The 10 most miserable American cities

Forbes magazine has listed the 10 most miserable American cities in which to live, according to a modification of the "Misery Index" set forth by economist Arthur Okun: It combines each city's unemployment rate with its inflation rate; and, for good measure, Forbes considers miscellaneous factors that people tend to consider irritating, also.

Here is the list, in ascending order (with the acquisition of the #1 spot being a rather dubious honor):

#10: New York, New York

#9: Lake County, Illinois

#8: Stockton, California

#7: Warren, Michigan

#6: Vallejo, California

#5: Modesto, California

#4: Chicago, Illinois

#3: Rockford, Illinois

#2: Flint, Michigan

#1: Detroit, Michigan

Interestingly, after New York nailed down the #10 position, just three states--Illinois, California, and Michigan--divided up the rest of the pie.

Just a thought: Does anyone else notice a rather strong correlation here, between these states and a list of reliably blue states?

 

I find it difficult to believe that Vallejo and Modesto make that list. Stockton, sure. However, I have a lot of family (wife's family) in Vallejo and the surrounding area, and I've not heard anyone complain. There's quite a bit that goes on there, etc. The fact that the city is bankrupt is certainly a problem for those who rely upon government services to order their day to day lives and there are a fair number of those people, otherwise there isn't much to be unhappy about. Plus, the weather there is fantastic.

I can't see Modesto as being worse than any other town in the central valley. I think there are factors that are not being considered there.

 

I wouldnt have thought New York would be on the list.

 

Here's a real list and I don't know the order:
Oakland, CA
East Saint Louis, IL
Chester, PA
Camden, NJ
Flint, MI
Detroit, MI
Gary, IN
Baltimore, MD
New Orleans, LA
Cleveland, OH

 

Philly should be on that list

 

Really, ya think ? heh

 

I can believe it. I watched the central valley turn south for almost 50 years. Sad really.

 

Maybe you would care to tell exactly why it went bad. I suspect 10000000 new illegals every year may have had something to do with it.



And Californians wonder where all their unemployment is coming from, why housing has become so unaffordable, and why track homes have taken over the natural landscape.

Well whatever, at least they have all that diversity they value so much. Personally, I wouldn't sell out my standard of living for a couple of tacos and cheap gardeners to mow my lawn.

 

It seems like an accurate list except weather shouldn't have been a factor. Some people would rather have a cold winter, rather then 113 degree summers.

 

Good morning,

Why? My opinion will not change things or fix the problems.

 

It would be preferable if anti-Semites would not attempt to transmute every thread into a Jew-bashing thread...

 

It's not bashing. It's a plain fact. Many jews would agree. You should really learn more about other cultures before you criticize.

 

Well, it is surely not intended to be complimentary.

In any case, it is off-topic...

 

And yet Republicans will fight to the death for the "right" of corporations to move jobs out of places like Flint MI to Mexico AT TAX PAYERS' EXPENSE! Then they wonder why the economy is bad. GET A CLUE! When even the propaganda branch of the GOP admits it then you know its there's NO EXCUSE!

 

If human beings have a right to move from Flint, MI to Mexico City, MX or Santa Fe, NM, then why shouldn't the corporations that they own?

 

Unions bear a good deal of responsibility for the decline of Flint and Detroit.