From my post on the Hattiesburg American forum:
Extrano, are you implying that Mississippi doesn't have "dilapidated towns" or "crumbling infrastructure" or "crime and corruption" in government?
If so, you're dreaming. This state is a hellhole. And yes, I live here and pay taxes here and all the rest. So I'm allowed to say that. But even someone who doesn't live here or pay taxes here is allowed to say that. There is objective, independently verifiable evidence to point to the conclusion that Mississippi is, like I said, a hellhole.
Just go check out the "American Community Survey" at the Census Bureau website:
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GRTSelectServlet?ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_
Here are the facts:
Mississippi is dead last (or near it) in:
-Median household income
-Median Family Income (In 2007 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)
-Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed High School (Includes Equivalency)
-Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed a Bachelor's Degree (next to last place)
-Employment/Population Ratio for the Population 16 to 64 Years Old (next to last place)
Mississippi is first (or in the Top 10) in:
-Percent of grandparents responsible for grandchildren (3rd place)
-Percent of People 65 Years and Over Below Poverty Level
-Percent of Children Under 18 Years Below Poverty Level
-Percent of People Below Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months (For Whom Poverty Status is Determined)
-Percent of Related Children Under 18 Years Below Poverty Level
-Percent of People 21 to 64 Years Old With a Disability (2nd place)
-Infant Mortality (2005 figure from this link: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/ranks/rank17.html)
