This is the conclusion I lean towards, and is why I am extremely leery of moving to a “nice, conservative area” of a blue state, as per a number of suggestions up thread.
Your post should read like hyperbole, but that insanity is actually real in some places now, and I only see it getting worse and more widespread. I have typically always been hyperaware of violence and its consequences, but I’m honestly not sure what I would do if I found out this type of shit was pushed on my kids. Hence my earlier mentioned desire to see a dissolution of our current American experiment into groups of more like-minded tribes.
If you look at national voting patterns, historically the majority of the USA voted in unison up until the late 70s/early 80s. Since then we’ve become what I think to be irreparably polarized. Forcing groups who hate eachother to cohesively live and work together doesn’t work. Just look at the Middle East.
I’ve never been. I think one of my high school classmates did his student teaching there and enjoyed it. I’ve just heard from others that they find the school provides academic, athletic and fine arts programs that are all in one or another “better” than other high schools.
I forgot you were from SD, but now that you say it, I feel like I remember seeing you post a while back. I’m just always surprised to come across internet strangers who might know somebody I know, haha.
It boggles my mind that we can see West Coast politics play out in real time over the last few years and the political leadership of our state can watch it and say “yeah, that’s exactly what we need”. I mean, it makes sense when you distill their end game down, but the support it garners is absurd.
I see it as government by cult, complete with sacred beliefs unrooted in fact, refusing to interact with outsiders, and vicious treatment towards people who leave.
But hey, no shootings locally for a week or two now. Crime is down!
Western PA is pretty nice. Good standard and cost of living, and depending on where you fall in the middle/upper middle class brackets, some great school systems. Quite a few Catholic school choices too if thats a deal maker or breaker, and some really good choices for higher education when the time comes. Some people kinda hate the weather, but there are 4 distinct and usually very nice seasons.
What it really comes down to is money. No matter where you go, the richer neighborhoods are going to be nicer with less drug crime, and the poorer ones will have more.
Most people that move here from out of town are flabberghasted by the difference of what you get for what you pay on housing. Its still pretty good. Not like it used to be, but not nearly as high as a lot of places.
You can get better bang/buck outside of Allegheny county, where it gets very red very quickly, while still having access to great hospitals, sporting events, etc. Within an hours drive.
There are some pockets in DFW that you may want to consider, though prices have been rising rapidly as the whole country seems to be moving here. If you look at a map of the metroplex, anything on the west side and north side of DFW airport is generallly good living, mostly conservative, good school, etc.
If you have the money, Southlake is top tier (where I live… we got in 10 years ago before the home prices skyrocketed), has some of the best public schools in the state, and is pretty much built out and has rock solid conservative local government.
Other good cities are Argyle (further north and growing quick), Flowermound (same), Northlake.
If you head to the far west, Granbury is a good example of a country city that is still commutable to Fort Worth or accessible for trips to city when needed but has all the core stuff. Schools aren’t quite as good though.
Far south west DFW, specifically, Rockwall & Heath are also great schools, conservative values and more of a country feel. The surrounding areas are not so great though as you get closer in to Dallas.
Though i prefer the north, i moved back to the Greenville SC area specifically because it is great for the family. Great schools, school choice, a lot of parks and activities in the area that are family oriented.
If i could just uproot them again on a whim, Lexington VA. If i make it, id like to move there when the kids are grown assuming i can save some money.