stereotypes. Guess I was wrong.</p>
<p>Anyway - thanks for the insights. Happy 4th!</p>
<p>@Schmaltz & mom2collegekids – LOL!! </p>
<p>BTW, Schmaltz, I didn’t mean my comment to sound as if you didn’t know what Channel-2-in-Boston was. I was just explaining it for non-Bostonians. (I re-read it later and realized it sounded weird…)</p>
<p>the South is always pulling up the rear of social progress,</p>
<p>Yes…and thank goodness for that in many ways. I don’t mean that in any kind of way that delays common sense and civil rights. I’m talking about how some of the more “progressive states” get themselves into a heap bit of trouble diving into the pool of wild-haired ideas in the name of social engineering and progress and then the realities of unintended consequences slap them big time into reality. And, at that point, it’s hard, if not impossible, to rein things back in (i.e. California’s far too generous FA for incomes under $80k…even for a household of one!!!). There’s a reason why the South has not become a bastion of over-taxed welfare states…it’s seen what happens to states that go that route. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and watch these states put their ideas into place and then adopt the ones that work or improve upon the failures with better plans.</p>
<p>Well said Mom2K. Being on the tail end of some “social progress” issues isn’t a bad thing IMHO.</p>
<p>I am not sure that these states are that much more “progressive”. After all, Californians have voted down gay marriage and legalized pot. As someone who leans libertarian, I am not sure any state in the nation is truly ready for freedom. </p>
<p>It doesn’t matter which party has been in power, some of our biggest states are absolute messes because of certain policies. Alabama def needs more progress, but I agree with the others, that in some ways it has been a blessing. </p>
<p>I used to think Alabama was backwards for not having a lottery. But now, I see it in a different way. These gaudy state lotteries are taxes on the poor. It is disgusting how they lure people into spending the little money they have on a chance to get rich. And they are not pulling in the expected revenue. Hope Scholarship is suffering from it.</p>
<p>Alabama has historically been less “progressive” due to its culture and the fact that it is one of the poorer states. It has its own management issues, such as the fact that Jefferson County should be filing bankruptcy in the near future due to the corruption surrounding the sewer system (long story). Alabama has less problem funding programs because it has less programs, which is a good and bad thing. Note the PACT fiasco was not one of the finer points in Alabama’s budget history.</p>
<p>I can think of three states that are mainly libertarian (NH, NV, and DE), but they still have a long ways to go. I will say that successful gaming (NV rather than MS) can fund a lot of state benefits. While a lottery can be a tax on the poor, that observation is mainly used as a smokescreen for those who oppose gambling on philosophical grounds.</p>
<p>Mom2CollegeKids -
Can of worms, open, I guess. It was just a passing comment - didn’t mean tax policy. I just meant gender / race / sexual rights and such things as innovative environmental solutions lag behind. I guess that can be a good thing if certain ideas don’t work out well, but obviously the status quo isn’t working so someone needs to try new ideas.</p>
<p>I’m also not sure I’d be bragging about fiscal responsibility with all the highest poverty rates in the country concentrated in the region. I don’t live up there, but New England seems to have a nice model that keeps poverty rates low and innovation / equality / quality of life high. Perhaps the Pacific Northwest as well.</p>
<p>As a NE-er who is out of work along with many of my friends, the poverty rate might be low, but the unemployment rate is very high. Plus the inequality between the top 5% and everyone else is very real. I wouldn’t use us as a model for anything.</p>
<p>fiscal responsibility with all the highest poverty rates in the country concentrated in the region.</p>
<p>One has nothing to do with the other. Spending into “the red” does not eliminate poverty. </p>
<p>*but New England seems to have a nice model that keeps poverty rates low and innovation / equality / quality of life high. Perhaps the Pacific Northwest as well. *</p>
<p>LOL…you mean “near lily white” New England? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>When your New England states have populations of 30%+ of URMs, then maybe your policies will be meaningful.</p>
<p>True, but making strategic investments to foster new industries and infill development certainly can impact poverty levels. I’m not sure what race has to do with it since there’s no shortage of white people in poverty.</p>
<p>Anyway - all off topic. Thread’s purpose has run its course. Have a nice night.</p>
<p>As far as race goes, Southern Blacks and Whites interact more on a daily basis with each other, than do Northern or Western Whites and Blacks. The neighborhoods AND the churches are more segregated outside of the South as well. Finally, affirmative action, whether right or wrong, is alive and well in the South, but not in Michigan and California.</p>
<p>* but making strategic investments to foster new industries and infill development certainly can impact poverty levels. *</p>
<p>LOLOLOLOL</p>
<p>you obviously know so very little about the South. The South is essentially leading the nation in appealing to high-tech companies to make the South their home. The South is getting high-tech transplants in DROVES.</p>
<p>The state of Alabama is home to the second largest research park in the nation…Cummings Research Park…google it.</p>
<p>The best way out of poverty…is with a job…not a social program. A job gives a person dignity. </p>
<p>*I’m not sure what race has to do with it since there’s no shortage of white people in poverty.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>maybe if you didn’t live in a nearly wonder bread world you would know that, sadly, the unemployment rate of AAs in this country is about 17%, while the rate for Whites is about 8%. So, in states that have much higher Black populations, that is going to affect poverty rates.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the black unemployment rate has increased at a rate of 700% more than whites.</p>
<p>Southern Blacks and Whites interact more on a daily basis with each other, than do Northern or Western Whites and Blacks.</p>
<p>Absolutely. My subdivision is about 25-30% Black. We live, eat, celebrate births/accomplishments, and mourn losses…together.</p>
<p>Your comments are very mean-spirited, MomofCollegeKids. If you wish to have a mature conversation in the future (I will not be continuing this one), please consider acting like a mature adult and not make erroneous judgments, insult, and laugh at others. It is very hurtful.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I am very well aware - personally so - of the South’s ability to attract both high tech and industry. You’ve really just reduced everything to oversimplistic “liberal versus conservative” talking points. I move in a much more nebulous realm and was certainly not advocating social programs over jobs. I simply pointed out, accurately, that the regions with the lowest poverty and highest quality of life are not necessarily the ones with the most extreme fiscal or social values, in either direction (as California can attest).</p></li>
<li><p>I have no idea why you assumed I live in a lily white area, but I actually live and work surrounded by black people (in a city, not a subdivision). I am VERY well aware of the black experience from high-end PhDs and professionals to the homeless and the chronically poor. I never said black people do not have a higher unemployment rate. I simply pointed out, accurately again, that the most people on welfare are white, with many in the south. To reduce this problem to simple race ignores underlying issues.</p></li>
<li><p>As for whether the north or south integrates better. I don’t know. Having lived in both, I don’t see much difference. Racism and stratification is a lot more overt in small town / working class communities everywhere.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t know about this, where I live there is still a “Us versus Them” mentality on both side.</p>
<p>Well I base my assertion on my own experience living in both Alabama, and other parts of the South, and California. Plus, listening to others discuss their experiences.</p>
<p>{Your comments are very mean-spirited, MomofCollegeKids. If you wish to have a mature conversation in the future (I will not be continuing this one), please consider acting like a mature adult and not make erroneous judgments, insult, and laugh at others. It is very hurtful.}</p>
<p>lol @ applejack. I love feigning mock indignation too. You’re a damn good pot stirrer. Post more often.</p>
<p>If Mom is mean, then the Dalai Lhama is a hellraiser!</p>