in Florida but the state does not have a good track record for murder trials (or even voting issues). That is a fact.

Just like Oklahoma has a poor record on way too many things. I live in Oklahoma and if someone posted a thread on any one of a number of issues or dumb things that Oklahoma has done I would be the first to say - You know you are absolutely right! I would not call pointing out a fact to be negatively bashing something, someone, or some place. Good or bad, facts are facts.

There are plenty of states with fucked-up laws. I'd say most of them do, in fact.

then my state, Oklahoma. The first bill proposed by our new Speaker of the House is to protect Christmas in schools. And lets not forget Sally Kern's numerous efforts, including trying to deny funding to public libraries if they did not segregate certain books.

There are so many states that really are not desirable to live in I would love to see some focus on which states are winners from the stand point of quality of life, educational systems, helping those in need, protecting our rights. Those are the states I want identified because the negative side of the column has so much competition.

I'm hoping to move out of Mississippi one of these days, and I need some basis for comparison to find the right place. I've thought about leaving the country, but I'm a little leery of that. The U.S. is the devil I know. I like quirky people and places for the most part. It would just be nice to live in a place where the people aren't their own worst enemy.

I have considered Costa Rica (for the climate and everybody that I know who have spent time there loved it, plus their cost of living is low if you are not interested in living the American lifestyle) and now I am looking at Norway (only negative might be their winters). I saw a really good documentary on Norway and was pretty impressed by how they treat one another and the standard of living there. I am still 10 years or more away from retirement so I have plenty of time to make my decision.

I'm ready to move some place where I can spend the rest of my life, both working and retiring.

If I were a lot younger I would look to make the move now, after a lot of research. I was fortunate to be able to travel a lot overseas (mostly Europe) so it is not as hard a decision as I have an idea of how it would be like to live elsewhere.