Why is Indiana considered " backwards " ? (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: college, income)

[GraniteStater]

"Why is Indiana considered backwards"

Well, I am well versed to answer this question.

1) Too much reliance on manufacturing employment, even with continued decline in that sector over a sustained period of time.
2) A filthy state energy policy that has given everything away to big coal companies, but externalized all of the costs to consumers through negative health, environment, and climate costs. Indiana ranks #1 in carbon emissions per capita compared to any state in the country. I will post the source once I find it.
3) Not enough emphasis on higher education results in systemic issues with urban and rural poverty- even with the insanely low cost of living. That should tell you something right there.
4) A general feeling of decline and decay in many of the cities in the state (although that is a pretty widespread problem everywhere these days). However, the infrastructure such as roads, sidewalks, buildings, and stoplights are in bad shape.
5) A general political leaning that is economically liberal and socially conservative. Most states that lean that way politically have not done well over the past few decades because it leads to the brain drain of talent to other places.

Positives of Indiana:
1) Community involvement and "sense of place" is excellent with many viable smaller towns.
2) Very fiscally conservative and not adherent to any trends.
3) The ridiculously low cost of living. It's like the clock has been turned back 25-30 years. I am not kidding.
4) The friendliness of the people.
5) The Hoosier National Forest
6) The LACK of big cities minus Indy.

[Jaxson]

GraniteStater nice post lack of higher education is really harming our state for sure. Then the brain drain puts the nail in the coffin.

We have a much slower lifestyle pace also that some folks relate to being backwards.

[grmasterb]

Actually, there's a lot of higher education in Indiana -- IU, Purdue and ND are among this country's top universities, and this state is full of well-regarded small colleges. Unfortunately, not enough Hoosiers take advantage, and too many who do, leave.

For the most part, however, my experience has been that folks who view Indiana as backwards have never been to the parts of this country or world that are truly backwards.

[Jaxson]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Actually, there's a lot of higher education in Indiana -- IU, Purdue and ND are among this country's top universities, and this state is full of well-regarded small colleges. Unfortunately, not enough Hoosiers take advantage, and too many who do, leave.

For the most part, however, my experience has been that folks who view Indiana as backwards have never been to the parts of this country or world that are truly backwards.

Thank you for clarifying we do have good higher education in our state. Sadly not enough use it is right.

[GraniteStater]

According to 2000 statistics many counties in Indiana had fewer than 75% of the population with a high school diploma or GED. That is BACKWARDS. Hopefully, the 2010 stats will show a significant improvement in that regard.

[Ravekid]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

According to 2000 statistics many counties in Indiana had fewer than 75% of the population with a high school diploma or GED. That is BACKWARDS. Hopefully, the 2010 will show a significant improvement in that regard.

Not going to happen. Union mentality through the generations is at work here. Used to be that learning stopped after high school, and since one could get a $15/hour+ (which was a lot back in the day) union job, even a high school diploma wasn't thought of as important...so long as you could push some buttons on the line, you could have a check. Of course once manufacturing went away, and prices for homes, food, etc. only went up or stayed the same, life took a turn for the worst. No education, unwilling to move for jobs, etc. etc.. Lots of would have been decent folks turned to drugs and made other bad decisions. Death spiral of lots of areas not only in Indiana, but the entire rust belt.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

According to 2000 statistics many counties in Indiana had fewer than 75% of the population with a high school diploma or GED. That is BACKWARDS. Hopefully, the 2010 stats will show a significant improvement in that regard.

According to the 2000 US Census, 82% of Indiana's 25 and older population has at least a high school diploma, slightly above the national average of 80%.

Indiana - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder

While there are some counties in the 75 and under club; primarily in Southern Indiana, that does not compose the entire state. Most of the other stats have similar areas that are well below the state's average.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

According to the 2000 US Census, 82% of Indiana's 25 and older population has at least a high school diploma, slightly above the national average of 80%.

Indiana - Fact Sheet - American FactFinder

While there are some counties in the 75 and under club; primarily in Southern Indiana, that does not compose the entire state. Most of the other stats have similar areas that are well below the state's average.

Not true. Some examples in northern Indiana would be Starke County, Elkhart County, Lagrange County, as well as some others. I know for a fact that all of those counties were at the 77% threshold or less in the year 2000. The new data comes out soon.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

Not true. Some example in northern Indiana would be Starke County, Elkhart County, Lagrange County, as well as some others. I know for a fact that all of those counties were at the 77% threshold or less in the year 2000. The new data comes out soon.

How much of that could be due to the significant Amish population up there?

Nonetheless, you didn't exactly dispute Toxic's larger point. Plus, according to the same Census fact sheet, Indiana's median family and household income are pretty much at national average while its poverty rate is below the national average. I'm not here to say that Indiana is a trendsetter, but it's hardly backwards. At worst, we're a boring average.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

How much of that could be due to the significant Amish population up there?

Nonetheless, you didn't exactly dispute Toxic's larger point. Plus, according to the same Census fact sheet, Indiana's median family and household income are pretty much at national average while its poverty rate is below the national average. I'm not here to say that Indiana is a trendsetter, but it's hardly backwards. At worst, we're a boring average.

True.
However, the median household income would be higher given the extremely low cost of living if a greater percentage of the population had a college degree. "The more you learn the more you earn" principle generally applies. However, I do know many who are suffering underemployment due to this continuing recession that is not over- even though the official parameters say it is...