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PrintTYPros Talk: Oklahoma is not OK
The former slogan doesn't do the state justice. Oklahoma is far better than OK.
Being back in the Sooner state a little over four months, one thing is abundantly clear: Oklahoma is not OK. It is far better than OK. In fact, Oklahoma is pretty great.
It is surprising to think that anyone ever thought the motto “Oklahoma is OK” adequately sold the state to outsiders. While we thankfully stopped printing it on our license plates back in the late 1980’s, unfortunately the damage was already done and the negative impression the motto created for the state lingers on today.
Regrettably, it is not just outsiders who think the state is OK. I have lost count of the number of times people have asked me why I would ever leave California for Oklahoma. The subtext of the question being that I must be crazy.
I usually respond by asking the person what they think they are missing by living in Oklahoma. The answers run the gamut – everything from entertainment to job opportunities to the weather. While I have to admit that I don’t have a retort for the weather (it is HOT here!), on every other level Oklahoma beats California. There might be more entertainment choices in Los Angeles, but what good are they if you don’t have the time or disposable income to take advantage of them?
Besides, I have found that there are more sporting events, concerts and community activities in Tulsa in a given week than I could possibly consider attending. And in terms of job opportunities, Oklahoma’s 7.1% unemployment rate sure beats the 12.2% rate in California.
But don’t just take my word for it. Here is list of how Tulsa ranks nation-wide in a wide variety of areas:
- No. 1 Place to Live in the U.S. (Relocate America 2009)
- No. 1 State for Entrepreneurship (Kauffman Foundation 2010)
- No. 1 Affordable City in the U.S. (Relocate American 2010)
- No.1 Metro for Cost of Living (Business Facilities 2009)
- No. 2 Metro for Quality of Life (Business Facilities 2009)
- No. 5 Strongest Economy for Families (Parenting Magazine, Best Cities 2010)
- No. 8 U.S. City for Young Adults (Portfolio.com, 2010)
- No. 9 Venue in the U.S. - BOk Center (Pollstar Magazine 2010)
It is hard to argue that these rankings don’t make Tulsa (and Oklahoma) sound pretty fantastic. But no matter how many lists Tulsa ranks in the top ten, the outside perception of the city and state isn’t going to change until the people living here realize just how good they have it. Perhaps it is our Midwestern values and humble nature that makes us undersell our wonderful home, but it’s time we start bragging and put a little swagger in our step.
The question shouldn’t be why someone would move back to Oklahoma; instead it should be what took you so long?
