Evanston / Oak Park and liberal orthodoxy (Chicago, Villa Park: house, university, to live)

[poiuy]

I'm relatively new to Chicago and have turned to this forum as a way to learn more about the city and neighboring suburbs. Recently I've come across numerous strings that use terms like "liberal/progressive" to describe towns overwhelmingly filled with Democratic/Obama supporters and "conservative" to describe the towns with majority Republican/McCain (and formerly Bush) supporters.

Of course, using terms like "liberal" and "conservative" currently have little meaning in our unique country. Nowadays these terms apply almost exclusively to where a person stands on social issues. Not long ago, a "conservative" was defined as someone who abhorred deficits and foreign entanglements (which would make GWB the most "unconservative" president in history). Meanwhile, today's Democratic party would be considered "center-right" in much of the world.

I had read that during the 2008 presidential campaign, a couple of McCain lawn signs were vandalized in Evanston, and an 8th-grader in Oak Park was ridiculed (including by a teacher) for wearing a McCain t-shirt (turns out it was part of an experiment). My question to those with more insight is as follows: How would residents of Evanston and Oak Park, the 2 towns most frequently defined as "liberal/progressive", have reacted to a Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) lawn sign, or a Ralph Nader T-shirt? Does being "liberal" really mean "you must support (insert Democratic candidate's name here)"?

I don't mean to start any rants, just curious as to where the political spectrum begins and ends. Thanks.

[SloopyJ]

Originally Posted by poiuy

My question to those with more insight is as follows: How would residents of Evanston and Oak Park, the 2 towns most frequently defined as "liberal/progressive", have reacted to a Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) lawn sign, or a Ralph Nader T-shirt? Does being "liberal" really mean "you must support (insert Democratic candidate's name here)"?

Interesting questions and discussion. If you haven't read Andrew Sullivan's "The Conservative Soul", I recommend it, and I think it in some ways answers your question. [The direct answers to your questions above are "fine" and "no", although the latter must be clarified a bit.]

As Sullivan (a conservative writer for The Atlantic) comments in his book, and you echo, the Republican Party has eschewed classic conservativism to become the first mainstream religious party in America's history. It's this social conservativism, often called the "God, guns, and gays" brigade, that is so reviled in Evanston and Oak Park. Yes, there's a good measure of anti-militarism, environmentalism, and such, but I think the liberalism of those suburbs is mostly defined by an acceptance of alternative lifestyles and an utter rebuke of the concept that religious teaching should in any way be used to discriminate against good people.

Because alternative political parties have had little influence in modern times, most elections come down to Democrat-vs-Republican, and in the context I described above both Evanston and Oak Park will tend to be harsh toward Republicans. And I also think, because of the well-known associations, little things (like a few signs getting vandalized) get a lot of press.

[ajolotl]

well , I think 99.9% of people wouldn't react no matter what sign you put up. It's all very exaggerated. Of course in urban liberal elite circles as stupid as it is all conservatives are typically under suspicion of being ignorant, or at least lacking emphathy or worldliness, but it's not that unusual or that big of a deal. I have plenty of friends who garner extra social points by lumping liberals and conservatives together and supporting McKinney and/or Nader. At worst they are considered impractical.

Originally Posted by poiuy

I'm relatively new to Chicago and have turned to this forum as a way to learn more about the city and neighboring suburbs. Recently I've come across numerous strings that use terms like "liberal/progressive" to describe towns overwhelmingly filled with Democratic/Obama supporters and "conservative" to describe the towns with majority Republican/McCain (and formerly Bush) supporters.

Of course, using terms like "liberal" and "conservative" currently have little meaning in our unique country. Nowadays these terms apply almost exclusively to where a person stands on social issues. Not long ago, a "conservative" was defined as someone who abhorred deficits and foreign entanglements (which would make GWB the most "unconservative" president in history). Meanwhile, today's Democratic party would be considered "center-right" in much of the world.

I had read that during the 2008 presidential campaign, a couple of McCain lawn signs were vandalized in Evanston, and an 8th-grader in Oak Park was ridiculed (including by a teacher) for wearing a McCain t-shirt (turns out it was part of an experiment). My question to those with more insight is as follows: How would residents of Evanston and Oak Park, the 2 towns most frequently defined as "liberal/progressive", have reacted to a Cynthia McKinney (Green Party) lawn sign, or a Ralph Nader T-shirt? Does being "liberal" really mean "you must support (insert Democratic candidate's name here)"?

I don't mean to start any rants, just curious as to where the political spectrum begins and ends. Thanks.

[Lookout Kid]

The irony of it is that Oak Park was a VERY conservative dry town an generation ago. Some of those older conservative residents still live there.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

The irony of it is that Oak Park was a VERY conservative dry town an generation ago. Some of those older conservative residents still live there.

Not many though. Most of the people I meet and see around here are highly-educated professionals. Although liberal, they mostly are reasonable liberals. Of course there are a few extreme, crazy liberals who can be very vocal and thus appear numerous than they really are.

[jlawrence01]

My political philosophy is that all things being equal, I want to be left alone. I am not going to rely on any politician to support me or to help me feed my family. In general, other than protection, I want NO government services. Many members of my family have not collected social security or medicare. While we are required by law to contribute, we don't collect.

I really don't care what political signs people post ... as long as they are not in front of my house and they don't come knocking on my door or wasting my time filling up my answering machine and mailbox with their opinions. I really do not care what someone who comes to my door thinks.

So I am pretty apolitical.

What I find ironic is that the left claims to be liberal and progressive. I guess that means that they are open to ideas and not rigid.

However, in this area, if someone puts up a Republican sign, it gets trashed or stolen.
How many messages on THIS forum do we see people asking for liberal communities? Like they can't live in an area where people may have different religious, moral or political convictions? I mean you can't be friendly with a guy who supported McCain? Hell, George McGovern was best buddies with most of the conservative senators of his age.

Personally, I have never lived in an area where people thought the way I do - and probably won't until I pack up and head to Elko Co., NV or some place like that ... but of course, by the time that happens, Nevada will be thoroughly Californicated ...

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

Personally, I have never lived in an area where people thought the way I do - and probably won't until I pack up and head to Elko Co., NV or some place like that ... but of course, by the time that happens, Nevada will be thoroughly Californicated ...

Don't worry... Most of the people who are fleeing California voted for Reagan. I was recently reading that the California who elected Reagan to all of those gubernatorial terms doesn't exist anymore, and that the demographics that supported him were the ones who fleed the state in the 80s and 90s.

I personally don't want to live anywhere in which a political orthodoxy squashes dissenting opinion. I've experienced it on both sides--having lived in a central Wisconsin town that was heavily Republican right-wing crazies and also Madison, WI which is almost liberal fascist around the University. Neither one was a healthy political environment.

[Irishtom29]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

I want to be left alone.

No problem.

[Mister Mappy]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

What I find ironic is that the left claims to be liberal and progressive. I guess that means that they are open to ideas and not rigid.

However, in this area, if someone puts up a Republican sign, it gets trashed or stolen.
How many messages on THIS forum do we see people asking for liberal communities? Like they can't live in an area where people may have different religious, moral or political convictions? I mean you can't be friendly with a guy who supported McCain? Hell, George McGovern was best buddies with most of the conservative senators of his age.

Hmm, strangely enough, in Villa Park this past fall, a family with a seven year old son, and a 74 year old woman received, in their mailboxes, anonymous death threats unless they removed their Obama signs. I guess it happens on both sides, Sparky.