You Think You Want To Move Here, But You Don't---I
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7/24/2011
In today's economy, nearly any town has it's problems with unemployment, etc. However, Fort Smith, Arkansas has ALWAYS had high unemployment. This skews the statistics and enable bogus comments such as, "Fort Smith's unemployment figures haven't changed much because of the economy." It's true---the figures haven't changed much because unemployment here is still above the national average. But to make it seem that Fort Smith is a stable place is deceptive. The large manufacturing firms that relocated here many years ago to escape states that allowed labor unions have decided that even Ft. Smith is too much trouble and they're all heading down to Mexico. Everyone that worked in these plants was from Oklahoma, anyway. Anyone living in Fort Smith is generally shunned by the firms---not sure why. In fact nearly ALL jobs in Fort Smith are held by people from rural Oklahoma. Ask anyone you meet at the dentist office, the schools, retail---you name it. They're ALL from Oklahoma. I think a toll bridge on the Arkansas river would be nice, or maybe a tax for Okies coming here to take jobs from Fort Smith citizens. Once a business allows Okies to work there, it isn't long before one of them becomes a supervisor or some form of lower management. After that, it's all over. From then on, they'll hire nothing but Okies. In fact, in Okie-infested businesses in Fort Smith, the Okies will deride Ft. Smith and talk about how much they hate it. Go back to Oklahoma is what I say. This is also the Bible Belt, so if you're a normal person from somewhere else, be advised that in no way is diversity tolerated here. I've seen many a Californian who had a relative in this area try to move in, only to give up and head back out West. Ft. Smith is a strange bird, indeed.
James | Fort Smith, AR