Worst State Ever: Gallup Poll on "Happiest States in America" has Ohio coming in at 46
In a recent Gallup poll on "The Happiest States in America," Ohio came in at 46th. Of course, no one at mgoblog is surprised by this.
LINK: http://www.businessinsider.com/happiest-states-in-america-2014-2
Michigan came in at 37, so we can't crow about it too much, I guess. Perhaps the situation in Detroit and surrounding environs had an impact? One of the indices, work environment, was a strong factor in North Dakota (my state of birth!) coming in number 1. Interestingly, many of the states in the lowest quintile were in the deep South and the land of the SEC (i.e., Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee.) It is an enjoyable light read if you're interested in that kind of thing.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:09 AM ^
Michigan remaining pretty consistent and I'm noticing a high number of SEC-centric schools in that bottom 10 or 12. Thank goodness they have football to lift their spirits.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^
Looks like Ohio is actually 46th.
Top 5:
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Minnesota
Montana
February 21st, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
Noted and edited. Thanks.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:18 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
Theory: All the "it's too cold" whiners moved down South and found something else to whine about instead.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
The "its too cold" states have very fun ways to get warm, ifyouknowwhatimean.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 3:44 PM ^
If you're in VA, what was your snow and storm experience?
February 21st, 2014 at 11:40 PM ^
I am not in VA.
But I did once upon a time and can say from anecdotal experience that Virginia drivers are exactly as bad as you'd expect in the snow. I was out driving home, while living in Norfolk, after a very light snowfall had dusted the area, had to cross several bridges on the way home, and encountered a crashed car on every one of them.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
People aren't moving to those states for jobs they don't want, lifestyles they aren't interested in living, etc. You're moving to North Dakota to get a job that pays more (fracking for instance) or doing a job that you actually like, such as cattle raising. It's not a place where people get stuck in a high-paced, instant gratification, 9 to 5, office job that they hate. People are where they are because they want to be. It doesn't mean that the challenges aren't anymore challenging, or anything like that, but I think the worries and burdens are more in line with what those people expect and can handle, and then the upside is more in line as well, making them generally happier.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:42 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
I don't know the stats, but Ohioans must have seen their standard of living decline in the last 25 years. Almost nothing has replaced the manufacturing jobs that were taken from the state. The days of having a house, two cars, and maybe even a small boat thanks to the money you made at the mill/plant are mostly gone.
February 21st, 2014 at 7:54 PM ^
Sounds a lot like Michigan to me.
February 22nd, 2014 at 4:36 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 2:11 PM ^
I think the derivative of living conditions matters a lot in happiness. Generally, things are getting better in the northern plains states, and getting worse in the "Rust Belt".
Not sure how that explains the really low states in the south though, where manufacturers are starting to move.
February 21st, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
I agree, though I wonder if there is a bit of a happiness "bubble" going on with some of those Plains states. Times are great now, but when those somewhat-transient jobs that are a major source of population growth (natural resources, commodities, etc.) become lean, it will be interesting to see if those numbers stay high. Also, there's some new car smell going on with some new arrivals, and I'm guessing that will drop too as people adjust to the area and realize there are some issues. Not saying we'll it become incredibly sad, but everyone's pretty excited when the first couple of paychecks come in.
February 21st, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^
I agree with this. After being here in Big Sky a year now, I find the people in this area love being here. It's been put to me that the environment here is extreme. If you don't love it, you sure as hell aren't going to put up with it the majority of the year.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
Notice that the two states that legalized marijuana both are in the top bundle of "happiness".
February 21st, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^
Or late-night pizza availability, but if they'd measured them, you'd have to think they'd score pretty well on those, too.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
Wyoming? When did you move out of Arlen, TX?
February 21st, 2014 at 2:27 PM ^
when the propane and propane accessories market collapsed
February 21st, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
Lived in Arizona for 5 years before moving back to Michigan in 2011. That state is miserable, at least it was for true born and bred Michigander/Ann Arborite like myself. Maybe I have a way too negative subjective view on that state, but I'm not sure how in the world it could be anywhere in the top half of the country in this poll unless any of the population south of Sedona, AZ wasn't taken into consideration.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^
And I will never understand how anyone over 30 could willingly choose to live in the Midwest ... Other than Chicago.
If you hate AZ, you must have lived in the aves, or somewhere poor like Mesa. Enjoy your crime and clouds!
/hate
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:28 AM ^
Yikes, that is a lot of hate. I was in Tempe (in neighborhood near "The Lakes," so quite far from a poor area), but lets be honest, if you live in one East Valley city, you pretty much live in them all. I only dare ever crossed Central ave (or is it st?) to go downtown or to Glendale. And Scottsdale isn't crime free itself (South Scottsdale, anyone?).
I love Michigan with all its faults and I'm a midwest boy. I couldn't deal with the Cowboy mindset, no sports teams I cared about, the 120 degree days (that's right, I'd rather have the snow), the terrible politics, and to top it off, Arizona is ranked 50th in Education. Not where I wanted to raise a kid. So, it is quite obvious why I wanted to move back to the midwest.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:28 AM ^
The full report has state rankings on the individual dynamics in the survey as well. For example, Michigan:
Life Evaluation - 43rd
Emotional Health - 25th
Work Environment - 44th
Physical Health- 35th
Healthy Behaviors - 36th
Basic Access - 16th
Compare this to Ohio:
Life Evaluation - 48th
Emotional Health - 44th
Work Environment - 40th
Physical Health- 42nd
Healthy Behaviors - 45th
Basic Access - 28th
If you donwload it, you can also see historic and average rankings as well.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
OF COURSE Washington and Colorado are in the top quintile. Come on, Michigan, it's time to legalize it.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:39 AM ^
I agree, Michigan should legalize Marijuana. I mean if Illinois can finally become a CCW state, then anything is possible. It took the Supreme court to get involved, but it still happened. Michigan, it is time to start legalizing Marijuana so that you can start making state revenue from the taxing of it!
February 21st, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
...but it'll still be illegal for the military, dude. :-)
February 21st, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
This. All day this. If they legalize it in Michigan I will be moving back to take over the family farm.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
but not as good as in North Dakota or Nebraska?
February 21st, 2014 at 7:14 PM ^
California beer is good, but the WATER in California beer is not that good. Only hindrance...
February 21st, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
So, you're saying that ignorance isn't bliss???
February 21st, 2014 at 12:05 PM ^
^ Underrated
February 21st, 2014 at 11:47 AM ^
North Dakota / South Dakota benefitting from all that sweet, sweet oil money. And all those sweet, sweet strippers/hookers who follow it.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
due to legal medicinal marijuana and the great breweries in the state.
February 21st, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 12:04 PM ^
YEAH NEBRASKA WOOOOOO
February 21st, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
February 21st, 2014 at 4:35 PM ^
How can Nebraska be a happy state with Bo Pelini running around?
February 21st, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
I'm way into "map porn".
It's a rare map of the states that doesn't line up along blue state/red state lines. I know we're not supposed to get into politics; I just had to say it.
February 21st, 2014 at 12:56 PM ^
I work in the auto industry and noticed most of the red and orange states on the east side of the nation are auto industry heavyweights . Very stressful to work in big auto.
February 21st, 2014 at 12:30 PM ^
Wow.... 48th where I'm at. I live in a state.... worse than Ohio?
:(
February 21st, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
Is it normal during power outages in major cities for cars to just ignore traffic lights being off and never stop? They blow through as if a light doesn't exist, it's insanely dangerous to drive if the powers out here, I literally now avoid main roads when it happens.
February 21st, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^