Report: Vegas near bottom on list of smartest cities

By tvegas: 10/5/09 at 4:32 p.m.; Suggest removal

You can tell by the postings on this site.

By eurotraveler: 10/5/09 at 4:35 p.m.; Suggest removal

"A city that prides itself on sin"

That really says it all.

(Although, as tvegas inferred, most of the postings on this website reinforce that.)

By neiman1: 10/5/09 at 4:37 p.m.; Suggest removal

The must have included our politicians. That is bound to bring the average down.

By retiredyoungster: 10/5/09 at 4:39 p.m.; Suggest removal

Local government should be proud! And they wonder why they can't attrack outside business except those involved in the "sin city" mentality.

By improveLV: 10/5/09 at 4:40 p.m.; Suggest removal

We should be so proud! Success in this town is solely based on money, and those who aren't wealthy focus on dressing like douchebags and spending pretend money. But I'm sure the right-wing nuts will come on this board and blame the illegals, and the left-wing nuts will complain about Gibbons. Oh, and there will be others that question the validity of the study, which will somehow convince them that they can/should ignore every detail. So predictable. As crappy as it is, it's just the culture of this town/state. Disappointing, to say the least.

By DrPhilgood: 10/5/09 at 4:41 p.m.; Suggest removal

I'm sure I'd be offended by this if I knew how to read.

By Ferg1965: 10/5/09 at 4:47 p.m.; Suggest removal

That pole is stuped.

By onerare1: 10/5/09 at 4:54 p.m.; Suggest removal

Intellectual environment......Are the casinos not intellectual enough?
Education.......UNLV. Enough said.

By LasVegas2009: 10/5/09 at 4:59 p.m.

Comment removed by staff. The comment violated the reader agreement.

By nednougat: 10/5/09 at 5:06 p.m.; Suggest removal

Actually, I know some Vegas residents who have smart children who are succeeding quite well. It all has to do with the parent, or in rare cases, the parents. My BFF at the casino is going to a baby shower today. The mother is 19, and works at a coffee shop. The father is a 17 year old illegal immigrant. What are the chances this match will work out? Can you say zero? We live in a Redneck illegal immigrant Hell. Thank God I grew up on the East Coast, where education is more important that reproduction...

It's easy to make 'em, a lot harder to raise them.

By mojowomyn: 10/5/09 at 5:12 p.m.; Suggest removal

LasVegas2009 is so predictable. Click on his username. Most of his posts are filled with hatred. He never adds to any conversation... other than insults. 684 posts of venom. Language has nothing to do with intelligence, LV2009.

By nvwoof: 10/5/09 at 5:15 p.m.; Suggest removal

Thats probly cause they aksed the rong peeple the pole. I went too scool their and am doing just fine hear and working in vegas. And I ain't no ilegal imigrent neither!

By robert_lv: 10/5/09 at 5:16 p.m.; Suggest removal

Actually, calling Las Vegas a city at all is a bit of a stretch. Las Vegas is more like a gigantic amusement park. Unfortunately, attendance is down.

By texexnv: 10/5/09 at 5:18 p.m.; Suggest removal

Quite deserving of a city which keeps electing Harry Gried and John Enstench....

By Randy: 10/5/09 at 5:23 p.m.; Suggest removal

One common element between Fresno and Las Vegas: Carlos Garcia was the superintendent of schools.

By Nick: 10/5/09 at 5:25 p.m.; Suggest removal

Red State stupidity is everywhere.

People here hate education.

Illegals aren't the problem. The problem is they are better than what they are replacing. Ignorant rednecks from the south and midwest want employers to pay healthcare and a living wage all with their H.S. diploma.

Gimme a Break.

By vegasm: 10/5/09 at 5:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

That this report comes as a surprise in and of itself validates the findings.

Having lived in 2 of the 5 top cities (San Jose/Denver) I had the report's assessment figured out 3 years ago when I moved to Vegas.

Yet some of the friendliest - and brightest - people I've associated with by far have been in Las Vegas.

Weird dichotomy...

By its2hot: 10/5/09 at 5:59 p.m.; Suggest removal

The report is flawed. Oakland is ranked in the top five yet Oakland is one of the dirtiest, nastiest, crime ridden cities in the USA. There is no education in Oakland, just a bunch gang bangers, hookers, and drug lords in the USA and they rank it in the top five. Get real.

Las Vegas people are friendly and for the most part they smarter than the most. What other businesses exists in the world today where people lose thousands of dollars and enjoy so much they can't wait to come back and give more away. The operators of the casinos are geniuses, provide sex, glamour, good food, and treat consumers like royalty and they'll spend much more than receiving and the consumer loves it.

Any other business never gets the repeat customer like Vegas does, and we're tanked second to the last. I don't think so.

By stevem: 10/5/09 at 6:30 p.m.; Suggest removal

judging by our current president...i don't think voting shows ANY relation to intelligence.

By vp: 10/5/09 at 6:39 p.m.; Suggest removal

I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that Vegas has far more registered Democrats.

By mikegino: 10/5/09 at 6:47 p.m.; Suggest removal

Nice spin: I believe what this really means is that Vegas is at the top of the list of dumbest cities.

By Siromega: 10/5/09 at 6:52 p.m.; Suggest removal

Go watch the movie Idiocracy, then go walk the strip on a Friday or Saturday night.

By vegassucs: 10/5/09 at 6:56 p.m.; Suggest removal

What a surprise! For the post that says he met some of the brightest people here in Vegas. You got to be kidding me, right, unless they are from the Midwest or the East Coast. The only people I meet here are stupid ass California people that dont't pay attention to the news and still think its a great place to live. No wonder this city is retarded. Rude people, awful crime, city smells like a sewer and the most boring weather know to man-kind. Vegas has made the Top 10 lists in many things, the problem is that its for all of the wrong reasons. People, stay clear of this rathole, unless you like phoney people,pseudo rich people, cardboard cutout designs, bad food, worst drivers and unintelligent morons.

By NativeNevadian: 10/5/09 at 6:59 p.m.; Suggest removal

To its2hot:

Um, did you go to the dailybeast.com site and READ??

Oakland is not number 5, Number 5 is Denver, as in Denver Colorado.
Number 1 is Raleigh-Durham, NC. Number 2 is San Francisco.

To vp, The number 2 spot (combination) San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, basically the Greater Bay Area, is made up mostly of Democrats, so there goes your theory.

Having lived in the Bay Area for 15 plus years and way too many years in Vegas, Vegas without a doubt has the stupid people anywhere. Having also lived in rural Virginia and in Vegas, people in rural Virginia are smarter..........

By gmag39: 10/5/09 at 7:04 p.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas is the Adult Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Baily Circus. Replete with the associated Carny's, Huckster's, Side Show Freaks, Midway rip-off games, and the smell.
Step Right Up!

By NativeNevadian: 10/5/09 at 7:06 p.m.; Suggest removal

Repost:

Having lived in the Bay Area for 15 plus years and way too many years in Vegas, Vegas without a doubt has the MOST stupid people anywhere. Having also lived in rural Virginia and in Vegas, people in rural Virginia are smarter..........

to its2hot: I will restate what I said to, (after rereading what you said). They were combining all the bay area.......they did not single out Oakland. which by the way is home of Mills College, which is a top-notch school. and Oakland is right next to Berkeley. Home of CAL Berkeley. Both Mills and CAL blow away UNLV and UNR for that matter.

Sorry for my errors, the posts made me a little upset........

By MysterMr: 10/5/09 at 7:24 p.m.; Suggest removal

Look no further than most of the members of our legislature to verify this one... Horsford, Buckley, Oseguara (SP?)...

Hey, I know, let's throw more cash down the CCSD "hole". That always works.

By term25600: 10/5/09 at 7:24 p.m.; Suggest removal

I have lived in a lot of places, and I really didnt notice LV as having people who were more stupid or uneducated.

What is uneducated anyway? Does that mean that you arent in with the group that ran AIG, or B of A, or GM, or Merrill Lynch, or Goldman Sachs?

Maybe there should be a 'common sense' evaluation of people. Those places having more people with 'common sense' would rank higher !!

Who is smarter. The mortgage bankers who loaned to the people THEY knew couldnt make the payments, or the people who lived in the fancy houses and are now just walking away after living off the phantom equity the banks told them they had?

It really makes me wonder what they teach in these public schools and colleges. It certainly isnt math, english, or spelling.

By sportyyetpratical: 10/5/09 at 7:28 p.m.; Suggest removal

Shocking! Astounding! I don't believe it! Surely this must be some kind of Left Wing bias. Pshaw! But who cares?! We've got boobies galore and a Mob Museum (most educational), and underpaid teachers moonlighting as strippers. I mean really, who needs education?! Where else can you get minor surgery in the back of a health food shop? I ask you! Why we even have casino CEOs with imaginary masters degrees. Who needs to have real skills, imagination, education and talent when you come to the capital of Moneyisallthatmatters and just make it all up! After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Heeheehee. We're sooooooo witty. Look, boobies!

By JulesK27: 10/5/09 at 7:49 p.m.; Suggest removal

To all the haters baggin' on Las Vegas: if you hate us and our city so much, then don't let the screen door hit ya on the way out! I agree education is not a priority here, but maybe in time, things will change. Like diversifying the economy here so that it's not all about jobs in the service industry. Such a bunch of whiners and Negative Nellies posting here. Blechhh....

By pmmart: 10/5/09 at 7:52 p.m.; Suggest removal

How many places could we raise if Birdie flew south?

By mushkane: 10/5/09 at 8:16 p.m.; Suggest removal

Now we know why what happens in Vegas stays here; it can't figure out how to turn around and get out.

By kcampinvegas: 10/5/09 at 8:18 p.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas is one of the most unfriendly cities I've ever lived in. People are either rude or they just don't talk to you. I've spoken to many people who have lived in their communities for many years and still don't know their neighbors. Who wants to, you don't know what or who is moving in. I spent 8 yrs there and I am so thankful for finally breaking free and getting out. Education sucks there. Kids have been tested and it's been proven over the years. It doesn't matter if what side of politics you may be. It's a fact, its one of the stupidist, unfriendly, scariest cities and I'm glad to be gone.

By Journey: 10/5/09 at 8:24 p.m.; Suggest removal

Oh no, here it comes. We're going to get a Stupid City Czar, now.

By mikegino: 10/5/09 at 8:24 p.m.; Suggest removal

Start the process by deporting the Reids, Harry and Rory, to someplace, any place else.

By kcampinvegas: 10/5/09 at 8:27 p.m.; Suggest removal

Just to add, my son started high school there and actually graduated which is rare. Before we moved from Oregon he was pulling C's. He got through high school with A's and B's easily. I can guarantee, he would have had a harder time in Oregon. In fact I don't remember too many days I actually saw him with homework. I have to say one thing though, I've never seen so many BMW's in a high school parking lot!

By adrianhu: 10/5/09 at 8:28 p.m.; Suggest removal

The voting rate of American is related to level of higher education, if you are educated - you tend to have a higher proclivity to be politically engaged! It has nothing to do with Obama.

By kcampinvegas: 10/5/09 at 8:30 p.m.; Suggest removal

Amen mushkane lol

By cactusdan: 10/5/09 at 8:43 p.m.; Suggest removal

I will bet my olds, that there has to be dumber towns than this, What about Henderson? What about Gallup? What about my hometown that makes Mayberry look like a think tank? That settles it, I am moving to Fresno, so I can feel smarter than the average Joe. Let me pack up my shopping cart, and california, here i come. Wait a minute, what about the wife and dog? well at least the dog. I can't go. i would miss the dog too much.

By luciarsun: 10/5/09 at 8:52 p.m.; Suggest removal

This is as stupid as it gets. Less than 1% of the best IT guru's around the country would have the remotest concept of how to support, and manage casino technology. Whoevever runs this website has a secondary agenda.

By bodieb: 10/5/09 at 8:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

This is my hometown. I attended public school and graduated high school in Las Vegas. One thing that has been a common thread from then until now...overcrowding. Now that people are moving out, hopefully, the CCSD will use this as an opportunity to reduce class sizes and keep the same numbers of teachers instead of layoffs. In addition, although we don't really have a huge population, we are the second largest school district in the nation. I always have touted that smaller, more manageable parts would make a better school system. (i.e. let Henderson, Boulder City, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and then the townships in unincorporated Clark County run their own districts). We definitely need some additional and better college systems as well. We cannot be competitive with California, Arizona, even Utah, for colleges. Without a good solid college system, we will never bring businesses other than casinos here to Vegas. If we had the educational system, we could host industry other than gaming, and perhaps weather the next economic storm. If that does not happen, then we will most likely continue to be on the bottom of this list.

By VegasVegas: 10/5/09 at 9:03 p.m.; Suggest removal

While I choose to make this place my home from back east, I find this town to be filled with a lot of uneducated, ignorant people. For the first five or so years, it bugged me. But Vegas attracts a lot of these types for whatever reason, and once you just accept it, this place is much easier to tolerate.

Expect that the person you call at the power company is going to be a moron. Expect that the person working the drive through will be 10x worse than anything you've seen before. Expect that the auto repair shop will likely screw it up. Expect that your neighbors probably are only months away from losing their home.

The locals here are a prideful bunch, and their only response to this is "if you don't like it here, leave.", because they too are far too ignorant to see what this town has become.

I personally love being surrounded by stupid people. It makes me look less stupid! :)

By isohatethem: 10/5/09 at 9:30 p.m.; Suggest removal

Okay, unhappy people in Vegas. JUST PACK UP AND GO! And while you're at it, stop reading and posting on the Las Vegas Sun website. Read your "new" city's news website, for crying out loud!!! You shouldnt have to care about Las Vegas anyway if all you want to do is leave this place.

The more people leave, the happier the remaining locals will be.

By isohatethem: 10/5/09 at 9:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

...and thank you, VegasVegas for that very informative post.

You can go away too, if you like. We dont want to make you any 'more stupid'

By livinglarge: 10/5/09 at 9:38 p.m.; Suggest removal

Why is everyone so upset about this? We are bound to be in the lowest educational communities. This city was built that way, who would live here if we did not have the sin city rep? We are different from anywhere in the country. Our median income to cost of living kicks most of the top cities ass. I would not raise my kids here but it is a fabulous place to be. We have te worst parents, school systems and drivers in the country too, but that's who we are. Deal with it people

By adrianhu: 10/5/09 at 9:38 p.m.; Suggest removal

I enjoyed reading VegasVegas' post. Keep up the good work!

By vegassucs: 10/5/09 at 9:54 p.m.; Suggest removal

What a cliche response, "just pack up and leave", trust me , we are trying. This town sucks and I live in Summerlin. stupid, rude, ignorant. All the people care about is driving around in a 50,000 dollar car. Yet, when I go to their house, they live in a fishbowl with no furniture and a backyard of gravel. Must be a west coast(California) thing. This is hot-spot for all the nation's morons to congregate.

By elenaj: 10/5/09 at 9:55 p.m.; Suggest removal

TO Mojowomyn

Id think with you counting 684 of anothers posts , perhaps you should get a life

As Far as the article goes, NC has some of the best universities in the country

By AmericanFrog: 10/5/09 at 9:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

And are we to assume that all studies are created equally? Please. I work in marketing and entertainment - the answer is NO. I have a degree, so therefore I am in the minority here. I lived in Budapest, Hungary for 12 years too - a city of 1.8 million people and only 20% of them are educated. We're talking about the size of a population, the industries represented, the people who live and work in said community (village, town or city) and geography. Give Vegas a break. I recently moved here from Oregon. All three places have some pretty stupid people, pretty smart people, and people who don't give a damn. Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. (But I love my new home.)

By adrianhu: 10/5/09 at 10 p.m.; Suggest removal

Elena, it is easy to determine the number of posts by another user, you just click on their name.

And yes, LV2009 is a racist bigot who cherishes anti-Latino sentiment.

The Nevada System of Higher Ed = crap! We need to improve the overall quality of higher education, if want to be competitive in the global market - casinos cannot save the valley anymore, and that is evident with the economic downturn of today.

By vegassucs: 10/5/09 at 10:06 p.m.; Suggest removal

Can Oregon really be that boring, plz. I'm amazed at all the people that are moving here and then I love watching them come to my job looking for work. Hello, you find a job, then you move to the city. Just because you can buy a house with pocket change does not mean to jump on it. I thought thats what got this city in trouble in the first place. I guess people are too stupid especially when they announce that Vegas in top 3 in Unemployment, DUH!

By isohatethem: 10/5/09 at 10:10 p.m.; Suggest removal

I'll say this again...

The more people leave, the happier the remaining locals will be.

On a sidenote, gosh, who has $50,000 these days to spend on a car? I'd rather buy a condo with that amount and have it rented for some good steady ROI.

By spademe: 10/5/09 at 10:22 p.m.; Suggest removal

This is not a very accurate study. Just because people do not have a bachelors degree or just because people like to read fiction, does it make them not as smart as others. I garuntee that some people without a bachelors is smarter than some people with it. And mabey someone could not get a graduates degree. Mabey they to drop out to help support their family, does that make the, dumb? I think it's smarter to drop out and help your family survive. Also, I like to read fiction books. I'll read a fiction book any day over a nonfiction book, but does that make me dumb. This study is not the most accurate that I've seen.

By VegasInsider: 10/5/09 at 10:37 p.m.; Suggest removal

Yes the city is full of stupid people. I would say this is a very accurate study.

It's no shock.

This city has morons at the top levels of each casino company.

This city has a closed business environment which only promotes business from people they know (other morons who grew up here).

If this city was smart they would address construction safety to save lives (didn't happen at city cemetary, I mean city center where inspectors were bought and told what to do).

If this city was smart they would take the lowest bidders in contracts (LV hires LV paving for all it's projects).

If this city was smart (kids wouldn't be dropping out of school).

I could go on and on!!! This city is what it is: Stupid!!!

By VegasInsider: 10/5/09 at 10:45 p.m.; Suggest removal

robert_lv

Great post, very funny and accurate.

By adrianhu: 10/5/09 at 10:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

spademe, are you being serious with your post?

By odeman: 10/5/09 at 10:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

The great American failing and why this country is going in the dumpster. We think a piece of paper held by guy who partied his way through college makes him a superior being and everyone else is just a piece of garbage. Just like all those PHD mathemeticians and economists on Wall Street couldn't find their posterior if they sat on it. Of course we can't forget the educated bankers who trashed their banks. Let's not forget all these educated artists who have always been on the government dole. All those educated industrialists who polluted vast areas of the country, with us little people picking up the tab either in money or early horrible death, so as to pad their bonuses. All those educated industrialists who gave us substandard and dangerous products and ran their companies into the ground, like GM and Chrysler. The Congress and state legislatures are all chock full of educated people yet the USA and most of the states are technically bankrupt, and that was before the recession. All those educated lobbyists lined up with their hands out, and getting them filled with our hard earned money. All those educated lawyers filing trivial lawsuits in the quest for the pot of gold at our expense. Those educated people who turn a blind eye to illegal immigration so as to get a cheap gardener or maid. Yep, it's good to know that little piece of paper denotes intelligence.

One failing in stupid studies like this they only consider a bachelors and above as being educated. How about those people who go to specialty schools where they get a quality education in their field, such as computers, in half the time because they weren't required to take all those liberal arts junk courses. Just because they can't quote Shakespere doesn't mean they aren't educated.

Many servicemen and women get years of education and training while serving yet this doesn't count as education in these stupid surveys. A guy I know got his computer training in the service and was highly recruited by major firms when he mustered out. Surveys like this count him the same as a retarded dishwasher.

By vegassucs: 10/5/09 at 11:14 p.m.; Suggest removal

Your missing the point there. Its not because Vegas colleges suck or that they have a low number of College grads, its because people here are really stupid. This was a city that was built by the mob as a get away from the big cities of Chicago, New York, etc.... This was not intended to be a family style city with classic upbringings. I'm sorry to say but when people tell you that your either gonna love it or hate it here, you really need to watch out. I've lived in Chicago and washington d.c where college education is considered a priority and I'm sorry to say, it shows. If Vegas wants to play like the big boys, it has to pretend for 5 seconds that its an actually city and not a piece of investment property for Calivadans.

By odeman: 10/5/09 at 11:16 p.m.; Suggest removal

The education industry is touting life long learning. There is one group of individuals who have always had life long learning, farmers. You know, those guys who nourish your overgrown ego with plentifiul food. If your egos weren't so overburdened with superiority baggage, you could look up a farmer see just how much brains and brawn it takes to survive in this brutal business. You college boys wouldn't last 10 minutes down on the farm. When the drought hits, an early freeze sets, the soil needs analysis, the equipment needs fixing, insects are chomping on the corn, the EPA is issuing new land regulations, the cows have come down sick, deciding how and when fertilize or apply herbicides, when and what to plant, begging the bank for a crop loan, dickering on crop price, there is no one to call or hold a meeting for concensus. Just you. You and heat, cold, rain, dust, dirt, and manure. No perfumed air conditioned office where the egos run wild and the superiority complexes grow. Just you against the world.

By isohatethem: 10/5/09 at 11:21 p.m.; Suggest removal

now that is some heavy stuff right there, odeman. you're right though. Going back to the basics will definitely put us all to the test.

By adrianhu: 10/5/09 at 11:37 p.m.; Suggest removal

hey odeman, who designs the pesticides and large farming equipment? some lazy college kid with an engineering degree! herbicides probably developed by some knucklehead chemist, who probably couldn't work the field, but can understand the dynamics of periodic table.

so, i guess we all need each other to survive...i know that is a "socialist thought"...community, not in Nevada!

By Narcissa: 10/5/09 at 11:51 p.m.; Suggest removal

Good post, Odeman!

NedNougat, you took the words right out of my mouth.

Finally, I ordinarily cringe at grammar policing, but the subject matter being what it is, here goes (!):

Eurotraveler, TVVegas did not infer. He would have had to imply. You, as the reader or listener may infer what you will from his statement, but you would be doing it based on his "implications".

So, there you go.

I'll just let myself out.

By chami: 10/5/09 at 11:53 p.m.; Suggest removal

This raised a question that whoever did this study is smart or not before consider the cities and wasting time. Even if you take IQ scores, number of degrees, or even looked in to their brains using computer etc... for someone to be smart or dumb, or a city or even a country as a whole depends cannot be messured such as this. The experiences of individuals different unless all happens to born enlightened. Knowledge is infinite, yet the experiences are limited and unique. Remember, we call a car when all the parts combined, we cannot call a car showing a tire. Therefore; you cannot frame dumbest city and smartest city or dumbest country or smartest country like this, just understand where you are first or is it this worth it before jump in to conclusions and send across news papers.

By James_P_Reza: 10/6/09 at 12:10 a.m.; Suggest removal

There's a plane leaving Las Vegas every few minutes. If I hated it here, like some of you do, I'd be on one -- no excuses.

But, of course, it's the fact that you make excuses that makes you so unhappy. It isn't where you are, it's who you are, and it takes a special kind of "who" to love Las Vegas. This city wasn't built for those who "expect" anything, but rather for those who can make something out of nothing and like the challenge of doing so.

By Mike123: 10/6/09 at 12:55 a.m.; Suggest removal

When you have a city where the majority of the people work in the service industry & make at or near minimum wage, this should come as no surprise at all.

By AmericanFrog: 10/6/09 at 1:03 a.m.; Suggest removal

Totally agree James. You hit the nail on the head. It's like I was trying to say, in other words, that the grass is never greener on the other side. Las Vegas is a lot of things, to a lot of people. It has a history that makes it what it is and the simple truth is a lot of uneducated - but talented and hard-working people - have helped this city grow into what it is over the years. There will always be bad parts of a town, good parts, pretty people and not-so-pretty. All the study is saying is that, like Fresno, Vegas is not a major metropolitan area! How can you compare Vegas to Frisco, Minneapolis-St.Paul or Boston? They're older, have always had larger populations and oh, lest we forget, very different cultures.

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 1:14 a.m.; Suggest removal

I've gotta to disagree with the above post. For far too long, Las Vegas has been overrun by last-chancers and n'er-do-wells who could come to Vegas, get a job in construction, parking cars, or doing something else, which nobody in their right mind back home would hire them to do. They were able to hitch a ride on the rising bubble. But now that the bubble has burst, there aren't nearly enough people in this valley who have legitimate skill sets that would attract new employers.

Odeman is making his point again that merely having a framed sheepskin mounted on your wall doesn't prove anything. I agree whole-heartedly. But the issue for Las Vegas -and for all of America in the 21 century, really- is that people need to have SKILL SETS THAT OTHERS WILL PAY FOR. Because on the other side of the coin, being a so-called "journeyman" carpenter who in reality only knows how to set up pour forms on large construction sites, is something that paid well in this town in the past, but is virtually worthless now in the real world. There are plenty of real carpenters in this country, who in addition to being able to do that, also are genuine craftsmen that can frame a room, build cabinets, repair a floor -you name it.
Likewise, a four-year degree in Sociology, or Renaissance Literature, is probably worse than worthless in the lean mean world we now live in. If I were conducting interviews, and a candidate had a degree in something like THAT... I'd deep-six the application right then, as this tells me the applicant had no common sense and was self-indulgent about their first major career choice.

Whether you work with your hands, your mind, or both, it's all about honing a skill set that will actually get something done in this brave new competitive world we live in, folks. Otherwise, if you don't have something people are buying, don't expect anyone to pay you anything. Unfortunately, right now Las Vegas is full of people who need to ramp up their competitiveness. Not a rip against the people, here. Just calling a spade a spade and pointing out the way forward. May everybody jump on board.

By wildinthewest: 10/6/09 at 1:20 a.m.; Suggest removal

LOL I have said this for years i work in the medical feild so i know some very smart people in this town but 95% are dumb as a bag of wet sand they flock here by the droves just look at the way people drive that should say a lot

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/6/09 at 1:36 a.m.; Suggest removal

They rate intelligence on education degrees, reading books, and voting for their rankings. Hmmmm. I've met a lot of education half-witts with no common sense in my day since our education system has become so liberal with blinders securely in place to see reality. A hot LV stripper might not have a PHd but she can sure milk every last Benjamin from the educated persons wallet!

Problem here for years has been that kids can make $75,000 waiting on tables in the nicer restaurants and decide to forgo college for the service industry. Those folks who chose that route in life are now stuck like Chuck but hey, having a degree is no guarantee for income any more either.

I judge intelligence on the ability to succeed, solve problems, think outside the box, and avoid the pitfalls of life. You can have all of the 'book smarts' possible but if you don't have common sense, are you really intelligent? Of course not. A doctor for instance can know that smoking causes cancer, but if they smoke, can they be said to be intelligent? I don't think so, not in my world. True intelligence is manifested in works, not words, for one kind action is worth 100 times more than 1000 good intentions.

IQ tests are IMO an acceptable way to measure intelligence and problem solving skills which can predict the individual who scores high should be able to make good decisions, but there again, not always. A person with a high IQ who uses drugs, drinks alcohol, or doesn't take care of their body and corrupts their temple isn't truly enlightened in my world either.

BTW, intelligence is mostly inherited and environment has little to do with it ...I base this opinion on the fact that biological twin studies I've seen that follow twins separated at birth 100% of the time suggest both twins follow in the steps of their smart (or stupid) parents REGARDLESS of upbringing (rich or poor) A smart kid put into a poor family will still become a professional, the not so gifted kid placed with a rich family and pushed into the best schools will fail in college. (FWIW)

By webslinger67: 10/6/09 at 1:57 a.m.; Suggest removal

LMAO this comes as no surprise, and I have lived all over. Las Vegas is by far the most f__ked up town ever. I have never encountered so many idiots, ignoramuses and just down right mean people, ever in my whole life. As for the person who said we have the nicest people here, you fit into the idiot department. As for the person that said don't let the mean people and the stupidity stop you from leaving, you fit in the ignorant department.

People move here from other parts of the country thinking Las Vegas is where you can do anything you want. Like remodel your house and throw your old used up toilets, trash and used up building materials out in between your house and the neighbors thinking no one is going to care. Well you cant ignoramus. Even more people move here thinking its a free ride and everything is free, thank you for raising the prices on everything. Then you got the illegals that move in 20 people into one house and the neighbors move out, and the house becomes abandoned cause no one wants to move in next door to the boarding house, as the authorities look the other way.

So, once again, NO SURPRISE HERE, WE ARE ALL IDIOTS FOR BEING HERE.

By odeman: 10/6/09 at 2:18 a.m.; Suggest removal

I am apologizing on behalf of all of us stupid people out here. You obviously superior people took time out from your busy day to let us know the reality of our stupidity and we thank you for it. I am sorry we took you away from giving that press conference where all you enlightened souls are going to announce that you cured cancer and every other disease, developed a drug to increase our lifespan to 250 years of excellent health and beauty, brought about everlasting world peace, developed a car that gets 2000 miles per gallon, made the atmosphere pollution free, have made machines to do all the work while so we now are on permanent vacation, and so many other wonders I could list here if I had the time. So oh superior ones, when do you announce the fruits of your superior intellect. Don't be shy now. I'm sure your brimming with excitement having cured all the worlds ills and can't wait to tell all of us stupid people. We're waiting oh god like ones.

By Phargo: 10/6/09 at 4:19 a.m.; Suggest removal

Did I miss another test?

By uddeboda: 10/6/09 at 4:25 a.m.; Suggest removal

I read somewhere that 100s and 1000s of illegals are crossing the Mexican border, so I asked which way???

I didnt get a very polite answer.

By uddeboda: 10/6/09 at 4:35 a.m.; Suggest removal

One comment said that kids are earning %75000 in better restaurants, yet when they serve you, most of the time its on the wrong side of the person sitting, fingers or thumbs are actually in the food, which is served on dirty plates.
And you call this class???
Still, what can one expect, most of the time these people eat out at the burger joints, and anything goes there.

By netlivinginc: 10/6/09 at 5:07 a.m.; Suggest removal

Ridiculous! I know a lot of dumb people who went to college AND vote. All it shows is book smarts. I'd rather be street smart than have a shelf full of literature and not know the simplest of things. Unbelievable!

By annienonymouse: 10/6/09 at 6:18 a.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas, Nevaduh rocks!!!

By Cadaver: 10/6/09 at 6:22 a.m.; Suggest removal

First of all, take a look at the The Daily Beast web site, and form your own opinion of their intelligence. Secondly, we still manage to suck in several million "smarter" people each year to smartly waste their money. Who are the real morons? This comment however, doesn't take into affect the neighbor who parks his car in his front yard because he has a couch in his garage.

By stevem: 10/6/09 at 6:23 a.m.; Suggest removal

"diversifying the economy" is a meaningless buzz phrase politicians are using to get stupid people to vote for them.

we'll never diversify the economy here.

it's too late. we blew it.

there is simply not enough buildable land in the valley to build enough new factories or production plants for the ratio of gambling/tourism jobs to non-tourism jobs to really ever change.

By GrandmaCrabby: 10/6/09 at 6:31 a.m.; Suggest removal

We're #2. We try harder.

By rich44: 10/6/09 at 6:40 a.m.; Suggest removal

Its good that they rated us so bad, we don't want any more smart asses moving here trying to tell us how to live and work and think and play.

By gilrus47: 10/6/09 at 6:45 a.m.; Suggest removal

Not and never never could. Stevem you do no nothing. I thank my techers every day for learning me to reid and write.

By dipstick: 10/6/09 at 7:44 a.m.; Suggest removal

graduating from UNLV with a batchelors degree is equivalent graduating from grade school in boston, mass. take a good hard look at the graduation rate for the football and basketball programs from UNLV; it makes notre dame look like MIT. vegas is a great place to visit but who in their right mind would want to live there? it IS better than fresno,california so not all is lost; you got that working for you!

By lv702: 10/6/09 at 7:58 a.m.; Suggest removal

How can you say illegals aren't a problem in education. My mom teaches at an elementary school in Summerlin and 17 out of 27 of her students are Mexican; only 4 can read at a second grade level and 5 don't speak English. You don't think this hurts the 10 American kids in the class that are actually there to learn. Most mexicans use schools as free babysitting and don't care if their kids are learning anything. Illegals are a huge problem in our education and our healthcare system.

By gmag39: 10/6/09 at 8:32 a.m.; Suggest removal

Hey, Dipstick...
Is a Batchelors degree useful for making cookies?

By bam1969: 10/6/09 at 8:32 a.m.; Suggest removal

hey native whiners, if all us transplants leave like you want, you might have to go to the moon to find a place with a lower overall IQ.

By Patrick_R_Gibbons: 10/6/09 at 8:43 a.m.; Suggest removal

If Raleigh-Durham area is so smart why is their poverty rate higher?

http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty...

Las Vegas area:

http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty...

Simply put, these types of rankings are not only stupid, they are elitist. Nevada may not have lots of college graduates but it is a fairly wealthy state with low poverty rates. That means people of all education levels have a chance to succeed out here.

By lightfoot: 10/6/09 at 8:57 a.m.; Suggest removal

They must have conducted the local survey from the MGM or Harrahs corporate board room...

By ghostcommander: 10/6/09 at 8:59 a.m.; Suggest removal

Just because there are a few rotten apples in the barrel does not mean the whole barrel is no good. Just remove the rotten apples. Wages are too low for the working class and over the years they have lost hope. Quite a few have turned to drugs--manufacturing, distribution, and use. We all know what drugs will do to our communities. There are a lot of good hearted people in the Las Vegas area, but the tough economic times has changed them. The people need good paying jobs, not just low paying service jobs.

By BurgessPenguin: 10/6/09 at 9:09 a.m.; Suggest removal

Patrick_R_Gibbons, please note the poverty level in San Antonio, Texas, which ranks one spot "above" Las Vegas in the survey. I lived there for three years; at the time, the only city with a higher poverty level was Detroit. Also, you forgot to mention that the Raleigh-Durham area is home to some of the most respected institutions of higher learning in the country; conversely, we have UNLV.

As for your comment on the ranking being "elitist," you've overlooked the fact that many large businesses in industries that could help our region diversify its economy do not move here because the educational level of the citizenry is so low. For too long, Las Vegas has relied on a populace with a low educational level to fill jobs hat don't require them to think beyond the next hand they deal or the next car they park. Yes, those jobs are essential but they also serve as indicators of how our economic eggs occupy one fragile basket. As a result, we've missed the boat on high-tech and other industries that could be beneficial to our region simply because we are so far behind the educational curve.

(Don't even get me started on the blatant farce that is the Nevada Development Authority.)

Perhaps people "succeed," as you put it (although I am curious as to what you use as a baseline for what you deem to be "success"), despite their lack of education beyond high school. If they even finished that. Apparently, you believe it's just peachy for people to make a lot of money even if they are intellectual rocks.

By the way, I have a B.A. and an M.A. I've considered pursuing a doctorate, but in this town, where standards and expectations are kept low, why should I waste my time and money -- unless I intend to bail and move to a region where employers will appreciate it?

By homer: 10/6/09 at 9:12 a.m.; Suggest removal

neiman This is one statistic you have made a huge contribution to. Congratulations. Did you do an interview for the firm who conducted this research?

By JohnF: 10/6/09 at 9:14 a.m.; Suggest removal

This survey is flawed in that it conflates intelligence and education. I have dishwashers working for me who are smarter than some of the PhD students I know.

The problem is that intelligence doesn't necessarily cure ignorance. Smart people without educations still make bad decisions; they simply don't have enough data.

Adrianhu's repsonse to Odeman is pretty much spot on. Farmers are pretty smart people, by and large, regardless of the amount of formal education they have. You have to be pretty darned smart to make a farm profitable these days. These farmers don't operate in a vacuum, however. It took ag economists, animal husbandry experts, chemists, genetecists, and a myriad of other scientists to give them that capability.

What running a farm doesn't teach you, however, is history, political science, and a number of other things you need to know to be a responsible citizen. A lack of a liberal arts education causes people to be narrow and parochial; they see the world only as far as the fence at the end of their fields. Odeman's comments point this out; he understands that he has to be pretty smart to run a successful farm, but that's where it ends. There is no understanding of the wider world or of his interconnectedness with it. (I am not singling out farmers here; the same is true of all those who believe that education only serves to help you make a living. And of course, not all farmers feel as Odeman does.)

The problem here in Las Vegas is that there is no utility in education. When a union dishwasher and a union maid can make $30 an hour between them with benefits and a retirement plan there is very little incentive to get an education. Why go to school for four years to become a teacher when you can make much more money parking cars or schlepping baggage?

Until we can convince people that there is a need for education that goes beyond what is necessary for making a living (something that people in San Francisco, for instance, already understand), Las Vegas will continue to be at the bottom of lists like this.

By davidwayneosedach: 10/6/09 at 9:19 a.m.; Suggest removal

Will this rating change anything? Less tourism? Less investments? Less fun?

No! No! And no!

By adam1885282: 10/6/09 at 9:24 a.m.; Suggest removal

89 comments, wow! This really struck a cord. This is nothing more than another symptom of our "one trick pony" town. Why the heck would anyone spend 7 years in college like I did for an advanced degree when you can make $50k the day you drop out of high school just parking cars.

By cactusdan: 10/6/09 at 9:28 a.m.; Suggest removal

Intelligent posts! It is fun to bash Vegas, and it can be a cold town, but the bottom line, It ain't Fresno, thank goodness.
Umm, you don't need 50k to own a 50k car. If I had 50K, I would get the best deal I could from my credit union, then invest my 50k. Use the interest to offset my payments, and after 3 years, I have clear title, and my 50k. Don't pay cash for car. It's "Ghetto" to pay cash for a car. Poor investment. The key is low payments, low interest, and put the 50K to use somewhere else. That way you can have your cake and eat it too. Now where is my bus pass, I need to get to night school. Study janitorial theory. Some love Vegas, in their rear view mirror. Actually, who cares about lists. Oakland? Give me a break.

By dt0702: 10/6/09 at 9:30 a.m.; Suggest removal

De problem be wid de politicians. Dey is so co'rupt dey is makin' us no'mal citizens seem likes we is stupid o' sump'n, Educashun should be da damn prio'ity fo' every state in de United States uh America cuz' it cuts waaay down on crime and stuff likes dat. Man!

By dt0702: 10/6/09 at 9:33 a.m.; Suggest removal

One mo'e doodad, if dey would dig some halfway decent ball team at da damn local college den dey might attract mo'e yung professionals here. Dey might actually graduate fum college

By isohatethem: 10/6/09 at 9:43 a.m.; Suggest removal

Uhuh...'batchelors' huh?

is this a degree you earn by working on 'batches' of whatever?

By Fred_Flintstone: 10/6/09 at 9:44 a.m.; Suggest removal

I'm perty shur wer smartr then memfis.

By jacop23: 10/6/09 at 9:47 a.m.; Suggest removal

I've been to Vegas many times and was even offered a job with Clark County, which I regrettably turned down. I know Vegas has its share of problems.....education, poor health care, crime, etc.... But there are so many positives to draw from. Great weather, scenic surroundings and there is always something exciting to do. I live in Detroit,(and can't wait to get out) and was shocked that we didn't make it on the top 5 list! I'll take Vegas anyday!!

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/6/09 at 10:19 a.m.; Suggest removal

Do any of you remember that news story about a SF family where the father was a highly educated French national and the mother was a consultant? The father got a lot of flack because he called out Americans as "stupid, simple people" and uneducated etc. He forced his kids to attend "International" schools where they had to learn several languages, play and instrument, and get advanced learning at an early age. His 10 yr old wasn't allowed to go to bed until he finished his homework. However, behind his dads back, the kids said they were not happy and they just wanted to have fun. They said their dad was to strict and not loving enough. The headlines after the 60 minute report were "Worlds worst dad" yet he was highly educated and 'intelligent" by this reports standards. This French moron killed his wife's business and his own trading company's business when his neighbors discovered his contempt for us "stupid" Americans. How smart is that? How smart is it to make your kids hate education? Think they will continue when they gain their freedom or drop out and become druggies? How smart is that?

Here is the truth about intelligence summed up in one sentence:

NOBODY KNOWS LESS THAN THE PERSON WHO KNOWS IT ALL.

Period.

By Journey: 10/6/09 at 10:29 a.m.; Suggest removal

This former employer and current retiree knows a large number millionaires who didn't go to college or went a couple of years and got C's. If you look closely, you'll notice all the straight-A students are working for them. :)

By bldblu: 10/6/09 at 10:33 a.m.; Suggest removal

SERGIO,

I love your posts,and they are well written BUT,

Problem here for years has been that kids can make $75,000 waiting on tables in the nicer restaurants and decide to forgo college for the service industry.

Are you inferring this is a problem?

dont be so afraid of failure that it saboutages your success

peace out

By Caroll: 10/6/09 at 10:33 a.m.; Suggest removal

I blame this on local right wing talk shows on AM radio stations.
Have you heard how stupid they all are?
No facts.
Dumb hosts.

By AmericanFrog: 10/6/09 at 10:48 a.m.; Suggest removal

Sergio! Bravo! I was just thinking about that this morning. I lived in Budapest for 12 years and like the French elitist in SF, a lot of Hungarians have the same picture of Americans. Well, again, I'm sorry but Europe has its fair share of uneducated, nationalist, anti-Western, anti-Semites who think they're God's gift to the worlds of art and science so therefore are better than anyone else - especially Americans. (They also say it's because we're too young as a country and "have no history.") Funny how the French and Germans come here (to the States) to start businesses because it's way cheaper and easier here than over there. Our taxes are way lower too. So I beg to question - who, in the end, is smarter?

By Johnathan_Abbinett: 10/6/09 at 10:51 a.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas, NevaDUH comes in second to last! Gee, what are those odds?

By Critias: 10/6/09 at 10:55 a.m.; Suggest removal

Is that sournce supposed to be reliable?
I'll second vegasm:

"Yet some of the friendliest - and brightest - people I've associated with by far have been in Las Vegas."

I'd rather be around people from Las Vegas than Southern Californians anytime.

By vsestini: 10/6/09 at 11:06 a.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas among the nation's dumbest cities? Not quite...it is actually the dumbest city in the world.

Our local education system is miinimal third world in quality. We have 6 ladies on the board, 5 of whom know absolutely nothing about how schools are organized, operate, what is required to lead a district, how to organize and finance education nor do these 5 'dummy' moms really care about it. Their experience extends all the way to PTA meetings and being loyal, rabid fans of kiddy soccer for their kids and grandkids. That is a big deal in dummy land and no where else ladies; it doesn't count in the real world !

We graduate Millenium Scholars who know very little and usually are required to take remedial math, English and oher courses at the college level. Many more so called 'graduates' funk out by the end of their Freshman or Sophomore year.

We can't pay for quality classroom teachers but always have plenty of funds for additonal administators, firewatchers and rent-a-cops drawing big retirements, insurance and other benefits.

The district recently funded a consultant to determine if their brain colors made them compatible trutees to each other. That salary alone could have funded two certified classroom teachers. But, no we didn't do that did we ladies? In my opnion you are dumb, dumb to the bone only its embrassing to all of us taxpayers that you are allowed to continue to get away with it and the children in this district suffer greatly for your ignorant stupidity.

While in office you are able to make certain than some future school will be engraved with your name for posterity. Some of you at least took on the trustee position hoping to be able to move on to some future, more lucrative political job like city or county commissioner or even state senator or assemblywoman.

It is obvious your individual records of knowledge, achievement and concern for children of this district speaks pretty well for itself when one looks at drop out rates, graduation rates, test score results and the numbers of our students demontstrating success and grauating from college. Your ecord on these factors is horrible and it stinks and reaks of incompetence,lack of leadership, and knowldege about education.

A day of reconing is coming when each of you decides to run again for your elected trustee post or wish to advance up the escalator of enriched political jobs and state retirement benefits. Your record is going to haunt each of you and defeat you.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/6/09 at 11:17 a.m.; Suggest removal

bldblu,

I don't think that the free market system is "a problem", I was just stating that the high standard of living one can obtain while forgoing any type of higher education is to blame for our low education levels in this state. I dropped out of college after 2 years after I got a B in history despite knowing more than the professor about secret societies, the Masons, and their role in shaping this country. This elite moron professor of mine would always say to me in class, "well, I've never read that in the history books" or "maybe you should re-write history for us ignorant Americans". I wasn't trying to be "smarter than thou" I was just sharing information I learned in some really credible books on the subject, however, since that knowledge was outside of the accepted curriculum, it wasn't welcome and it wasn't even entertained as plausible or considered relevant to the discussion. I pulled my hair out trying to show how it was relevant and it would shape future events. Sad our education system doesn't teach the truth on the more important things in life: our true past, the truth about ancient "mysteries" which the elites have known all along (they raped the libraries of antiquity, all ended up in the Vatican's locked up vaults), the truth about health and nutrition (eating healthy foods all one really needs to keep immune system strong and body disease free), and the truth about achieving financial freedom in this country. They don't teach kids how to make and keep money, in other words. I left college after my AA degree and started my 1st business, a landscape design and construction firm in Contra Costa CA. I ended up making over $200K a year and invested in the high tech companies that were sprouting up all around (was doing work for a lot of these techies) and the rest was history. Had I stayed in college, I could have done well also I'm sure. However, I never stopped my unquenchable thirst for non traditional erudition on many levels, learning on purpose, not for a grade. That type of intelligence comes from within, it can't be taught. Learning things that interest you is 1000 X's more valuable than rote memorization of something that doesn't interest you (college gained education in general) W Bush had a Ivy league college education yet he wasn't too bright in my opinion. He lacked wisdom, and you don't teach wisdom. To be wise, you have to incorporate education (learning all of the angles) with morals and true principles. They don't teach morals and principles in college, they teach binge drinking and cheating, lying, or stealing (doing whatever it takes) to make the grade. Thus, I'd say that NC has some of the most ignorant individuals in the country who think they know it all but who haven't got a clue.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/6/09 at 11:25 a.m.; Suggest removal

vsestini,

Blame the politicians for the ills of our society, not the society or the locals in this case. We the people want our immigration laws enforced. We pay plenty of property taxes to support our school system, that's our part as locals, right? How does that make the locals stupid?

By wizardofOz: 10/6/09 at 11:41 a.m.; Suggest removal

POLICE CAPTAIN (DURING RAID): I'm SHOCKED, SHOCKED to find that gambling is going on in here...!

CROUPIER (HANDING HIM CHIPS): ...Your winnings, sir.

(Casablanca 1942)

By wizardofOz: 10/6/09 at 11:45 a.m.; Suggest removal

(Previous comment not about the Police, just the current "Esteemed Establishment", but you knew that anyway.)

By Bertsos: 10/6/09 at 12:10 p.m.; Suggest removal

Not surprising when the major industry is casinos and service work.

Any high school dropout can find work in those industries, it doesn't take a lot of brain power to flip cards, shlep drinks, wait tables, fry hash, clean rooms, slice carrots, park cars, etc.

It's not that they can't make a decent dollar.......it's just that pretty much anyone can do those jobs.

By James_P_Reza: 10/6/09 at 12:19 p.m.; Suggest removal

The best part of the negative "NevaDUH" commentary is that the Las Vegas valley has multiplied in population size 600% in 25 years, and most of the folks moving here did so to coattail on on whatever boom was happening at the moment.

Boomtowns attract a certain type of people -- neither good nor bad, just different -- and most of those commenting came here to chase that dollar. Now that we are in a historical cycle of "bust" they all want to bash.

Eh.

By wizardofOz: 10/6/09 at 12:23 p.m.; Suggest removal

Dissent creates consent.

By kenodave: 10/6/09 at 12:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

I am dumb founded.

By GrandmaCrabby: 10/6/09 at 12:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

Relevant quotes from mark Twain:

~ "'Classic.' A book which people praise and don't read."

~ "I never let my schooling interfere with my education"

~ "Education consists mainly of what we have unlearned."

~ "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please."

~ "I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way."

~ "It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so."

~ "It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions."

~ "My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. Fortunately everybody drinks water. "

By ghostcommander: 10/6/09 at 12:59 p.m.; Suggest removal

Why is the square root of one always one? Why is a manhole cover round?

By wizardofOz: 10/6/09 at 1:10 p.m.; Suggest removal

I just have to jump in on one more item.

WE ARE the GLOBAL ECONOMY.

It's called POVERTY.

(i.e. significantly lowered standard of living)

NO ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS AND AGREEMENTS AND BORDERS AND TREATIES, GIVEAWAY REAL ESTATE BANK LOANS BY PEOPLE IN ELECTED GOVERNMENT (WHO ARE STILL THERE) WHO MADE BIG (AND I DO MEAN BIG) COMMI$$ION BUCKS OFF OF OUR HAPLESS SORROW, NO INVESTEMENT IN OUR AS YET UNDECIDED AND VERY UNEDUCATED FUTURE, MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF VERY WELL PAYING JOBS SENT TO "GLOBAL MARKETS" (THE EXPORT OF WHICH MADE THE $AME GOVERNMENT PEOPLE RICHER WHO JUST GOT MORE RICH OFF OF REAL E$TATE), AND OUR TOTAL ABJECT FAILURE TO AKNOWLEDGE THAT ANY THING SHORT OF "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE" EVEN EXISTS.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with us, other than a Death Wish.

What's next, we all go out and play in traffic?

By LasVegas2009: 10/6/09 at 1:14 p.m.; Suggest removal

ghostcommande:Why is a manhole cover round?
So it wont fall in hole. If square it could be turned on side and fall through, round can't fall into hole at any angle.

Adrianhu: Quit trying to turn my distaste for illegals in to a race issue. I dont care what race the illegals are all I care about is the fact they are citizens of a foreign country invading my country.

By GunslingerA10: 10/6/09 at 1:31 p.m.; Suggest removal

What an enlightening report, Las Vegas is near bottom on list of smartest cities with populations of about one million residents.

One facet that is not denoted or mentioned is that cities like everything else need to be grouped by like characteristics -- apples with apples and oranges with oranges. Las Vegas is a service oriented city, Fresno is a farming city, the bay area is a techno city, and Manhattan is a financial market city. The cities that are service providers, such as Las Vegas need to compete against like cities, where the employee base requirements need not have a post doctoral education, likewise, the bay area where the Silicon Valley is, there is a need for employees with a higher level of education. Another way of putting it, to allow for a realistic competition is by judging Atlantic City with Las Vegas, and Macau, and Anaheim, and Orlando, you get the Idea, and yes, use the per-capita rules to equal the footing.

Additionally, the study used book sales as one of the weighting aspects to score, books are but a means of entertainment. Who needs to buy books when in Las Vegas you can just live out your dreams instead of reading about them.

Furthermore, to propose that anyone who fails to vote is ignorant comes off as a bit condescending; voting is a personal right and left up to the individual to exercise that right. I have been known to abstain, as have some of politicians in our government, once again is in itself your right and your form of expression in voting.

Now for the fact that this study is a work in progress, that being said, isn't that elementary rather than collegiate to present an unrefined study for purpose of sensationalism. Then to say, "We intend to refine our methodology and welcome feedback" after its release does not justify the disclaimer.

Better luck with you next report, I just anticipate it will be truly enlightening rather than being shadowed by the inequalities and the desire to garner attention for your news outlet.

By adrianhu: 10/6/09 at 2:14 p.m.; Suggest removal

LV2009, if you read my comments I did not introduce illegals into the thread. I simply noted that you are anti-Latino, which you restate on multiple news articles.

By isohatethem: 10/6/09 at 2:26 p.m.; Suggest removal

Awesome...122 posts. This actually shows the world that there are intelligent beings in Las Vegas who exercise their brains out when provoked. Loving the arguments here. If I were a professor monitoring this discussion board, I'd give you all an A. :)

By lvspectator: 10/6/09 at 2:29 p.m.; Suggest removal

I'm sure U-haul can help whoever wishes to leave... exit permits are NOT required... whatever is wrong here, we'll fix... Las Vegas will only get better. Disagree? Then quit whining, start packing!

http://www.uhaul.com/

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 2:31 p.m.; Suggest removal

GrandmaCrabby,
The Twain quotes -excellent, just EXCELLENT!

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 2:41 p.m.; Suggest removal

Gunslinger,
That was an awful rationalization for the ills of Las Vegas. Our valley is in real pain, both right now and for the foreseeable future. Pretending we don't have serious issues to confront, or that we don't need to be competitive with other locales -only Atlantic City or Orlando- is a fool's remedy that will would lead to even worse results and hardships.

By ascudder: 10/6/09 at 3:23 p.m.; Suggest removal

Wait a minute. What cities were all the stupid people from that invested with Bernie M.? What cities were the women from that slept with David Letterman? What city is David Letterman from? What city are the engineers from that built a bridge that collapsed killing hundreds of people? What cities are Jon and Kate from? These are stupid people JUST TO NAME A FEW. . . . . and I could go on and on.

By ghostcommander: 10/6/09 at 3:46 p.m.; Suggest removal

Guess what? The USA has been rated #13 in the quality of life for it's citizens, and we are #37 in quality health care.

Thanks for the Mark Twain Quotes!

Some of the bloggers on today are very good at satire. There is talent here in LV, it just has not been recognized and put to good use.

By leslierowland: 10/6/09 at 4:32 p.m.; Suggest removal

Statistics don't usually lie.
The problem is based in the fact that there aren't many opportunities for educated people in Las Vegas. Gaming and hospitality industries attract uneducated people. It is what it is. this opens another can of worms.... The economy here is suffering so terribly because we are completely dependent on ONE industry. ... Read MoreThis is really BAD planning and negligent leadership. It is like the Irish potato famine all over again.
We need to expand the industries in Las Vegas to include tech, research, or hello alternative energies so we can attract more educated people, allow our own educated people to reach their fullest potential, and offer something more than the promise of a bartending gig to our young people.

By AmericanFrog: 10/6/09 at 5:28 p.m.; Suggest removal

Thank you Gunslinger, my sentiments exactly. Nicely summed up.

leslie! Some good news to report. One of the reasons I relocated here recently is because a new client of mine has just entered the alternative "green" energy market. He spent years in real estate...

Vegas will eventually rebound, as will the rest of the country. Look at our history. It takes us having to cross the bridge first in order to adapt and overcome. Yes, the quality of our schools - the ones we do have - is important, but so is the quality of parenting. Immigration control in this country? A joke. We should have here what I experienced for 12 years in Hungary: PASSPORT CONTROL POLICE on the streets. But of course, I can hear those opposed to that idea crying wolf already...

By environprotector: 10/6/09 at 5:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

Right On Odeman! your "Great American Failing" comment is a perfect description of what is going on here. Even though I hold a "Piece of paper" It didn't mean a thing when it came to getting that first job in the entertainment business and advertising. Sure Vegas is full of dumb &%$#s, but then again so is every other city in the world! What Vegas needs to do is a major re-boot and return to the things that made it such a kick ass place to be not so long ago. Give away rooms, cheap to free food, good free entertainment in the lounges and loose slots! bring these things back and they will come!!

By marcus: 10/6/09 at 6:08 p.m.

Comment removed by staff.

By VegasGM85: 10/6/09 at 6:14 p.m.; Suggest removal

I dont disagree... I think I can safely say Vegas does attract some of the brightest gaming/ hotel industry professionals... Its a shame thou - most other residents are just people looking for a place to play around with their vice (drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.) Bad for the city in terms of this survey & statistics...

By mikegino: 10/6/09 at 6:53 p.m.; Suggest removal

Vegas is a very smart city; its the residents and visitors who are stupid.

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 7:02 p.m.; Suggest removal

"Sure Vegas is full of dumb &%$#s, but then again so is every other city in the world!"

That's nonsense. Every other city in the world is NOT just the same as Las Vegas. It's a matter of proportion. Vegas is on the bottom rung of the ladder.

And AmericanFrog, I have never, EVER told anyone to "leave," before. But if your goal is to put jackboot "passport police" onto the streets of this great nation, then you don't deserve to be here. On this thread, you've incessantly told us all about your "12 years in Hungary" as if that gives you some privileged perspective we're supposed to be impressed with. Go back there NOW. We don't need you stripping from us our hard fought liberties and turning America into another Hungary, or some other dingy, post-Soviet dung-hole you seem to think we should emulate.

By mslv: 10/6/09 at 7:03 p.m.; Suggest removal

I attended UNLV but transfered to City University of NY becasue UNLV was a joke, complete waste of time and money. Keep up the budget cuts!
I will miss the sun, spending my days at the gym, the pools, and staying out til 8am. I love Las Vegas!

By neutral: 10/6/09 at 7:03 p.m.; Suggest removal

Someone posted the following comment:

This is as stupid as it gets. Less than 1% of the best IT guru's around the country would have the remotest concept of how to support, and manage casino technology. Whoevever runs this website has a secondary agenda.

This is inaccurate. The Information Technology (IT) at the casinos are about as easy as it gets. I hold a bachelors degree in computer science, have worked in IT at casinos, areospace and automotive companies for over 30 years. I've also taught computer science at the college level and worked for computer manufacturers for over 10 years before becoming a consultant.

I'm just the average Joe with enough IT expertise and knowledge to know the difference between truth and lies.

By revtomperl: 10/6/09 at 7:15 p.m.; Suggest removal

ok, interesting lots of stupid comments which are like whip cream on a piece of pumpkin pie. Wow, I lived in Minneapolis and they have a higher percentage of college graduates than the percentage of high school graduates here. Maybe even higher than the percentage of people who make it to the eighth grade. Oh well I think the door is open and maybe it the people leaving will raise the I Q of the area or maybe the idiot quotient. Advance to the rear and without hesitation and with total speed!

By wolf85023: 10/6/09 at 7:49 p.m.; Suggest removal

Las Vegas is very smart. They take my vacation money each year.

By Caroll: 10/6/09 at 8:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

The world knows Las Vegas is dumb.

Look who we elect?

Ensign. Dumb. Sleaze bag.

Gibbons. Dumb. Dumber. Dumbest.

Heller. Super dumb.

Hmmm. All republicans. All dumb.

Largest religion. Mormon. Based on the dumbest of theories and ideas ever thought up. Come on.
You have to be dumb to follow that load of crap.
It's laughable.

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 8:38 p.m.; Suggest removal

Neutral,
THANKS! I thought so myself, when reading the remarks about the nation's IT best not being capable of handling casino technology. Seemed absurd; glad to know it's not the case.

By environprotector: 10/6/09 at 8:41 p.m.; Suggest removal

DTJ, you are not focusing on the mainstream of this thread. That is that it seems that a nerve has been struck here on this recent pole that places LV as the second dumbest city, not about personal attacks against eastern european bloggers. Dude focus on the real problem here which is that this city is in real trouble. It has lost it's identity, and has priced itself out of the business. We need to get rid of the high end "travelers" and lure back the common thrill seeking folks who want to get down to some whoring, drinking , smoking, gambling, eating, and any other excesses which amount to the town's original charter as ANYTHING! anything you want, we got it, just put your money on the table! Now that's Vegas baby! and we want it back!

By DTJ: 10/6/09 at 9:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

Environprotector,
You're late to the party. In fact, you haven't even bothered to read what I've posted elsewhere on this very thread, let alone what I frequently post on this topic, all the time.

That said, I reserve the right to speak out against those who would attack our precious liberties, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

BTW, you've missed the boat yourself, in that there's a growing consensus around here that Vegas has to diversify it's economy. Just trying to go back again and again to that dried up well known as being a tourist trap, is looking backwards. Tourism might always have a role to play in the economy here, but we're doomed if we think we can keep living off our laurels.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/7/09 at 12:22 a.m.; Suggest removal

One last comment on this subject.

From all that I've gathered in my studies, observations, travels, and studies, I'd have to say that I'm 100% that intelligence is a genetic thing, not something you gain from going to school. Also, all races seem to have some type of genetic propensity that allows them to flourish and fulfill the nature of their creation. I know, I know, the science books say we all evolved from monkeys and we're basically all genetically the same. If that is true, why do all "twin studies" that have been conducted show that identical twins, even when raised by others, will basically follow in their biological parents footsteps regardless of who raised them (rich or poor, educated or working class) This can only be interpreted as one thing, intelligence is genetic, not environmental, not economic. I know this is not a "politically correct" thing to say. Being a prophet however I just speak truths and let the chips fall where they may.

PS. Don't let the scum bags who try to brainwash you with lies which suggest white is black and black is white sell you a soup sandwich! You know the truth! Don't let them make you think otherwise!

By DTJ: 10/7/09 at 2:46 a.m.; Suggest removal

The false prophet bloviates yet again.
And your evidence of "ALL 'twin studies' that have been conducted show that(blah, blah, blah)..." can be found where???

By Seriously: 10/7/09 at 5:31 a.m.; Suggest removal

Never heard of "The Daily Beast" and not sure why we should care..

By teacher: 10/7/09 at 5:55 a.m.; Suggest removal

Hey, I have an idea! Let's beat on teachers to make kids pass tests! Let's send people from the state - who haven't taught in a classroom in years, or maybe ever, and who never were asked to do the impossible as teachers are now - to stand in their classrooms while they try to teach, checking things off on clipboards, and then criticize them! Let's dump hours more work on people who are already overworked, so we can make Las Vegas smarter! Yeah, let's do it! Great idea!

How did I land in this hell? How do I escape? Help! I just have to keep working on it... I WILL escape, I WILL escape, I WILL escape. And it'll be one of the happiest days of my life.

"The district recently funded a consultant to determine if their brain colors made them compatible trutees to each other."

Oh, please, vsestini, send a link to this story. Maybe I can stick it on the wall behind my desk while I am in classroom hell being whipped yet harder to get yet more hours out of my week, and get a laugh while I am being beaten on to DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. Soon teachers will be on cots in my school, instead of ever going home. "We'll MAKE them do the impossible; we'll MAKE them do the impossible."

By GunslingerA10: 10/7/09 at 7:42 a.m.; Suggest removal

It is only a fool who would except any report without review of the 'SO-CALLED' empirical data, or even more foolhardy to believe it, when that data is suspect, then follow through and allow for a self fulfilling prophesy to occur.

I suppose, only one doctor's opinion is enough for those who can't understand what is ailing the city. You can't remedy the ailments of the city by implying that dressing a bandage will cure cancer, can you now. Get a second opinion, see how it stacks-up, but to buy into this "soup of the day" report is unintelligible, wordless.

San Francisco cannot compare with the likes of Las Vegas, Vegas is a casino city, where gaming is done openly, booking all events on planet earth and beyond. By the same token, Las Vegas cannot compare with Detroit the "motor city" at making automobiles. If people took the effort to view the reference site they would see that this study was only a work in progress.

This study is nothing, if not a stimulus funded report, of eyewash, for the American tax payers to think and agree that parts of our country are not smart.

By Wolfdog: 10/7/09 at 8:53 a.m.; Suggest removal

Just look at the police force we got. Enough said.

By scoopie: 10/7/09 at 9:58 a.m.; Suggest removal

This state should be absolutely covered with solar panels; what a waste of a resource.

Speaking of resourceful, LV is ideal for people in higher priced areas of the country like the East coast who have already raised their kids and are at or nearing retirement age. Tremendous savings on housing, property tax, car insurance, etc etc, and the casinos offer some nice perks to 50+ clientele. We eat out for free all the time and our cost of living is practically half what it was in NJ.

By Green_Dragon_Regular: 10/7/09 at 10:39 a.m.; Suggest removal

@Gunslinger-

"Who needs to buy books when in Las Vegas you can just live out your dreams instead of reading about them."

As long as your dreams only consist of strippers, UFC, chicken fingers-and-ranch, video keno, and two seasons- hot and not-so-much. Yep, who needs Tolkien, Trevanian, King, Twain, Thompson, Heller, Hemingway, Orwell, Huxley, Asimov, Homer... they're imaginations have NOTHING on sitting around Spearmint Rhino munching on re-heated frozen food while watching two sweaty guys dry hump each other and "conversing" with female artifices.

Spoken like a true illiterate.

By GunslingerA10: 10/7/09 at 10:57 a.m.; Suggest removal

Here is a second opinion, read'um and weep!

http://www.lifesdha.com/brainindex/50-St...

These are the States ranking on a Brain Health Index, a nationwide index determined by 21 brain-healthy factors. Once again as with the first study you see that D.C. (being home to our government employees) and Alaska are well-read, ranking top in the nation when it comes to reading for personal interest which helps keep the brain healthy.

By GunslingerA10: 10/7/09 at 11:25 a.m.; Suggest removal

@Green_Dragon_Reg-

Do you know me; I think not, you know not what I have read.

You dear Sir who wishes to address me knows not the "O "for its roundness.

Get on with your own comments, you need not try and use me, I am not for your entertainment, move on!

By misssula: 10/7/09 at 11:42 a.m.; Suggest removal

As others have said, this is not surprising. It is very sad really.

By environprotector: 10/7/09 at 12:29 p.m.; Suggest removal

DTJ, OK I hear what your saying about diversification in Vegas. Yes it's critical that a solid industrial, financial, or business base be established and maintained here, however that's just not the history of this place. Yes the railroad invented the town, but it was tourism that developed it as fast as a bullet train, which by the way when completed will solve many of the problems we have here with the greedy airlines protecting their routes, and holding a monopoly on mass transportation to and from the city. Las Vegas is branded all over the world as THE place to vacation, and if we want to hold on to that notion, the Casino company bosses better grasp the idea quickly before it's too late. Also I'm not impressed with Wynn's newest offer for Jet service to and from California with the price tag he has put on it. If I wanted to fill my casino, I would BUY a 737 if necessary and fly it back and forth 24/7 if I could fill it and my hotel rooms up. Now thats creative marketing!! C'mon DTJ don't abandon the very core of what made LV great Tourism will always win out in this desert.

By StudMuffin: 10/7/09 at 12:46 p.m.; Suggest removal

But The Weather is Nice.

By environprotector: 10/7/09 at 1:29 p.m.; Suggest removal

You See ? StudMuffin above here just said it all in 5 words!!

By VegasVegas: 10/7/09 at 1:50 p.m.; Suggest removal

It really is amusing to see so many locals so angry and defiant about the study about their city. This town is filled with whiners and complainers but very little do'ers, take Fox 5's "The Rant", for example, which is a great sampling at the ignorance that plagues this town. People calling in from their couches complaining about things they either can't control or are unwilling to step up to try to correct. And many of the gripes aren't even things of much importance.

You people who get all bent out of shape over the fact that this city continues to rank poorly in almost every poll should stop your whining, if this place is as great as you think it is, articles like this would've been things you just skipped over without hesitation.

Instead, you're here telling people to leave Vegas and questioning the accuracy of the report. If you can't take the criticism here, YOU leave. Some of us want this place to get better. Perhaps the people who THINK they own this place and are so proud of it are the real problem, and why this place ranks so poorly.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/7/09 at 2:30 p.m.; Suggest removal

DTJ,

I was referring to the "Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart". Google it. It was a long term study of twins separated early in life and sometimes reared in vastly different socioeconomic circumstances. The finds revealed that regardless of whether they were raised in a rich well to do family that pushed education or a blue collar family, if the kids came from smart parents, they'd follow in their parents footsteps REGARDLESS of how they were raised. In other words, if two pre-med 20 year olds decided to put their twins up for adoption rather than abort, both kids would grow up to become doctors regardless of their upbringing. On the other hand, the rich, educated parents who adopted a twin from a blue color or perhaps a generational welfare family brought up a child that would later fail in college and drop out, even though they were given the best education growing up. It just wasn't in them.
If the parents come from generations of blue collar workers, guess what, even if the kid wants to be a astrophysicist, not gonna happen, sorry. Such is the nature of DNA and the brain.

As far as this flawed theory of "city intelligence", I suggest that they should rank cities intelligence based on the number of minorities present, and that's it. For instance, I'd say that a mostly black city in Mississippi would be a place where you don't find too many intelligent people. I'd say that NLV residents on average are not as smart as people who reside in Green Valley. "Oh, you dirty racist, now you're showing your true colors". First of all, what I say is not "racist", it's scientific. Doctors and scientists who have studied genetics and DNA know that what I say is true. There are differences in the intelligence between the races. Why is calling a spade a spade a racist remark? I take offense when they suggest cities with large minority populations are 'smarter' than Las Vegas. NLV maybe, but not Green Valley. I'm happy to express my opinions freely today as some day I wouldn't be able to state this truth without being burned at a stake.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/7/09 at 3:21 p.m.; Suggest removal

Among the books I've read that helped form my beliefs in this regard, "Race Differences in Intelligence: An Evolutionary Analysis:" had some well documented, interesting information. While I didn't share all of the authors analysis and opinions as I believe we were genetically engineered by intelligent life from another planet, not evolved as she suggests, she still comes to the conclusion that the different races have different intelligence capabilities:

"Lynn regards these genetic clusters as "races". He concludes that the East Asians-Chinese, Japanese and Koreans-have the highest mean IQ at 105.
Europeans follow with an IQ of 100. Some ways below these are the Inuit or Eskimos (IQ 91), South East Asians (IQ 87), Native American Indians (IQ 87), Pacific Islanders (IQ 85), South Asians and North Africans (IQ 84). Well below these come the sub-Saharan Africans (IQ 67) followed by the Australian Aborigines (IQ 62).

The lowest scoring are the Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert together with the Pygmies of the Congo rain forests (IQ 54)."

http://www.amazon.com/Race-Differences-I...

Again, given these facts, I'd say that Salt Lake City or some other city with a high number of white and Asian population is smarter than a city in NC that happens to have a lot of colleges and educated folk who think they know everything, vote (Acorn members in this pole must be considered genius') and read fiction. NC has a large African population I believe. How can they be considered the smartest city? Simple answer, they're not. This is a flawed study by an educator who would like us to believe intelligence is tied to education rather than race or genetics. Another example of how the libs like to twist everything up.

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/7/09 at 3:33 p.m.; Suggest removal

PS.

Mild mental retardation: IQ 50--55 to 70; children require mild support; formally called "Educable Mentally Retarded".

140 + Genius and above
120 to 140 Very superior intelligence
110 to 119 Superior intelligence
90 to 109 Normal or average intelligence
80 to 89 Dull
70 to 79 Borderline deficiency

No wonder the "lost tribes" found in So Africa and Australia are still chucking spears to catch food here in the 21st century. They don't have it in them to rise above and invent their way out of the jungle or even the common sense to move elsewhere where maybe the conditions are more hospitable.

Now you know, the rest of the story.

By DTJ: 10/7/09 at 5:58 p.m.; Suggest removal

Sergio,
Your original statement was ""ALL 'twin studies' that have been conducted show that." Now you are talking about one specific study. And I would have been interested in hearing a little more about that... but typically, you soon veered off into your crackpot ideas about how we're descended from aliens, and how some races are more intelligent than others. So nevermind.

Environprotector,
Fear not. I am not "abandon(ing) the very core of what made LV great." In my above post, I allow that tourism will always be a part of the economy. But this town has gotten away with being a one-trick pony for too long. Now we're paying the price with a lot of bloodletting. It will take time, and there will be a few missteps along the way, but Vegas MUST develop other business sectors in order to sustain itself. Mayor Goodman's effort to turn LV into a center of advanced medical study and services is one excellent new path. UNLV's recent link-up with the Brookings Institute in another which will hopefully attract firms that can tap into that resource. Others have plugged making Nevada an alternative energy mecca.

I'm not wise enough to say what courses we should, and should not, take. But we've GOT to branch out. As for tourism, yes, we should maintain that part of our glittery legacy, and keep it bright for the future, too.

By info4you2see: 10/7/09 at 8:08 p.m.; Suggest removal

"Stupid is as stupid does" - Forrest Gump 1994

By environprotector: 10/7/09 at 9:12 p.m.; Suggest removal

info4you2see glad you watch the movies! all the problems of the world are solved in the movies...bet you can't guess which picture that quote was from..

By tweets5406: 10/7/09 at 11:19 p.m.; Suggest removal

Well of course we're one of the stupid city.Did anyone ever think about our education system,well take a look.Then you might relize with no teachers hows anyone going to learn anything?And if all their is in this town is hookers,strippers,drug addects and bumms,then why would any body want to learn anything?I thought those were the life.Oh my fault I'm haveing a blonde moment!!!

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/7/09 at 11:28 p.m.; Suggest removal

DTJ,

"Crackpot ideas", why, because you didn't learn then in school? There are many so called "mysteries" that I've pieced together to figure things out basically. Does that make me crazy? In my world, crazy people are folks who follow the "party line" and do exactly as the government tells them or believe everything they're taught in school books. To me, those types of people are like pigs being lead to the slaughter ...without a fight, without a clue as to what is about to happen to them.

I don't want to debate the off topic subjects of the creation, but we can debate whether or not some races are intellectually more intelligent than others. First you'll have to evaluate the 500 some odd studies that have been done on this subject, read a few books, and get up to speed. Then we can have an intelligent debate. To simply deny this theory because it sounds racist is ignorant. The only flaws I see with these studies is that most people today are not pure bred from just one race, especially Americans. Offspring of mixed race children in some cases might have certain advantages as far as being able to possess the best genes from both race, making them more adaptable. That would make sense. I'm sure most blacks in the US have some white blood for instance, so they can't be considered "sub African" per se. However, if you believe in the bible, you should follow it. The old testament from what I have gathered is a racist book that doles out harsh punishments for race mixing back in the day. Wonder why the god of the old testament was so genocidal (ordered killing innocent people in many instances just so that the seed of Israel wouldn't be tempted to mix)? Things that make me go hummmm anyway.

By uddeboda: 10/8/09 at 12:15 a.m.; Suggest removal

SERGIO,

I suppose this is where you fit in then..........

Mild mental retardation: IQ 50--55 to 70; children require mild support; formally called "Educable Mentally Retarded

By shhhh: 10/8/09 at 8:45 a.m.; Suggest removal

--- "Well of course we're one of the stupid city.Did anyone ever think about our education system,well take a look.Then you might relize with no teachers hows anyone going to learn anything?And if all their is in this town is hookers,strippers,drug addects and bumms,then why would any body want to learn anything?I thought those were the life.Oh my fault I'm haveing a blonde moment!!!"---

So, tweets5406, are you a by-product of the education system here? Were you taught to spell realize as relize, addicts as addects, bums as bumms(duh!) and haveing as having? Or is that just part of you having this blonde moment?

By DTJ: 10/8/09 at 9:33 a.m.; Suggest removal

Yeah, Sergio. What say you about blondes???

By Sergio_the_Prophet: 10/8/09 at 2:08 p.m.; Suggest removal

Female blonds are genetically smart. They act stupid to get guys to think they can take advantage of them (cheat on them, abuse them etc) but in the end, the "dumb blond" marries the millionaire or billionaire and laughs all the way to the bank when she decides to end her act and get paid. Yeah, there probably are some blond females who are not that bright because they've been playing "stupid blond" all their life, including during their education to get us smart non-blonds to do their homework, etc. Not being book smart however doesn't make them "stupid". Again, intelligence is genetic. Our ability to solve problems, figure things out, invent, etc is determined by the amount of RAM and hard drive so to speak in our brains, and all brains are not created equal! Studies have been conducted to prove as much. And size alone does not make one more intelligent! It depends on the number of convolutions and a number of other factors that have nothing to do with size. Area of brain is also important. The frontal lobes is where intelligence per this discussion is located. Some races have large back areas of the brain (social area), others are larger on the sides of the brain (living off the land advantage). Whether you believe we evolved or were genetically engineered as I do, the simple fact is that all of the different races have brains that are constructed differently. This is not a politically correct thing to say, but then again, I'm don't care if what I say offends. All truth is first violently opposed before it is eventually accepted as truth. (earth is round theory, etc etc)

By lvlcaphoto: 10/8/09 at 3:52 p.m.; Suggest removal

If we are to categorize Las Vegas by using census data and to generalize the criteria down to education and intellectual environment basing their article on non-fiction books, ratio of higher eduction to population and the number of eligible voters, then this report could not be accurate and unfortunately Las Vegas got a bad deal!
First of all, I don't know about you, but Las Vegas like many other tourist destinations has worker bees. They are what makes or breaks the workforce and they are not working the hotel positions based on their education, but rather a position that they chose to feed their families. Many are immigrants, but with that said, the hardest working people by a long shot. A degree or not, we need a workforce in Las Vegas that doesn't require a degree. And for those of us who do have one, it also does not make a difference during this economy (Las Vegas didn't create all of the problems associated with this disaster) and most degreed professionals are now working jobs that don't require a degree because there are no jobs available.
As far as voting, last time I looked that was something you did when you believed in supporting a candidate, and obviously there a lot of people in this country that don't vote for that reason alone, and with that, they have their right to vote or not to vote.
As far as education, I have 5 children, all of whom went to public school, some went to vocational school right here in the valley, Honor Roll, AP, Sports and Ambassador to their schools-- Straight A students! They got an education because of my parenting skills and working with the children was more important than gambling or making excuses as a parent. Work with your children and they will succeed in any town!
So, with that said, shame on the "Daily Beast" and it's too bad that Las Vegas gets a bad wrap every time!

By Green_Dragon_Regular: 10/8/09 at 3:59 p.m.; Suggest removal

@Gunslinger-

Oh, but you are for my entertainment, as all who dare take this stage are. Your oiled words may give pause to the slower draw and shakier hand, but I am no such animal.

I need not know what you have read, nor unread or forgotten. I need only know the words you wrote here and the fodder they provide for the Daily Beast's case. Implied in your statement was that the imaginations of others were somehow inferior to all the shallow illusions of the city that has given the world such wonders of pretension as Cris Angel.

Or do I detect dreams of a darker nature, made real here under cover of the daily debauchery of dreay existences barely noticed?

Your indention in the fabric of this space worries me not, and your visage is beholden only by yourself as frightening, between you and me. Whatever it is you think yourself capable of would no more distract my mental meanderings than would the progress of a dust mote in an empty hayloft.

Age quod aegis. Non infigo ego sum.

By GunslingerA10: 10/8/09 at 6:57 p.m.; Suggest removal

Your mind has unraveled, and the pause I take is but for laughter, not at you my pet, but at the melodic prose you presage. Oh to have gone this far in life, only to be gild by a green dragon, who knew I would have this pleasure you bestow. I am not only enthralled but amazed that you would find me lass.

Shall I come away that you hold dear your Master's case of the daily Beast. Were I to have known you where tethered in its defense I may have first soothed you with irresistible attention, you sorely beg. Oh contre, we are of a kind, in that note of discord, read again regular.

What a mundane life, today dragons must have, for I to be thou slayer. Were I worthy of this cause, I would defend all blogger-kind, yet I find it rather subordinate to grapple for pleasure. Puff if you will, pout if you like, no never mind for me, I've given more than the requisite extinguisher for the flame.

By GunslingerA10: 10/8/09 at 9:58 p.m.; Suggest removal

Meus amicabiliter liberalitas does non sino vos tersum vestri pes!

By Babyboomer: 10/9/09 at 6:51 a.m.; Suggest removal

It's a very unfair report and no bases for the Las Vegas area considering the make up of the people.OR should I say the illegals...

By info4you2see: 10/9/09 at 11:46 p.m.; Suggest removal

OK....Raliegh/Durham, NC is #1. Las Vegas, NV is 2nd to last.
So, let's compare the State of North Carolina higher education system to the State of Nevada higher education...

NORTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM:
-PUBLIC 4 YEAR-
Appalachian State University
East Carolina University
Elizabeth City State University
Fayetteville State University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
North Carolina State University
University of North Carolina at Asheville
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Western Carolina University
Winston-Salem State University

-PRIVATE 4 YEAR-
Barber-Scotia College
Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bennett College
Brevard College
Catawba College
Campbell University
Chowan University
Davidson College
Duke University
Elon University
Gardner-Webb University
Greensboro College
Guilford College
High Point University
John Wesley College
Johnson C. Smith University
Johnson and Wales University
Lees-McRae College
Lenoir-Rhyne University
Livingstone College
Louisburg College
Mars Hill College
Meredith College
Methodist University
Montreat College
Mount Olive College
North Carolina Wesleyan College
Peace College
Pfeiffer University
Queen's University
Roanoke Bible College
Salem College
St. Andrews Presbyterian College
St. Augustine's College
Shaw University
Southeastern Free Will Baptist College
Wake Forest University
Warren Wilson College
Wingate University

(58) PUBLIC 2 YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES

NEVADA HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM:

-PUBLIC 4 YEAR-
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nevada State College
Great Basin College
Sierra Nevada College
University of Southern Nevada

(4) PUBLIC 2 YEAR COMMUNITY COLLEGES-
Truckee Meadows Community College
Great Basin College
College of Southern Nevada
Western Nevada College

Interesting?

By geenab65: 10/10/09 at 5:23 p.m.; Suggest removal

Well, this is my take on it. From the postings on this site, if you choose to criticize and bash Las Vegas yet continue to live and do business here, then, yes... you're an idiot (which is another word for dumb). Why make yourselves unhappy and miserable? GET OUT!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand if you choose to spend so much of your valuable time on such a dumb city, why are you posting about it? Aren't you just adding to the idiocy?

By cosmicsymphony: 10/20/09 at 1:05 p.m.; Suggest removal

With comments like "That pole is stuped" who would argue with this poll?
I haven't resided here long but have been here long enough to draw some conclusions. I've observed the people here along with their lifestyles and values.
First off, I've encountered many here that lack basic skills needed for day to day living. Because of lack of these skills, it seems that the majority of the undereducated here look for "easy money" jobs instead of striving for a real career. The majority of the jobs here are hotel, casino, restaurant, entertainment, hospitality(incl adult) which are tourism related. Having sex appeal is one criteria for securing some of these gigs. How fast are gigs lost when aging sets in and/or good looks fade? Or here's another reality.. what is going to happen when tourism slows or stops altogether? It's just a matter of time before people stay in their home state to gamble. Indian reservations are EVERYWHERE and offer the same amenities, ambiance, among other elements of the casinos here. Chances are, there would be more fun outdoor things to do at an Indian reservation where the weather and environment is people friendly..an environment < 110 degrees where water and foliage exist.
Take a good look at the programs most of the colleges offer here. What's the majority? What's Las Vegas' theme?
Maybe this simple analysis might explain why the health care sucks here for example. LV has one focus. The number of professionals, not including lawyers, from various disciplines are lacking here. Even professionals that are supposed to be regulating these clinics are either undereducated or simply lack common sense ethics. This city has the filthiest clinics I've ever witnessed in operation. So you wonder why AIDS and forms of hepatitis and communicable disease continues to spread here. I wouldn't send my hamster to be treated anywhere in these parts. Attitudes of some of these healthcare professionals would open a whole new can of worms.
Here's another fact: According to UNLV's stats, they proclaim that 23% of the students are nonresidents. It's significantly higher. If you look at the criteria for residency you'll see why these are not true stats.
It's not my intension to judge or cause upset. My purpose is get residents here to realize the easy life isn't always the best life. Tourism will keep slowing due to the economy and other factors. Luck runs out eventually. If you're forced to find the means to provide for your family without securing it through tourism, could you? Take a good look at jobs the majority of people who are laid off/reduced hours or previous jobs of the unemployed. This also includes jobs indirectly related to tourism like construction/contractor workers. Disturbing isn't it? Wake up! It's dawn.
It's not that this city is dumb. It's mostly the lack of motivation, encouragement, support, degree options(2yr and professional mainly), and guidance to enable people to better themselves and grow as individuals.

Las Vegas Sun

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