MUST READ this great response to Fox's: '100 hours to turn America into San Francisco'

[Gato Moteado]

fox news showed this graphic on hannity and colmes:


a friend of mine (and occasional poster at DU) who lives in texas wrote this excellent rebuttal to Faux News:

IF the country could be turned into San Franscisco, it would be fantastic. Much better than if it turned into Laramie, Dallas, Houston, Birminingham, Vidor, Dayton, or Crawford. San Francisco bashing is ridiculous. It may very well be the greatest American city. A quick internet search revealed the following:

Economy: SF has one of the highest per capita incomes in the country and, while the cost of living is very high there too, it is a level that the people who live there easily meet. It has always been an economically strong city. The poverty rate in SF is 7.8%, the lowest of all American cities. The city is a financial center and had been since the Gold Rush. It is where Wells Fargo started and where Bank of America and Transamerica are based. It also has always been center for the latest in industry and technology. It was the home of Leland Stanford, who helped with building the transcontinental railroad. In 1906, 2/3 of the city was destroyed by earthquake and fire. Yet they rebuilt and stayed economically strong. In 1929, no SF bank failed. SF has become a center the chip industry and the biotechnical industry, being at the forefront of stem cell research. And for just a few little extras, how about its restaurants and it's Ghiradelli chocolates? No place in Kansas, Mississippi, or Alabama could hold a candle to it.

The Arts: SF has some of the most beautiful architecture in the United States. SF is a center for classical music with its great opera house and its conservatory for training classical musicians. As for popular music, it's almost unequaled with the Fillmore era generating the widespread fame of the Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane.

Tourism. SF is a mecca for site-seers. Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Nob Hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, Ghiradelli Square, etc. SF has the highest number of sightseeing tourists of all cities in the US, generating 7.8 billion dollars.

Climate: SF is legendary for cool weather. Some may even call it cold, but it is very mild (though on the chilly side). The average high in the Summer is 70 F, in the winter it's 60 F. It hardly ever freezes in SF and the all time record low is 27 F. The all time high is 103 F. It has snowed 10 times in SF since they started keeping record; 3.7 inches is the most snow they have ever had.

Other interesting things to note: SF has a higher crime rate than the national average, but for US Citiies it ranks low. It is 32nd of all US cities in violent crime and 38th in property crime. SF is resistant to big box stores and 85% of all business establishments there are either either self-employment based or have 10 or less employees. SF is famous for one fo the most successful mass transit systems in the country. SF also has several great colleges in the vicinity including Cal Berkley and Stanford (they have slightly better academics than Baylor and Texas A&M)

So turning America into San Francisco sounds like a good thing.

[LisaM]

1. And they didn't even get into their great writing community

Or the tolerance factor.

I, too, find the SF bashing odd. We'd all be better off if we were more like SF.

[unpossibles]

12. it's because of the G-A-Y!

:eyes:

[neuvocat]

37. Less inbreeding then!

[Gato Moteado]

25. yeah, he forgot the writers...there's so much to the city....

....that you can't cram it all into a few paragraphs.

[Beaverhausen]

2. Love it! Thanks K&R

I love San Fran.

[judaspriestess]

3. great response

but I doubt faux noose uses the google

[Mz Pip]

4. It would take a lot more than 100

to turn the rest of America into San Francisco. Sad to say, the rest of the country could use a good dose of SF values.

Terrific points. Will bookmark for future reference. It's only a matter of time before I start getting anti-SF emails from my RW relatives. :eyes:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[TomInTib]

5. I am looking across the Bay at that beautiful city as I type this

While I live in one of the coolest little towns on the planet, I have one of the finest cities in the world 6 1/2 miles across the Bay.

I cherish that sight and proximity every day.

[lebkuchen]

11. You have one of the best views in the country

next to the former billeting at Treasure "Island."

[TomInTib]

14. You would have to bring up TI.

Damn, I spent some god-awful time there.

But you are right, the view is magical.

I am about 100ft above the ferry landing in Tiburon.

And I walk out on my veranda every day and remind myself to never take it for granted.

If you ever get out this way, let me know.

Because of the sun's angle of inclination, the Bay is silver today. Quite a sight.

Tom

[lebkuchen]

17. I lived in The City before going overseas

We probably have friends in common. Let's see, my hangouts were UCSF kayaking trips, the Exploratorium, Smitty's in Sausalito, and the Silver Peso in Larkspur (both w/great shuffleboards). :)

[TahitiNut]

18. "remind myself to never take it for granted" Amen!

Living in gratitude is, by far, the best way of living. Not a single day passed in the 15 years I lived in Santa Clara County that I didn't give thanks for the abundance surrounding me. The people, the weather, the geography ... best on the entire planet! (With the possible exception of Tahiti.) I've lived all over the US ... from Connecticut and New York to Alabama and Washington and Michigan. I've lived in Southern California (Glendale) and Northern California (Cupertino and Los Gatos) ... and the Bay Area is far-and-away the absolute best. Apricot sunsets, snow on Mount Hamilton, Scoma's in Sausalito, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, scuba diving off Carmel, climbing Mount Diablo, bed and breakfast in Napa, strolling Golden Gate Park, Saturday morning breakfast at the Buena Vista, church services at Glide Memorial, protesting on Market Street, sushi at Toshi's Sushiya in Menlo Park, Jamba Juice, Scottish games in Santa Rosa, 5-mile 'power walks' in San Antonio Open Space, the Ridge Winery, Highway 19 to Santa Cruz ... ad infinitum! Gawd! Heaven!

The best decision I ever made in my life is to live in gratitude - a decision I made one day in April 1969 on TDY to Fort Shafter in Hawaii from Viet Nam when I entered our room in the Reef Towers and ripped off my shoes and socks to curl my toes in the carpet while gazing out the window at Diamondhead. It's one thing to miss something ... and it would be terrible to regret not appreciating it. That goes for people as well as places.

[TomInTib]

32. So very well said, TahitiNut...

Turning little 'uns into big 'uns.

Taking into account every single element and savoring the whole experience.

As a matter of fact, that is what I did all afternoon.

Walked my dog on the waterfront, met all kinds of people. Strangers and friends alike. And I sure got a lot of comments on my 'Bush Lied - They Died' tee.

[taught_me_patience]

6. I never understood why "SF liberal"

has such a negative connotation. It must be people from people who have never been there and think its predominantly homosexuals and transvestites. In reality, the article sums it up well:

good jobs
great architecture
great tourism
great diversity
highly educated population
great mass transportation


taught.

[cdnwannabe]

40. Conservatives can't stand the liberal mindset, lifestyle, etc...

and SF embraces and exemplies these things, in all their glory. I wish I could afford to live in SF, I'd be there in a heartbeat. Maybe I'll just find a way someday...meanwhile, Portland is pretty great in its own right!

[Warpy]

7. Their dismal 12 years have turned this country

into a repressive Banana Republic with a few unimaginably rich people and the main population kept poor, ignorant and powerless.

Thanks anyway, but give me San Francisco.

[lebkuchen]

8. Don't forget Tower of Power (ok, they're Oakland's, but hey)

Huey Lewis and the News (Marin Co, but close)

and...

Journey

ARTIST: Journey
TITLE: Lights
Lyrics and Chords


When the lights go down in the city
And the sun shines on the bay
I want to be there in my city
Ohh, ohhh

So you think you're lonely
Well my friend I'm lonely too
I want to get back to my city by the bay
Ohh, ohhh

Its sad, oh, there's been mornings out on the road
Without you, without your charms
Ohh, my, my, my - my, my, my
Ohhhhh

When the lights go down in the city
And the sun shines on the bay
Ooh I want to be there in my city
Ohh, ohhh

[Lasher]

9. I have had the privelege of visiting San Francisco more than once.

If we had to pick one model for the rest of the country to be like, I wouldn't mind at all if this were the one. I will never forget Muir Woods, just as one example of the area's splendor. It was quite spiritual for me and Mrs. Lasher.

[mitchtv]

10. Also the universities, colleges and medical centers

tend to attract an educated class of worker.
Eating is unparalleled, Also has a decent public transportation network.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. The one year I lived in San Francisco,

despite the bad marriage, the high cost of living, the low income, and the cramped living conditions I endured

was, so far, the high point of my life.

I've always wanted to go back.

[Kerrytravelers]

15. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Equality, yep. That's a bad thing. :eyes:

[underpants]

16. Bookmarking

Outstanding reponse.

[StaggerLee]

19. When I was stationed in Alameda

I never missed a chance to visit.

Gorgeous city.

Beautiful people.

What's not to love?

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Outstanding! Thank you.

:applause:

[valerief]

21. "I never will forget Jjjjjjjjjjjeanette MacDonald!"

"Just to think of her, it gives my heart a pang.
"I never will forget
"How that brave Jjjjjjjjjeanette
"Just stood there…in the ruins…and sang
"Sa-ha-ha-ha and sang
"San Francisco, open your Golden Gate…" etc.

[libnnc]

24. I love that recording!

Judy Live at Carnegie Hall gives me goose bumps every time.

[valerief]

26. "Now that it's your birthday, I don't know what to do"

Yeah, I've loved it for years. Younger gay friends think Liza is better until I make them listen to Judy. Then they're forced to agree with me.

[ngant17]

22. I went to Univ. of SF in July, 2001

for a summer course that I applied online.

I stayed in the dorms there, got lots of chances to visit SF on my own.

I enjoyed the outdoor air-conditioning, nothing like Florida where in the summer it is essentially unbearable without AC.

The number of homeless people was one of the more outstanding things I recall, but that was to be expected as this is a big city and all sorts of people try to come here to live.

And the long lines of people who wait to get their monthly AIDS shot, which are subsidized by the city. Why can't every big city have social programs like the City of SF?

Sad that the yuppies and dotcom-ers have gentrified SF, and all the real hippies and radicals migrate to Oakland, at least the ones who aren't rich, they tend to live in Oakland where it is cheaper to live.

I wouldn't mind living in this area, though.

[gollygee]

23. In the midwest anyway, "San Fransisco" is code language for "Gay"

This is a blatant attempt to alarm to anti-gay voters. Fox News is so devoid of ethical news standards it's shocking.

[lies and propaganda]

27. that pic is classic!

i fucking WISH we could turn the US into SF. all the douchebags will leave and the whole country would rule!

[formerrepuke]

28. San Francisco=St Francis of Assisi=patron saint of Cub Scouts=little boys=NAMBLA

..It's simple logic (for rightwingers, anyway- many of whom are obsessed with NAMBLA)... I found that association on townhall.com.. and quite unworthy of a link.

[Imagevision]

29. San Francisco gave us Nancy Pelosi the first woman Speaker of The House!

All of America could stand a dash of San Francisco style, but, you gotta visit, you just have to see it on your own...

[meow mix]

30. San Francisco approves marijuana deprioritization

San Francisco, Nov. 14th, 2006. The San Francisco Supervisors voted 8-3 to approve an ordinance making adult marijuana offenses "lowest enforcement priority." The measure also calls on the state and federal government to establish a system of legally taxed and regulated marijuana.

The measure makes San Francisco the largest city in California to embrace marijuana deprioritization. Last week, voters of Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Santa Cruz all approved "lowest priority" initiatives by more than 64%. Similar measures have been adopted in Oakland, West Hollywood and Berkeley.

[Solo_in_MD]

31. Its also not without its issues

- schools are closing from lack of enrollment
- The poor/middle class are being squeezed from the city due to housing prices
- Parking is horrendus and the traffic worse (BART does not reach many neighborhoods
- Prices really are silly
- Serious questions about its long term fiscal health

Its a nice place, too wet and too croweded for me, but still a nice place. Its not the Garden of Eden

[Cha]

33. Beautifully True..all of it.

And fauxsnews is the Wart on America's Ass.

[Sapere aude]

34. They also write great songs about San Fran,

You know them.

[Miss Chybil]

35. RW, Evangelical, Closeted-Gay Gay Haters don't care about all that.

SF is "gay friendly." That's enough reason for them to bash it. Your friend forgets, logic can only be used on reasonable people.

[connecticut yankee]

36. You didn't mention the cable cars.

They've always been my favorite -- but, unfortunately, I haven't been to SF in about twenty years. I hope they're still running.

[NashVegas]

51. Sure They Did

File under: public transportation.

[CoffeeCat]

38. San Francisco is a national gem...

...and the Republicans have NO ROOM to talk.

We all saw what happened when the Republicans take control of a city---people
drown in their attics.

The Republicans and their PR arm--Fox News--have some
nerve.

[MethuenProgressive]

39. Who writes this crap for FOX News?

Rememeber "Foley (D) FL" and all the other baloney scrolling across the bottom of the FAUX News screen? This crap isn't accidental. It's editorial policy. I wonder if anyone there is taking credit?

[TransitJohn]

41. So WTF does your friend have against

progressive college towns in the Mountain West? Sheesh....cheap shot on Laramie.

[bananarepublican]

42. Would'nt America be better off under O'Reilly's phone-etiquette values? n/t

[Lisa]

43. my immediate thought: "Wouldn't that be cool!" -- I like San Francisco!

By the way, the guy who dumped me lives there, so one would think I would have bad memories of the place ... but in my opinion, the city's good points render that irrelevant.

[Marr]

44. How many red states is the city of San Francisco supporting, anyway?

Really, I can't stand that San Francisco bashing- especially when it's coming from places that don't even pull their own fucking weight.

[piesRsquare]

45. Nice response, except for

"...while the cost of living is very high there too, it is a level that the people who live there easily meet." What the hey is that guy smokin'?

San Francisco's public school district is an excellent model of corruption...so much so that I won't even apply to work in that district.

The homeless problem is a serious problem.

Traffic and parking in SF-proper are an absolute nightmare.

But indeed, lotsa nice stuff about San Francisco.

And yes, the cable cars are still running...

[YOY]

47. The same could be said for DC...and much worse.

Tons of homeless folks. The school system bites.

[knitter4democracy]

46. And they have Alioto's. Mmmmm.

Great restaurant. I hope it's still there--Dad always made sure we ate there whenever we went there to visit family.

[BlueEyedSon]

48. Agreed! nt

[Efilroft Sul]

49. San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the country.

It's forward-looking, tolerant, intellectual, vibrant, healthy, and strong.

All of America should aspire to such qualities.

[rman]

50. 100 hours to fix a mess that took 6 years to create:

not feasible.