Posted on 11/03/2004 6:23:56 PM PST by M. Peach
I thought I had all the answers regarding politics until my one of my teen aged sons asked me (and yes, I'm proud to say both of them are conservative) why large cities tend to vote Democrat, and rural areas - or mostly the rest of the country, Republican?
Can I get some opinions out there?
Excellent post. You're right...it all boils down to Theodore Roosevelt's idea of Rugged Individualism. One group is taught "it takes a village." The other is taught how to shoot a firearm and read the Bible.
Occupations that promote liberal views, different lifestyles promote different values, higher education leads to more secular values and an elitist mentality...etc.
I could go on, but I don't want to write a big analysis...lol
I'm so lucky someone brought this up!. I was thinking about it myself!. I am still trying to put the pieces together. I am a Spaniard who came to CA 4 years ago, and I think I still don't know USA too well.
1. One factor is that the cities have much higher rates of criminality, prostitution, etc. That is only a very small part of the vote.
2. People in cities like to feel "sophisticated". The ones who don't actually end up to go to the suburban areas. They dress well, eat healthy, and use "the persuasion of words". They are most politically correct and diplomats; prefer to not speak up their minds if they are going to be disliked. Also, they are more egocentric and materialistic and narcissits. Fighting for something else but themselves is just annoying for them. Anything for free from the Government will free up time and resources for their sophisticated lives. Also having morals reduces fun.
3. I can't understand why the minorities in cities feel republicans are going to play hunting with them. Can someone explain?. I am a foreigner in CA, and never, ever felt discriminated for my accent, looks, gender, religion...
4. The media reaches rural areas as much as it reaches cities. So I don't know whether that is a factor.
5. Education. Here, like in Spain, College is, together with the media, the greatest leftist propaganda machinery. I can't understand that people who read, is able to take logical conclusions from facts, can't see the reality of the country/world. Does someone know how that is possible?.
6. About owners: in cities people also own homes; the biggest investment of your life. I don't think that plays a part.
Oh, boy! once the conscience is relaxed it's so hard to go back.
In my opinion everybody should go through a very tough financial hardship once in a lifetime. You become more sensible about what you earn and you have and about relationships. Indeed!.
Meaningless speculation.
If you want to meet really strange crazy people the most rural precincts are where to go. Outside day-to-day social experiences they are easier become estranged from what most accept as in the range of normal behavior. Yet they don't see shrinks -- it's a long drive and the shrinks don't market well -- and concentrated market has more of any service provider, pumblers or shinks and folks using thereof.
To be honest, I think you made my case for me here. I don't disagree that people in the rural setting might have some problems and perhaps need the services of a counselor or psychologist. And yes, I agree that those services would be a little harder to come buy. Exactly.
My point, and it is open to debate, was that the psychological sciences generally advance the touchy-feely interpersonal interactions that foster the idea that you or I would be much better off with the intervention of some outside individual or agency. All too often these agencies try to excuse away the actions of someone who should be taking personal responsibility for their actions.
I do belive this fosters liberalism and the support of socialist ideals. This is a very superficial treatment of the subject, but I do believe the theory is valid.
Flyover country lives in the real world...survival is key. We don't have many good paying jobs, high hopes..we deal with reality.
Urbanites tend to live in a very Plastic world..all is show and energy, most of it slight of hand.
,,, thanx for explaining that staged rollout of results. That makes sense now.
See tagline...
The highest levels of human spirit are to be brought to and nourished in the City.
In the city the appreciation that refining and deepening human interrelationships is the equal of improving one's inner self is inescapable.
However in a city -- some cities, some eras -- it is also extremely difficult to avoid the company of the evil and the the wild. And by such inability, by such constant incessant proximity to avoid the poisons that prevent inner growth.
Bingo ! I could not have said it more accurately nor more succiently. Those who can't or won't, live in the city. Those who can and will live where they want.
Perhaps so. But there is a huge difference between intellect and wisdom. I know of a lot of intellectual idiots (aka MSM for example), but I do not know of any wise idiots.
Wow...Stephen J. Gould was right! Whenever the economic or political climate is right "reification" will once again rear it's ugly head.
We shouldn't make a priori assumptions here by using soft science. I'm at work so I can't really comment.
Placemarker---PatrickHenry
Suburban = cooperation.
Rural = independence.
at least M.P. didn't say "inner cities"...
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