Right-wing trolls have taught me something interesting: The Northwest is a dystopian hellhole.

[Aristus]

Who knew?

All I ever knew is that we have beautiful scenery, wealthy, progressive cities, a well-educated populous, fairly good weather (sure, it rains a lot, but that's significantly better than it not raining a lot.) and job opportunities that people leave other parts of the country for.

Do we have our problems? Sure. What part of the country doesn't have it share of problems? Including and especially homelessness. But homelessness here is for the same reason it is anywhere: the wealthy business owners don't want to pay a living wage for the labor they get rich on.

I guess the right-wing media has painted us as Mad Max or something. Which is really unfair. I-5 isn't always like that.

[Faux pas]

1. Lol

Yeah it's horrible if you hate paradise! I love it here

[mopinko]

2. same w chicago.

i get so sick of it.
i will say, tho, my 1st hub’s family lived in coure d’alene for a few yrs and always wanted to get back. they’d be trump voters if they were still around. the ex told me about the gun nuts back then. 70’s.

[Ocelot II]

3. Hey, I'll see your dystopian hellhole and raise you our crime-ridden wasteland!

Ever since Antifa vandalized some stores and burned down a police station here in the People's Republic of Minneapolis to protest George Floyd's murder (oh, wait, I guess they arrested some white kids from the suburbs for that, but never mind), we've been picking our way over burned-out hulks of stolen Kias and fighting off drug-crazed panhandlers on our way to the boarded-up grocery stores to buy crudités and artisanal cheeses and to visit all those taxpayer-money-sucking parks, lakes, and bird sanctuaries. It's terrible. And now we've become a legal sanctuary for trans people and women's health care on account of our woke legislature and even woker governor. The horror, the horror....

[Johnny2X2X]

4. Been years of it on FOX News

They constantly talk about California, Portland, and especially Chicago like they're hellscapes.

Seriously, last tiem I visited San Francisco people asked me about all the human excrement I had to step through on the streets. As if that's a regular thing, pooping on the sidewalks. I saw nothing like that nor many homelss people at all. Not saying they don't exist, but it's not like the city is over run everywhere you go.

And Chicago is safe downtown, probably safer than most much smaller cities. The gang crime happens in neighborhoods mostly between people who know each other.

Dems don't do enough to combat this BS, and they don't do enough to point out that almost all of the bad states for crime, poverty, and poor health are red states.

[inthewind21]

17. When a right wing

loon starts babbling about the hell holes that are New York and California I always respond with "Huh, why do you suppose the largest portion of the population chooses to live there?" And don't even get me started on the claims (EVERY SINGLE TIME housing prices come up) that housing is through the roof because "all those people from California" flooding in to oh, about 45 states and driving up all the prices! California should be about empty by now what with all it's residents fleeing and flooding the rest of the country.

[Johnny2X2X]

18. They're so invested in California hving a mass mexodus

CA has lost 1% of its population in the last 5 years, but it was up like 4% in the several years before that. People aren't leaving CA en masse, and people aren't leaving for reasons other than cost of living for the majority. It's expensive, that's true, because so many people live there is a big reason. It's not top 15 for crime or violent crime. It's top 10 for health care and climate. It's top half for education and top 10 for incomes. It's simply a beutiful state with a huge amount of diversity.

I always bring up to people how the worst states for crime are almost all Red States, and why could that be?

[liberalmuse]

5. As a resident of this dystopian hell hole.

I would strongly advise right wingers against moving here under any circumstances!

[Wounded Bear]

8. Strongly agree!

As a fellow resident of this dystopian hellhole.

[Sky Jewels]

13. They can't move here to Portland anyway because

Antifa burned the whole thing to the ground. We're all subsisting amongst the smoldering ruins and living in the hollow burned-out trunks of western red cedars.

[maxsolomon]

25. what would you have "neo-libs" do to lower real estate and rental costs?

ask the speculative market "pretty please"?

[Tickle]

43. Wow! I only wish I knew what you were responding

to because your post was fabulous 😁

[Mysterian]

6. The Southeast is the true dystopia

The Southeast has higher crime, more poverty, worse health care and lower quality of life. How do they explain all that?

[Wounded Bear]

9. "How do they explain all that?"

Easy, freedumb. Emphasis on the dumb.

[ismnotwasm]

7. I love it here.

❤️

[Sky Jewels]

26. WTF?

[Sky Jewels]

29. Welcome to DU. I thought I'd better say that quickly

just in case you have to go Bye Bye.

[niyad]

63. Oh my. is LG back?

[Sky Jewels]

69. Aww, shucks. I missed him. He didn't stick around long.

[niyad]

72. But was apparently quite busy during its brief stay.

[FrankBooth]

10. It is hilarious

I laugh every time I hear that crap from someone. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

[BlackSkimmer]

32. Same way I feel when I see posts about the south.

The OP loves to disparage the south as anyone who reads his posts can see.

Seems to me that what’s good for the goose…

[maxsolomon]

11. Homelessness isn't ALL because living wages aren't paid.

The crisis is fueled by mental illness and drug addiction, specifically opiates, and the homeless come from all over the PNW, many times from extremely red states (I'm looking at you Montana).

Many homeless are simply unemployable now.

Also, look up Martin v Boise for an explanation of the West Coast's intracatable street camping issues.

[Aristus]

12. All these things are true. I've seen the homeless problem from the insided since 2005.

A lot of my patients have jobs, but they don't pay enough to get them off the streets; not when you need first and last month's rent, damage deposit, credit check, criminal background check, etc.

As for mental illness and substance abuse, I see that every day, too. I'm not ignorant of the causes (plural) of homelessness, is what I'm saying.

[ret5hd]

14. Spouse and I booked a "walking tour" thru Seattle...

a few years back. Damn, one of the most interesting, informative tours of that type we have ever taken. Young man (to us anyway, maybe 30ish), who had devoted himself to the areas history…indigenous culture up to modern day. I don’t remember a single question that anyone in the group asked that he didn’t have a solid, definitive, and answer…backed up by dates, statistics, names, etc.

Anyway, to my point:
One of the subjects he spoke on was the current homelessness problem in the Seattle/west coast area. His statement, spoken seriously and directly to the group was “You hear that we have a homeless problem…Seattle, San Francisco, Portland. ‘WE’ don’t have a homeless problem…the United States has a homeless problem. Because of climate, services, etc the problem manifests here.” He paused…no one in the group challenged his assertion.

Another more humorous statement he made…got a chuckle from everyone: regarding the deforestation that logging inflicted on the entire area, crashing the local economy:

“The loggers discovered, much to their surprise, that it takes exactly one thousand years to replace a one thousand year old tree.”

[GPV]

19. He gave a solid answer.

[dutch777]

15. Good side of this is the R wingnuts will stay away. Pity Florida

[vercetti2021]

16. Yeah its a common talking point

Listen I live in Amarillo, TX. One of the shittiest parts of Texas IMO. We have one of the most corrupt city governments in modern day history, they bow to one rich asshole of the city that wants no progress on anything. We have severe homelessness, drugs, thefts, vandalism on the daily. Mind you we are a city of 200k+ people, and yet we are probably the most conservative city in the state,

Amarillo is proof that the blue cities are nothing but a dystopian shit hole is a lie. Amarillo is a conservative ran city and its extremely shitty to live here. Living in a corrupt, lawless place where religion rains supreme is not a place I want to be.

[BlackSkimmer]

38. I have never lived anywhere I didn't want to be.

Except for perhaps Texas during Basic Training many years ago.

If you want to leave, then save your money and go.

Fear of change is a real thing, but you only live once.

[vercetti2021]

48. Working on it

My girlfriend and I plan on leaving for Washington State next year. We got friends up there that we want to be with and its perfect.

[Hassler]

20. Funny how MAGA towns are dying because the young flee as soon as possible to

Those hellhole cities of Portland, Minneapolis etc-- where all the jobs are. Why can't Republican run towns in nowhere Kanas create jobs? Why is it the liberal run places that create jobs?

[vercetti2021]

36. Rural is dying

If Amarillo didn't have one of the biggest interstates running through it, I can guarantee it would have been where most rural towns are going. You know not long ago I was reading a reddit thread about colleges and why most don't ever return home after going to college.

A lot of users commented because in these small towns. The mentality is the same. Usually racist, bigoted, talking points about anyone who isn't white, christian, straight is an evil person. But a lot of these users said when they went off to college. Their views changed because they saw all these talking points to be utter bullshit.

Reason why cons hate colleges because students are exposed to reality and diversity. Not some backward ass small town mentality anymore. And the student normally never returns back to their hometown. They go to where more open minded people are.

[GP6971]

22. Welcome to DU

[MissB]

28. Welcome to DU!

Enjoy your stay.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

30. Welcome to DU,

I guess.

[Cha]

33. Short and Not sweet.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

35. And it's gone.

[Cha]

39. Yeah

you're welcome.

[vercetti2021]

31. Welcome!

For whatever short amount of time you have

[Xavier Breath]

34. And short it was.

[Yavin4]

37. To Republicans, every urban space in America is a hell hole.

The only pure spaces are single family homes in car-dependent, suburban sprawls. This is intentional. Densely populated areas bring people together where they can form social bonds which lead to labor and political organizing. The suburbs keep people isolated, distant, and distrustful of others.

[BlackSkimmer]

40. I grew up in a lovely suburb. We rode bikes with friends everywhere.

My parent’s friends were diverse, educated, well-traveled, and anything but isolated.

I remember wonderful parties full of interesting people. I met my first openly gay person in the late 60s at one of my parents’ parties, which had a huge impact in my young confused mind.

I don’t know if you never have known any really established suburbs, or just had a terrible experience growing up in them, but my experience was wonderful.

To this day, I still remember the names of everyone on my block, including their parents…all long gone now.

Nah, we were not isolated. We even had a monkey who lived outside for years (in the summer).

[Yavin4]

41. No disrespect, but...

your lived experience of suburban living is nothing like it is today. Kids definitely do not ride their bikes every where. They are driven by their parents because riding bikes in the suburbs can be dangerous. Also, various studies have shown how lonely and isolated people are in today's burbs.

[BlackSkimmer]

42. Well, I live in a pretty nice area now too. And yes, it's similar, just more diverse.

Kids walk to school in my little town - black, white and Hispanic…they ride bikes. They walk with their parents in the neighborhood every evening. I’m usually out in my yard and we all say hi, comment on the weather, the dogs, etc.

Prior to the pandemic, the kids on the block always came to my house in the summer because I have popsicles. Not sure how they sussed that out, but somehow they knew.

I’m guessing they knew because I gave a popsicle to one kid, and the news traveled by bike lol.

There’s always basketball going on somewhere nearby.

So, no disrespect, but I’m glad I don’t live wherever these “studies” are done.

[Yavin4]

44. Your lived experience is not typical of the modern American suburbanite.

That's just the truth.

[BlackSkimmer]

47. So all the people living around me now, and all those people I grew up with

who are living similar lives are just atypical because you’ve decided so? I went to a high school with a graduating class of 900, most very much like me. Those I still have contact with also live in the same type neighborhoods.

I guess I was just very lucky to be raised in that very spot right there because only myself and my cohorts had that experience out of this big old country? How lucky we were!

How lucky I keep ending up in neighborhoods like this no matter where I move in whatever state! Wowza!

I’ve even been known to duck behind my some of my larger trees just to avoid conversation with some of the block regulars. Two guys, both named Robert, walk morning and evening and LOVE to talk. I call them A.M. and P.M to my neighbor because of their walking times. But I’m not the really small talk type so I do sometimes avoid them. Isolated? Not even during the pandemic.

Ok. I get that you feel people are living miserable, lonely lives, but I’m gonna guess that’s been going on for centuries.

Anyway, I feel sad that your experience has been “isolated and distant” because that would indeed be awful. I don’t know where you live, but it does indeed sound kind of grim as you describe it.

Have a lovely evening now. You seem determined to discount my lived experience so I think the conversation has reached an end.

[Yavin4]

50. FYI

Here's some information for you:

&t=17s

[Elessar Zappa]

51. I see kids on bikes all the time.

[Yavin4]

52. See my post No. 50

Video provides evidence of my argument.

[Jedi Guy]

45. The right-wing in general regularly shits on urban areas as crime-ridden hellholes.

It's a thing and has been for a while now. They started it back in the early 90s, when crime in urban areas had been spiking for the last several years. However, they continued with the urban hellscape narrative even after crime dropped more sharply and rapidly than it had risen. That drop in crime didn't serve the narrative, so it was as if it never happened and it just kept going up and up.

By the same token, the left in general shits on rural areas and has for a while now. "Flyover country" has been a thing for a couple decades now. The left looks at rural areas as desolate wastelands populated by toothless Bubbas who've never read anything but Guns and Ammo and just can't wait to break out the banjos so they can reenact Deliverance on some city fellers, always assuming they can stop beating their wives and screwing their sisters for a few minutes.

Both sides are taking the worst, most stereotypical aspects of their opposite numbers and blowing them out of proportion into the rule rather than the exception. As it turns out, urban and rural areas are mostly just normal people going about normal lives. But since "normal people going about normal lives" makes it hard to vilify and demonize, that truth gets conveniently ignored in favor of, "Holy shit, get a load of these freaks over here."

[canuckledragger]

46. That's because they're trying to transfer attention and blame...

...from the actual crime infested red states and cities.

Remember, with these republicans, every accusation is a confession.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

49. Oh dear

"a well-educated populous"

It's populace, not populous. Populous is an adjective to describe something that has a great number of people. Populace is a noun synonymous with the similar word "population" or "people," as a specific type of group.

I have a feeling the internet has a law describing those who brag about certain education attainments as destined to screw up their post in a way that contradicts the claim. I'm sure someone knows it, but I don't.

I can admit it when I'm ignorant of something, though.

[Sky Jewels]

54. I can hardly stand to live here...such a horrible wasteland...

[Aristus]

55. +1.

[crickets]

57. Your last sentence is gold. 😆

I used to live in the hellhole a bit to the south of you, and in spite of a couple of the earthquakes, I do miss it.

[Aristus]

58. Whereabouts?

There are times when I like driving I-5. But it's always in-between cities. And when you're really out in the boonies, it decreases to two lanes only. Hard to imagine while driving through Seattle or Tacoma.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

61. 1st post is an apology? For what?

I'm confused.

[marble falls]

62. Hanging around the library too long.

[niyad]

65. Apparently our friend LG has been quite busy this morning.

[marble falls]

66. Very busy.

[niyad]

64. I simply do not know how you bear it. You are so brave!

[Aristus]

67. Abundant coniferous forests, snow-capped mountains;

Yeah. Every day is a struggle…

[niyad]

68. Your fortitude and forebearance are remarkable. And I understand. Even here in

fundieville, we have to endure clement weather, little smog, that geologic nightmare Garden of the Gods, and those damned mountain vistas.

Is class that boring, ir has it not started yet?

[Aristus]

70. We were at break.

We’re on another one now.

[niyad]

71. Do you have a decent cup of coffee?

[Aristus]

74. Yes. The conference room coffee is better than the in-room stuff.

On another break right now. Making plans for lunch.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

73. Speaking as a resident of the northwest I hope all RWNJs have that opinion of our area

They need to stay the fuck out.