Forbes: America's Most Miserable Cities

[El Pinko]

ARTICLE:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable.htmll

SLIDESHOW:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/01/29/detroit-stockton-flint-biz-cz_kb_0130miserable_slide_2.html?thisSpeed=15000

America's Most Miserable Cities
By Kurt Badenhausen, Forbes.com
Feb 11th, 2008

Imagine living in a city with the country's highest rate for violent crime and the second-highest unemployment rate. As an added kicker you need more Superfund dollars allocated to your city to clean up contaminated toxic waste sites than just about any other metro.

Unfortunately, this nightmare is a reality for the residents of Detroit. The Motor City grabs the top spot on Forbes' inaugural list of America's Most Miserable Cities.

Misery is defined as a state of great unhappiness and emotional distress. The economic indicator most often used to measure misery is the Misery Index. The index, created by economist Arthur Okun, adds the unemployment rate to the inflation rate. It has been in the narrow 7-to-9 range for most of the past decade, but was over 20 during the late 1970s.


The List:

Detroit, MI
Stockton, CA
Flint, MI
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Chicago, IL
Los Angeles, CA
Modesto, CA
Charlotte, NC
Providence, RI

[BlueManDude]

1. it's hard to believe Boston isn't there - just for the sheer orneriness of the people

[El Pinko]

2. I spent 4 years living in Miami, and would put it in the top 10...

The year-round heat and humidity, the rudeness everywhere, the maniacal drivers, Hardly anyone in any store speaks English in large swaths of town - there are UNBELIEVABLY NOISY parties EVERYWHERE until the wee hours of the morning, all the time. Nobody has any consideration for anyone else.

But it was miserable for me because I'm not a Miamian - I'm a WASPy guy used to quiet neighborhoods and fairly genteel people.

I suppose most Miamians are happy as pigs in slop in their swampy, buggy, noisy, rude tropical paradise. They can have it. Glad I got out.

[SoCalDem]

4. I LOVE Miami... nothing better than cruising the causeways in a convertible ..late at night

and the food :)

[MitchMitchell]

10. Miami should really be #4

I have to agree with El Pinko. It's horrible down here, The only reason Miami's probably not on the list is that there's not state income tax here (and it show's while you're driving along the dirty unkempt streets with your top down). After two years here, we are getting out of here.
p.s. The restaurants here are also terrible. Worst food and service I've ever had.

[slackmaster]

3. I've seen historic houses in Detroit listed for sale with asking prices under $10,000

The down side is that property taxes are over $6K per year; insurance is another $6K per year because of the high crime rates; and there are no decent jobs.

[KillCapitalism]

5. I'm surprised St. louis was not listed, we have horrendous weather & high unemployment!

High crime is a problem too.

[MedleyMisty]

6. I live in Charlotte

Huh - I hadn't noticed anything much wrong here and I'm quite low on the economic totem pole.

Eh - read the article and apparently part of it is taxes? Like, okay, so having money for the public good is miserable? So in other words, maybe I don't see anything wrong here because I'm one of the unwashed masses and care about my fellow beings?

[El Pinko]

7. I dunno - here's what the slideshow said:

Commute times 96
Income tax rates 107
Superfund sites 97
Unemployment 97
Violent crimes 140
Weather 88

Misery Measure 625

Charlotte ranked in the bottom 50% of all six categories that we examined. Its worst showing was in violent crimes (838 crimes per 100,000 residents). As home to banking giants Bank of America and Wachovia, Charlotte could see an uptick in unemployment, thanks to the problems at those banks.

[DCKit]

8. I'd laugh if it weren't so sad.

Many cities saw a huge increase in tax revenues through the 90's and early 00's. Instead of acting with fiscal restraint and putting something away for a rainy day, they instead found new and innovative ways of spending every penny (and then some) - the same behavior you would expect from stereotypical trailer trash with a winning lottery ticket.

Where are the public transportation systems, the new or rehabilitated schools or the new and upgraded water and sewer treatment plants? Look instead to the new sports stadiums and city sponsored private/public development projects and other gifts to the wealthiest 1%.

Corporacrats are running government from the local to the highest of the federal levels, and it's up to U.S. to make the change next November. The alternative isn't an option we can live with.

[MadHound]

9. Frankly any urban area over 50,000 I consider a miserable city

Got tired of the noise, crime, pollution, traffic, out of control development, crowding, etc. etc. of my home town, pop. 100,000. Moved out to the country and absolutely love it. Shop at the small towns nearby where there are lots of local stores and few chain operations. And I always dread going into a city of any size, hell, you can smell the damn things coming before you see them.

[kineneb]

13. then there is really rural...

the county in which I live has ~ 65,000 people. Largest city/town is only 13,000. Not many stores here, but then we live on a fixed income, so it does not matter. My little village is pop. 2,500, if one counts the "summer people".

[devilgrrl]

11. F#%@ that! L.A. Rules!

If you don't like Los Angeles - then L E A V E ! ! ! !

[David Zephyr]

14. Thank you, L.A. woman!

L.A. is the greatest city on earth. :thumbsup:

[goforit]

12. NewYork??? Chicago??? These cities are a blast!!! Misery is Jupitor, Fla!!!!!

Obviously Republicans can't live where people are hipper and smarter than they are!!!

Well, Forbes is the most arrogant publication next to the Wall Street Journal!!!!

Just keep sticking your nose higher Forbes!!! Eventually you'll run out of oxygen.

[Phoonzang]

15. I'd say small towns are more miserable

than big cities. Especially ones with ignorant, "provincial", yokels who are terrified by anyone who doesn't look like them. People who haven't traveled further than 20 miles from their home. For example, Southern Delaware....see if you can live there without wanting to kill yourself. :crazy: