Forbes released its list of America's Most Miserable Cities this week, with appearances from the usual smattering of former manufacturing towns in the Rust Belt, bankrupt municipalities in central California, and burned-out coastal shells. Do you live in any of these cities? Are you unhappy? Would you describe your unhappiness as conditional and dependent on external forces, or so pervasive you barely notice it?
20. Youngstown, OH.
19. Gary, IN.
18. Poughkeepsie, NY.
17. Cleveland, OH.
16. Atlanta, GA.
15. Atlantic City, NJ.
14. Milwaukee, WI.
13. Camden, NJ.
12. St. Louis, MO.
11. Toledo, OH.
10. New York, NY.
9. Lake County, IL.
8. Stockton, CA.
7. Warren, MI.
6. Vallejo, CA.
5. Modesto, CA.
4. Chicago, IL.
3. Rockford, IL.
2. Flint, MI.
1. Detroit, MI.
After receiving criticism for its ranking method in recent years, Forbes tweaked its rating metric to include "violent crime, unemployment, foreclosures, taxes (income and property) and home prices...[and] quality-of-life issues like commute times and weather," while removing "pro sports team success." Cities also had to have a population over 259,000, which explains why Bell, CA didn't make the cut.
"How many hours a day the average citizen spends hunched over a computer instead of turning their faces toward the damn sun like an actual human being, Christ this is no way to live, but how else am I supposed to make a living, it's not as if I can build anything with my hands" not apparently yet part of the metric.
Miami, which came in first last year, is now no longer on the list at all. Do you think if you moved to Miami you'd be happy? Or would you still feel less real than everyone around you? Congratulations to everyone currently living in Miami for becoming happy; please share your secrets.
[Image via AP]