I’m aware that, at the moment, Florida is deemed unsafe for people to travel to, but what is generally the worst state to live in? Factors such as education, religious extremism, crime, cost of food, healthcare, and access to other resources are relevant. Will “Deep South” states remain one of the worst places to live in due to traditionalism, or are more progressive states bound to grow worse?
What do you consider in determining the worst?
As a Californian, I’d say California. Cost of living here is ridiculous, and pay isn’t keeping up. Gas at $6/gallon. Electricity bill skyrockets when using A/C, but with temperatures regularly surpassing 85F and being a desert state, we don’t have a choice. Water bill goes up every year because the water company raises rates after a drought to make up for lost profit and never lowers the price back down after. Fast food meals are now $15 a meal, and store-bought produce isn’t much cheaper. There are car thefts and police chases every single day, often multiple in a day. Despite firearm related laws, there are still armed criminals committing crimes. Our two biggest natural disasters are wildfires and earthquakes, though in recent years there have been a few waterspouts out on the ocean, don’t remember if they ever made landfall or not. Real estate pricing here is out of control. The people here don’t know how to drive, especially in the rain. People are rude and uncaring most of the time. The schools get paid a lot of money but they pay it all out to pensions of retired teachers rather than active working teachers, which means education suffers greatly.
Sure, the weather here is usually nice, and there are a lot of entertainment centers (which are expensive by the way), but aside from that, California isn’t very nice to live in.
The only reasons I still live here are because I am too poor to move away, and my family is still here.
I just drove from California to Yellowstone and back for vacation. The gas prices were pretty close throughout the drive. And fast food costs were the same everywhere.
Also, teachers retirement is paid through Calsters in California. That’s an entirely separate fund in an entirely separate state agency than education. It’s a pension system where the teachers pay in and the state pays as well while they are working like any other private company’s pension system.
How much do you think you’d need to get out? (Asking, in a kidding way, as a Californian who is tired of these memes about how it’s bad to live here when you’re just describing any major urban center in the world.)
Edit: you’re not wrong about the challenges, it’s just that they’re not unique to California.
Where do you live to see prices like that? Gas is 4.80 or so and no fast food is $15. That maybe is a fast casual restaurant.
ARCO nearby is at $5.99/gal for Premium. Shell across the street is $5.79/gal Premium.
Yesterday went to Carl’s Jr and ordered two Super Star w Cheese meals, no additional items and had to pay $32, so Id say pretty close to $15 per meal.
Orange County, where these prices would be expected.
Sounds like you live in an expensive pocket, like near beach or a special neighborhood.
Use google to find gas near you it lists out prices . I was just in garden grove yesterday. Gas was 4.80 to 5.20. If you are driving a sports car that needs premium gas your going to pay more to enjoy more .
I took my extended family out in garden grove , 7 people for dinner at $130 before tip to a decent sit down place. McDonalds and Taco Bell at 6-10 for a meal.
Even near Disney in Anaheim prices are better than you listed out. I can grab a full meal at Denny’s for about 12-15.
When I first moved to ca I lived in a cool community where I could afford rent. Daily life was so expensive I was riding the bus an hour to get groceries.
Now pay more in rent and less in everything else in a boring place. Moving a few miles will make a difference for you.
Come to Missouri. It’s cheaper and we have legal weed. Plus, the more sane people the better.
Agree. 100%. Weather is pretty good, if don’t might 100 degrees for 3 months out of the year. Housing, and utility costs are out of control and homelessness and crime are rampant .
Edited my comment to add this link that just popped up on a news feed. Out of control
https://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-government-employees-san-francisco-164505153.html
Oh, yeah I totally forgot about all the homeless. In LA its so bad their tents take up the whole sidewalk of entire blocks. Its sad, but youd think a state as rich as California would have solved it already.