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A student walks past the entrance of Brigham Young University on March 1 in Provo, Utah.
Where do Americans have the most hope?
In U.S. cities, that place is Provo-Orem, Utah, where 76 percent of residents say their area is becoming a better place to live, according to a Gallup poll released on Tuesday.
The findings show the Utah valley's metropolitan area closely followed by Lafayette, Louisiana; the Raleigh-Cary, North Carolina area; and Huntsville, Alabama.
The nation's least optimistic city? Binghamton, New York, where less than 28 percent see their area improving.
Flint, Michigan; Rockford, Illinois; and the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman area of Ohio and Pennsylvania were other pessimistic cities on Gallup's Healthways-Wellbeing Index.
Gallup, which based its survey on interviews with 353,492 adults across the United States, said it wasn't immediately clear why residents in some urban areas were more optimistic and satisfied with their communities compared to others, but that unemployment rates, income and other factors may be at play.
"Together, the data suggest there is likely a combination of factors that can create optimism about a community," it said in a statement releasing the results.
Read the full Gallup story
The national polling group also said what works in some of the best performing cities could provide an example for other regions to follow. It said leaders in more optimistic areas could "channel that positive energy into a community's economic and social infrastructure, in turn, creating the types of good jobs that help cities thrive."
"Alternately, communities in which residents lack optimism risk losing the very talent and energy they need to rise again," Gallup said.
Gallup's interviews were conducted throughout 2011. The poll's margin of error varied according to the size of the metro area, from less than 1 percentage point for larger cities to plus-or-minus 6.5 percentage points for smaller ones.
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And someone had to do a survey to find this out? Jeez
The probably live somewhere in HELL, Michigan....
I would say these folks have been to Hell and back, then decided to go back...sure sounds like a lotta optimism living in a place called Hell...what could be worse? I'll take that back, I heard Uranius was worse folks....somewhere in connecticut
Check out the youtube video "Where in the Hell is my Stradivarius?" Filmed on location in Hell Michigan!
You in Binghamton, too, Phil? I have to admit I'm part of the 28%. In fact, if they did a broader survey, I'd bet it's a bit lower than that. There are amazing business opportunities here if anyone is willing to give it a chance. Look into it. I'd love to see it improve but my gut tells me to "GTFO", and that's just because of the local economy.
Now, people were just literally "underwater" here last summer so that may also explain to some degree why there's so much pessimism. 2 devastating floods 5 years apart, we've lost a lot of hope around here.
Guido still does a brisk business in Youngstown - so I hear.
I think the difference is outlook on life. #2 on the list Lafayette for a while suffered greatly because of the slowdown in domestic drilling. Much of the surrounding areas were affected last year when they opened the Morganza Spillway flooding an area larger than Rhode Island and just this week most of this area has seen 15" of rain. But the people are still reasonably optimistic. It's just the local mentality.
They don't call the Provo-Orem/Utah Valley area Happy Valley for nothing....
Probably paid for by our tax dollars, too. Spotted consumer habitat study, anyone?
lray801..... .I thought State College, PA was Happy Valley.
Scroll down for your answer. Hint your tax dollars had nothing to do with this.
Did that cheer you up?
"Where do the most optimistic Americans live?"
Answer, "In mansions, mostly in mansions..."
And they pay lobbyest to write about the "good" life and living in little shacks in the middle of timbukto.
Where do Americans have the most hope?
Most likely.... Mars.
I've never seen such complaining in my life and always want to blame it on someone else. Be thankful you are alive and if you don't have a major disability (like no arms or legs) go out and find a job no matter what it is. You might have a # of degrees but you can still learn to flip burgers or wash dishes. There is a lot of people going out to eat someone has money. Stop buying everything you want and only what you need.
Blame?? Someone? LOL. How about just live in reality, not fauxality.
Be in Northern Mali, Southern Somalia or Zwmbabwe, you be wishing to be in "Optimistic USA"
That's what I always tell people when they complain about their lot in life, "You could be living in Somalia swatting away flies or having to walk miles to get a few jugs of water."
And how would you know how far they have to walk? Have you been?
It's easier to be optimistic if you have a job and aren't underwater with your mortgage.
I am not an optimist, I play a little bridge.
The Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, Chaple Hill area) making yet another list in a positive manner. This area has really moved up through the ranks is the last 10 years! Glad to see it being recognized. It is a very cool place to live and decently close to the mountains and the beach.
Glad I got a house here a couple of years, even though it is currently being rented as I travel a lot (for business) and the fam is in Ohio near the rest of the extended family., but this place seems to only be growing and improving every year.
~Ind
Yeah sure, but drive outside those areas at night and be a minority....scary.
Anywhere outside of the US jurisdiction!
i wonder if there are people who were optimistically hoping that their city was not on the list... and then were disappointed when it was...
During this election year, the Dems say things are improving. One tenth of one percent.
At that rate, we can expect a rebound by 2035.
Be thankful its not like it was in Jan. of 2009. Remember from the years of 2000 to 2009 suplus then broke. The dems didn't do that.
Ah the surplus that everyone touts about under Clinton....Remind me again who was leader of the house and senate who actually created the plans that balanced the budget...(Hint : It wasn't Clinton.) Also, look up how Clinton did for his first two years. How easily people forget.
yeah and things were so much better during the last 8 years of the bush war administration and the last 3 years of the bush depression administration and all 8 years of his lack of education administration or the years following his after or even during katrina policies
How much did it cost the taxpayers of this country to get this essential information that we couldn't live without?
Seeing as it's a Gallup Poll, I doubt any of your precious tax dollars were spent on providing information so useless that not only did you read the story, you commented on it too.
Darn, Voter-in-LA, I wanted to say that. Here you go Life this is a link to Gallup. FYI: they are not part of the government. http://www.gallup.com/corporate/115/About-Gallup.aspx
alanfoulks, isn't it sad that people when they don't know the answer don't bother to go find out what the answer is?
In this day and age it is so simple too. Instead they post their belief, more people read it, and then it becomes a "truth" simply because nobody ever bothers to go verify what someone else blindly stated.
But then I'll give life.is.hard a pass, he must obviously live in a pessimistic location. Plus if he thinks life is hard, wait until he has to deal with death.
Hum, how much did it cost? I've been to Utah, and the looks they give....scary, sorry but It "ain't no" Montreal.
Woo hoo! No government money spent on the polls for the Gallop Polls. Nice to know.
Voter-in -LA: This he is a she, and I am not sure if I am living in a pessimistic location. It was not listed as a top location for either view point. I am very optimistic about most things in life, but have to admit that our current society/government/life as we know it, makes me want to think about being a negative thinker. And I have dealt with death, alot. Mother, brother, sister.....why would you make a statement like that? Life is most definately hard, as most of the comments on the hateful blogs show. Nasty is the first instinct it seems, and you go for the personal insult instead of just keeping to responding to the comment.
And you call it "my precious tax dollars". Are your tax dollars not precious? Are you that rich that you don't worry about where your tax dollars are being spent? Must be nice.
Have a nice day.....said with nothing but sunny optimism.
I'd like to know on what side of town the optimists live in Flint.
no idea, but I'm willing to bet this wasn't a door-to-door study.
Just one more thing citizens of Provo are deluded about.
Or maybe their faith, rural values and reliance on themselves and each other have actually made Provo a nice place to live.
Rural values???? What exactly does that mean? What about urban values? Whatever that means also, lol. "Reliance on themselves" until they get hit by a tornado or something, then FEMA, FEMA, FEMA????? My home, help me....Or they get sick and need a medical treatment they need help paying for, just like everyone else. Folks are generally the same.
Malarky.
Raleigh/Cary area is steeped in political corruption so this means that they have been losing citizens at a rapid rate since former governor Mike Easley was convicted a year ago of a felony in a Wake County courthouse, not to mention the extreme lack of jobs in the Triangle area - which precipitated this article to be written.
Amazing that they are all suddenly "positive" within a year's time. Who knew...
Binghamton...what a shocker. They say if you take NYC out of NY State, what is left would be the poorest state in the nation.
Hope - that and $1.50 will get you a cup of coffee.
I suppose all of this goes hand-in-hand with the availability of jobs, continuing education such as technical schools and/or college/university programs in your area and the overall situation of everyone living in an area, city or state. In this day and age no one is guaranteed anything - good job, good pay, for how long. Many people are working but beneath their education and training and income levels. Still, many cannot complain if they are working full time with some benefits. We also have to acknowledge that more and more retirement aged people are still in the workforce and will continue to work until they absolutely have to retire.
Life is what you make of it. So go out and make something of it.
I've been to Provo/Orem (and BYU or 'The Zoo' as it's know locally)
and all I can say is 'Yeeech!'.
It's an especially inspiring area on 'conference weekend' when aging Mormon leaders are croaking about your duty to God, and the local residents have placed their speakers in the window & cranked the volume, so all you have to do is walk down the street and hear the loud croaking of the Bullfrog Brethren. No, really. They really do that.
It's amazing how many people get negative about a positive survey. Problem with people is that they never want anyone else to be happier than they are, and if they are miserable to begin with, well, you figure it out.
Relax people and realize that there are happy people out there, and maybe learn a few things from them.
Of course they're optimistic, their Mormon Bishop and Poster Boy for the 1%, Mitt is a shoe in for the Republican Nomination. He's next in line, the Books have already been cooked.
Salt Lake City, Provo and Orem and Utah in General is the Collective Hive for the Mormon Church. Mitt managed to get 1.5 Billion Taxpayer Dollars for the Salt Lake City Olympics and when he becomes their President, he will really be bringing home the Taxpayer Bacon for the Mormon Church...
If you live in Salt Lake City and you are not a Mormon, you are not going anywhere in life. I know I worked for them for 10 years and got screwed at every turn including getting screwed out of 401k contributions.
They worship the Golden Calf, they are worse then Forengis on Star Trek!
Ted you are sadly delusional. You're opportunities are what you make them. Mitt Romney won't do anything for the church more than it has without him in the past. It doesn't rely on political entities for its up keep.
For your 401k that is your deal. Sorry that some individuals screwed you over, but they are only individuals. You can't blame a people or religion for that. Anyways I have never understood why they (401k and entitlements) even exist. Same thing with all the entitlement programs that the government created. No one is going to take you by the hand and lead you along in life. To tell you the truth I would be plenty happy if I didn't get any money from the government. I'll make it through with what I plan and do in life. Who is at the helm of your ship?
Never does anyone any good to blame others for things going bad in their life.
Are you a Mormon?
Republican Red States use more Government Entitlements then Democratic Blue States.
Here is the Interactive Map courtesy of the N.Y. Times
Republican Red State Arizona appears to be at the top of the list followed by Rick Perry s Texas, Sarah Palin s Alaska and note the Republican Red States in the South Eastern U.S.
Click on the Link below;
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/12/us/entitlement-map.html
What about all those Mormon Polygamists down on the southern boarder of Utah and Arizona collecting Welfare Checks with Warren Jeffs?
You know all those 13 year old girls married to Pasty Old Mormons down in Hildale, Utah and Colorado City Arizona?
They even run all the young boys out of town when they start getting interested in the Ladies.
The Pasty Old Guys don't want the Competition, that's why the call them the "Lost Boys"...
Crickets...
Sorry, have you ever tried to buy beer in Provo on a Sunday ?
You have to do like the Mormons do and cross the Nevada State Line and get your Beer at the Wendover Casinos on Sundays...
....and then get busted by the UHP coming back over the state line; because they've been watching you load up your booty through binocs.
Hey, money is made all around, everyone but the evildoer is happy, another dire sin prevented.
I wouldn't want to live there. I like diversity and liberals, sorry, no closed minds for me! I'll take reality any day. The world is a rainbow, seriously it is!
only been to salt lake once, burned my eyes good in that salt lake, but it was cool to see people help the salt blind to showers that in 64. tell me someone is thatspirit still alive there.
Huh?
Is "optimistic" your euphemism for "brainwashed?"
Provo-Orem, UT?
It just goes to show that "ignorance IS bliss."
Sure is..and in THEIR case, PLENTIFUL as well.
Pretty simple explanation for the UTAH place. They are already brainwashed/dead from their cultist mentality. Why wouldn't they be happy? LOL