[grania]

Why are the centers of Liberal whackoism in urban areas

The "prestigious" colleges tend to attract students who think they're better than the actual residents and should tell them how to run their lives.

That's my opinion, and I'm not going to sully it with research!

[Cowman]

The "prestigious" colleges tend to attract students who think they're better than the actual residents and should tell them how to run their lives.

Back when I darkened the hollowed halls of a well known northeastern university the worst of the professors there were the ones who became professional students to avoid going to Vietnam. The profs that had common sense were those who had actually been in the real world (either business or military service) The best of the best were in disciplines of agriculture or animal science.

I think that infrastructure may contribute to the slide into nuttiness as well. If you are used to doing for yourself (if something breaks you fix it yourself rather than calling a town service to fix it for you) If you are self sufficient you are more likely to take offense at town employees snooping around your property. If you are a slave to the town services you are most afraid of those who do things that you have the town do.