An Indianapolis Star Quiz for You

Though I believe Robert Florida's work has been shown to not be statistcally valid and that the ID issue and the time zone issue are not all that big, I agree with the basics of this article and suggest that an overall trend is in place - an exodus by Americans and capital from places where people don't want to live, to places they do want to live. It's like a leak in a swimming pool.

In the computer field for example the very top people would never even think of living in Indiana - even based on geography alone - the lousy weather, no mountains, no shore. There's no VC to speak of in Indiana, no big software or computer firms (Interactive Intelligence is not a significant software company).

Same thing, magnified, is happening in North Dakota, parts of the state are emptying out - who would want to live in that climate, pay those heating bills, shovel that snow ?

So IMO people won't want to move here ever and this place will always be a flyover zone, but our state our state and city have responded to this challenge with lousy priorities. A billion dollars for a new stadium and convention center is an artificial stimulus that primarily benefits wealthy developers. If we took that money and created a kicka** bus system and fixed our sewers we'd build a good place to live from the ground up. If we put in Europoean-level bus service, even if its subsidized, people all over the country would notice. (As opposed to subsidizing the Colts, who create no jobs except beer sellers.)

I've heard several times that people say Florida's statistics aren't valid, but I haven't located actual proof of that from a credible source, just the media echo chamber repeating the right-wing contrarian view. I'd welcome some actual data on that.

I know there's a brain drain in Indiana, but I really don't believe it's the weather or geography. I've never heard either of those reasons for why people leave here. I'd say pretty much 70% to 80% of my close friends from college chose to leave the state, but it's the intolerance and lack of personal freedom and privacy, not the lack of beach, that drove their decision.

I grew up in Indiana, graduated from college, left the state for 19 years and now am back to care for my aging parents. I telecommute to my job in Oklahoma. Still, I hear Hoosiers making jokes about Oklahoma. Give me a break.

I am just astounded how little has changed since I left Indiana the first time. Indiana is still clinging to the manufacturing union jobs that had their heyday during the Eisenhower administration. No one wants change, so the world has instead passed them by. Plants close. The small town dries up. And people still don't want to change their lives.

When I graduated college with a degree in computer science, my choices for employment were with Indiana Bell or Public Service Indiana. Neither one of those companies exist anymore. There are no high tech jobs, to speak of, in Indiana. You can't expect to retain college grads, if there's no place to use your degree within the state.

Indiana needs to work on their education system. They have some nice school structures here. They seem too focused on all things athletic, and not enough on basic education. Intelligent Design? Are you kidding me? That's what the lawmakers here want to teach? How about Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic? College needs to be an expectation, not an elective.

Indianapolis is a nice city and I think it is drawing new people from other areas. The downtown area has had a total renaissance from 20 years ago and continues to improve. They do a fantastic convention business, and cater well to that sector. As far as things for 20 and 30 somethings to do, it is pretty sad here. I call it the "trendy Indy" factor. A new place opens. The old one closes. Broad Ripple would be the closest thing to a night-time destination.

Mostly, the attitude has got to change. People are very negative here, if not outright hostile. I never regretted leaving the state. I find the people who stayed seem very bitter about life. But yet at this stage of the game, they are just going to ride it out until retirement. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just go read the IndyStar Message Board at www2.indystar.com/forums/ for a taste.

Underage drinking, teen pregnancies, high divorce rate, obesity, alcoholism, meth usage, petty theft, and murder. I think these are all factors based on the poor Indiana economy. People here just want to mow their grass and then sit at home and watch "Desperate Housewives" and get fat. They totally miss the irony of how desperate their lives are in Indiana.

I fear, much like an addict, Hoosiers are in a state of denial. It's not going to be until they hit rock bottom, that a true change can occur. Well folks, Indiana is almost there!

I tell you what...I read the best "Let it Out" from Saturday's IndyStar...something like:

Conservative christians complain that the public schools can't teach their children the basics (reading, writing, arithmetic) and now they want these same schools to teach their children religion???

Two thumbs up to the guy/gal that submitted this to Let It Out.

We've been STUCK ( certainly not voluntary ) in S. Indiana with our company. We're from out west. I'm repulsed by the overall backwoods mentality. These people are obese, chain smoking ( in their homes and cars WITH children inside ), uneducated fools. They're clinging to the past in hopes of what? Putting up more trailors? Making a living off state assistance? They never leave the state ( save for a trip to TN or KY and might as well not go anywhere ). They've got a deathgrip on their trailors, camoflauge jackets, smokes, and Bubba trucks. Teen pregnancy is practically expected. And their grammar... they slaughter verbs like they hunt deer! Intelligent teachers and worthwhile industries avoid IN & KY like the plague with reason. They never leave and will never know what the modern world's like. Try having a political or worldly conversation with them. I don't want to hear them complain about jobs. Too many are happy working for Ford, KFC or pumping gas. Whatever. We cannot wait to move and rejoin the real world. Yuck!

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