Quote:
Originally Posted by moorhosj1
Lots of Americans think all decisions are made based on weather and taxes. Meanwhile, the happiest countries on earth (Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) are in cold climates with high taxes.
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I was just in Munich over the holidays. My girlfriend and I were struck by how many people were sitting outside at sidewalk cafes, bundled up in winter gear, enjoying a drink with friends or a book. These were gloomy days in temps at or just below 40 degrees. The city still felt energetic despite the type of weather that has Chicagoans hiding indoors and moaning about the winter.
I have a hairbrained theory about how the east coast media was hell-bent on ruining Chicago's chance of overtaking NYC as the economic engine of the country during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their campaign of propaganda to paint Chicago as a crime-ridden winter hellscape was so successful that it's remained the predominant image of the city to this day, including in the minds of Chicagoans. It's a collective neurosis that could be overcome with some smart leadership to "rebrand" winter in a way reminiscent of Northern European countries.