Conservative suburbs (Chicago, Orland Park, Elmhurst: houses, public schools, move to)

[johnm68]

l'd love to see some hard statistics that show that "most social conservatives are not at the top of the socio-economic scale." When I lived in Washington D.C., I remember Mrs. Clinton saying that "social conservatives are low-income, undereducated, and easy to command." The White House was deluged with calls, emails, and letters from all over the country. She apologized days later.

My family is socially conservative and we are at the top of the scale when it comes to education. We're in the top 8% in terms of income. And we live in Cicero, so go figure.

I had a feeling this would cause some dissension. I don't mean to imply that conservatives are a monolitic group--I don't believe they are. I also don't want to be responsible to steering this discussion too far afield. Finally, I don't have any statisics at hand to bear out my claim--however, I really think it's the case.

Look at the wealthiest suburbs and city neighborhoods in the Chicago metro area--Kenilworth, Lincoln Park, Hinsdale, Lake Forest, etc. I don't think that the folks who live here--for the most part--qualify as "social conservatives" (at least in the sense that it's being used here). They may vote Republican (maybe not so much in Lincoln Park), they are likely opposed to higher tax rates for the wealthy, and they probably have a innate mistrust of government regulation and programs--particularly as such regulations and programs impact business. However, many of them are pro-choice, don't have any problem with gay marriage and believe that the church and state should remain separate.

It seems to me that the true "social conservatives" will be found in the exurban areas. I'm not suggesting that they're low-income and under-educated. However--your own situation to the side--I don't believe they'll be at the top of either the income or education tables. I think most "social conservatives" (at least in this area) are likely solidly middle class.

One way to tell if a community is "socially conservative" is to look at the churches. If the churches are Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian and Lutheran, it's likely not a particularly "socially conservative" place (although certainly some members of those faiths will hold "socially conservative" values.) On the other hand, if there are a number of Baptist, evangelical and non-denominational fundamentalist churches, the area probably is "socially conservative."

Finally, as an aside, I like Cicero. I think it's an interesting place that has some undervalued housing, an administration that seems to be moving the town forward and a tax and industrial base that keeps property taxes low. However, I don't think one could describe it as a "socially conservative" place (not that you were--just my own view).

[GoCUBS1]

Originally Posted by johnm68

On the other hand, if there are a number of Baptist, evangelical and non-denominational fundamentalist churches, the area probably is "socially conservative."

I agree w/much of your post. However, I can think of a few mega fundamentalist-type churches that were built in towns that I do not consider particularly socially-conservative (for example, the Schaumburg Christian Church, Willowcreek in South Barrington, and Harvest Christian in Elgin). I think often these churches look for a suitable, lower-cost area to build regardless of whether the town is "socially conservative." I think these mega-churches draw many of their parishioners from outside towns.

[johnm68]

Good point. I hadn't thought about that, but I think you are correct.

[SouthernMom3]

Originally Posted by nanannie

Wait, let me get this straight-you didnt move to the North Shore, a beautiful desired area with great schools because you thought it wasnt ''conservative'' ? You moved to Hindsdale because you were told it was? This is your criteria? Do you really think that a town is all one way? Are you afraid of what ? Scarey democrats will influence your kids? Talk about generalizations,holy smokes. Another generalization is all Southerners are red necks who chew ''tobacky'' and drive pick ups.

I grew up in Wilmette. I have every right to judge. Do you want me to go over the statistics of loosers that came out of my graduating class of New Trier? Living of their parents money, not understanding the value of a dollar, biased liberal teachers that ask their students to write papers on why the pledge of allegence is unconstituional and think so think so themselves. How many kids have already bit the dust thanks to drugs. People like you are the reason I can't sleep at night, knowing I have to move to such a pathetic state. And to answer your questions, Yes SCARY DEMOCRATS!! RUN, RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!! I LIVED there, LIVED IT and grew up with - I have every right to judge it. For every hair brain liberal there might be one normal person. The south rocks! We have morals and manners. GOD is still allowed to be spoken of...and Christmas Trees and Menorahs in post office - hurray and call the ACLU!!!

[pesco]

You're going to love Hinsdale, because I don't think it's that different from the North Shore. I also saw a fair share of Obama posters there this Fall. Cheers!

[SouthernMom3]

Last, you never answered my question. But thanks Pesco because at least you could give me an answer without sounding like a condesending ***** -- I ONLY asked a question looking for an answer. I am not going to LOVE anywhere I move to in that state. It is only temp - Thank GOD.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by SouthernMom3

I grew up in Wilmette. I have every right to judge. Do you want me to go over the statistics of loosers that came out of my graduating class of New Trier? Living of their parents money, not understanding the value of a dollar, biased liberal teachers that ask their students to write papers on why the pledge of allegence is unconstituional and think so think so themselves. How many kids have already bit the dust thanks to drugs. People like you are the reason I can't sleep at night, knowing I have to move to such a pathetic state. And to answer your questions, Yes SCARY DEMOCRATS!! RUN, RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!! I LIVED there, LIVED IT and grew up with - I have every right to judge it. For every hair brain liberal there might be one normal person. The south rocks! We have morals and manners. GOD is still allowed to be spoken of...and Christmas Trees and Menorahs in post office - hurray and call the ACLU!!!

Great post- and you are right, many of todays teachers have a liberal agenda of their own when teaching the students. That is why we must monitor what is being taught to our children now , more than ever.

[promis1]

Originally Posted by SouthernMom3

Last, you never answered my question. But thanks Pesco because at least you could give me an answer without sounding like a condesending ***** -- I ONLY asked a question looking for an answer. I am not going to LOVE anywhere I move to in that state. It is only temp - Thank GOD.

Where is it that you are from in the South? It sounds like paradise, because as a whole, the majority of Illinois seems to be Do Good Liberals- which makes me lose sleep also.

[ajolotl]

Frankly, your main thesis is getting very boring. Really, your thoughts are not that interesting, unique or even controversial, even in Chicago (believe it or not). I would know -- I'm fairly uninteresting myself so I try to make my point once or twice and then drop it. Perhaps if I think of something original one day then I'll continue to ram it down everyone's throat. In the meantime I'll have some mercy.

Instead of inventing a city-data-related question to serve as the backdrop to espouse your social philosophy and goad "liberals" into debate, why not post on a forum that addresses this topic explicitly, and pose your question more directly and sincerely. I agree with At1 that it's nice to have a diversity of views, and I did enjoy hearing your opinions about twenty or so posts ago, but it's getting a little tiresome. Can't you maybe weave your viewpoint into a broader range of discussions that are more related to the topic of this forum rather than directly hammering home the same point again and again??

Originally Posted by promis1

Where is it that you are from in the South? It sounds like paradise, because as a whole, the majority of Illinois seems to be Do Good Liberals- which makes me lose sleep also.

[SouthernMom3]

Originally Posted by promis1

Where is it that you are from in the South? It sounds like paradise, because as a whole, the majority of Illinois seems to be Do Good Liberals- which makes me lose sleep also.

Wow, it looks like we could have a beautiful friendship! I live in a suburb of Dallas. Actually, it was recently forbes 400 #1 place to live. Southlake, TX. The people are neighborly and people still smile at one another on the street. I have liberal friends here but they don't act like they own the country nor did they bash George Bush like he was some devil. Everyone here is pretty respectful of one another regardless of political affiliation. The entire town comes out for the high school football games, our team was national champions in the country many years in a row - this decade. There is a comrodore in the town...

Here is great article about our town:










[
[SIZE=7][/SIZE]by Paul Kix Near the back of the Southwest plane bound for Lubbock, a pretty blonde named LeAnn Herchman twists around in her seat to talk to a fat man in the row behind her. Herchman is 18 years old and wears a green No. 11 football jersey that belongs to her boyfriend, Riley Dodge, quarterback of the Southlake Carroll Dragons, the best high school football team in the state of Texas—maybe the best high school football team in the country.
THE GREEN MONSTER: Southlake’s $15 million Dragon Stadium is the envy of other football programs.
photography by Michael Ainsworth/Dallas Morning News
The fat man has gray chest chair that takes advantage of two buttons left undone on his shirt. He wears a black baseball cap with “Permian” written on it. “The other team can be up 21 points and then weird things happen,” he tells Herchman, his accent so twangy it sounds like a poor imitation of a twang. “All a sudden we’ll git on a roll. Then we’ll win. Some people call it luck. We call it Mojo.”

This December afternoon at the neutral ground of Texas Tech’s football stadium, in the third round of the 5A state playoffs, Southlake will face Odessa Permian, the team of six state championships and Friday Night Lights fame. But Odessa’s glory has faded. It is a city that never recovered from the oil bust of the 1980s. Football there serves as a salve for all hardships and warps all sensibilities. It is a city that is in every way different from Southlake—affluent, booming, its football team just another manifestation of its almost otherworldly success. In recent years, aside from its four football championships, Southlake has won state titles in cross country, swimming and diving, baseball, soccer, theater, accounting, and robotics.

Herchman says to the man in the row behind her, “I don’t know what I’d do if we lost.” She really wouldn’t. She tells the man that Southlake hasn’t lost a football game since the 2003 state championship her freshman year.

He asks Herchman about her own plans for college. Poorly hidden in the question is the assumption that Herchman doesn’t have any, that she will spend the rest of her life chasing men with good pocket presence. But he’s got it all wrong.

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