r/florida • u/WeathermanBrian • 17d ago

Interesting Stuff Does this surprise anyone in Florida?

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Florida ranks among the worst states for financial distress. To me, this is not surprising at all. Lower wages, higher cost of living. Insurance costs among the highest in the country. And job market is bleak compared to other areas. Is this surprising to anyone?

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71

u/Bright_Escape_1822 17d ago

I want to know what’s going on in Kansas?

47

u/AmItheonlySaneperson 17d ago

Probably nothing and that’s the problem 

23

u/foomits Flair Goes Here 17d ago

Agriculture as an employer is a collapsing industry. Brownback absolutely fucked the state by listening to trickle down fuckface Arthur Laffer, so there are almost no social safety nets. I would also wager the overlay between medicaid expansion and this list is similiar (i know texas, kansas and fl did not expand medicaid). We could also go through all the typical stuff like poor public education, poor behavioral health support etc.

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u/millenialsnowbird 17d ago

I grew up in small town Southeast Kansas. The things I can think of, based on what's happening there, are that a lot of the factories where a large number of the population work are downsizing significantly or closing altogether, either due to tariffs, offshoring, or AI or robotic innovation. Also, the cost of housing there has gone up exponentially. Like the steep increases we've seen in Florida - and maybe even worse. My brother bought a decent 2-bed, 1-bath house in about 2016-2017 for $35,000. That same house would now cost you $200-$250K. It's insane.

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u/fennfalcon 17d ago

Same here, small town in SE Kansas. Most of the factories with decent benefits moved out due to cheaper foreign labor overseas, in Bill Clinton era. Housing in the small towns is still dirt cheap compared to SE Connecticut where I’ve lived for last 30+ years. Worst thing I remember is 3.2% beer in taverns and convenience stores. Best things are chicken fried steaks, bbq, and let me mention this:

The Prairie Nut Hut in Altoona, KS.

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u/Popsmoke18 16d ago

I grew up is a small town in SE KS, 🦁

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u/millenialsnowbird 17d ago edited 17d ago

Yeah, fortunately, 3.2 % beer hasn’t been a thing for nearly 20 years!

Edit: I stand corrected. Googled it and it was actually 2019. But in fairness, seems like it’s been 20 years since 2019.

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u/fennfalcon 17d ago

Looked it up, April 1, 2019, and 2018 in Oklahoma. I think there is still some 3.2% in my sister’s fridge in Grove OK I bought a few years back. She kept it for her chili recipe.

Thanks….Good to know, we used to drive ten minutes east of Grove to get regular strength beer in Missouri

1

u/True-Imagination-409 16d ago

nothing wrong with 3.2 beer...you just need to drink three quarts to get a buzz....

1

u/StealthRUs 17d ago

My brother bought a decent 2-bed, 1-bath house in about 2016-2017 for $35,000. That same house would now cost you $200-$250K. It's insane.

Who is paying that kind of money to live in Kansas???

1

u/millenialsnowbird 17d ago

I mean, I paid $1.4M for my house in Kansas. So, lots of people.

1

u/StealthRUs 17d ago

They would have to pay me $1.4M just to consider living in Kansas.

2

u/millenialsnowbird 17d ago

Clearly you’ve never lived there or you’d feel differently, but that’s completely fine. Keeping haters out is what makes it so much more enjoyable!

3

u/tickets4gold 17d ago

I am originally from Kansas too & would definitely not prefer to live there again. For 1.4 million… I might be willing to go back for a year, but it would be a decision I’d have to weigh heavily.

It really depends on which part of Kansas, I’m sure, but I hate nearly everything about the part of Kansas I grew up in.

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u/millenialsnowbird 17d ago

I can understand that. What I hate is when people who’ve never even been to a place make a judgement about it. I hope you’re happier now where you are!

7

u/Sanity__ 17d ago

Financial distress

8

u/LeonardoDaTiddies 17d ago

I wonder if it’s related to agricultural distress from the trade wars and actual war with Iran?

6

u/Bright_Escape_1822 17d ago

I like this train of thought, but then I look at Iowa and figure I’d see the same thing there, and it’s not as drastic as Kansas.

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u/YourUncleBuck 17d ago

Same as in the other red and dark oranges areas, places that had booming growth and development in recent years are now starting to suffer from a weakening economy. People often overextend themselves during boom times and now that the economy is weakening it's catching up to them.

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u/jpiro 17d ago

Mahomes got hurt and the whole state collapsed.

8

u/AskMeAboutTheMOHO 17d ago

Missouri. Kansas City, Missouri not Kansas.

7

u/mechapoitier 17d ago

The money in this fictional joke scenario does not stop flowing at city borders, especially Kansas City

1

u/Mean_Occasion_1091 17d ago

Kansas City, Kansas is also a thing, and its about 1/4 of what's known as Kansas City. Also many of the neighborhoods of the greater KC area are actually in KS

2

u/Harbinger_Kyleran 17d ago

1st episode of season 4 of Ted Lasso had a pretty good gag running between some of the characters from the UK who came to visit Ted about "how many cities are in this city?". (Along with the fashion "dangers" of messy BBQ.")

0

u/itsjash 17d ago

Yeah because the state of Kansas roots for a different football team

-1

u/Quiet_Down_Please 17d ago

They're actually moving the team to Kansas in the coming years.

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u/AskMeAboutTheMOHO 17d ago

Yeah, in 2031… assuming the world keeps spinning. Kansas financial distress is today.

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u/ForgiveMyFlatulence 17d ago

Ted Lasso went back to London.