Objectively, how liberal/progressive is Chicago *compared to other large American cities*? (Assumption: lawyer, tech job)

[Kmanshouse]

The Democratic not liberal comments are totally bang on.

Chicago is old-school democrat, and votes that way mostly because of history and powerful influences. They want the government and politicians to control things, which falls into a "liberal" mindset more than a conservative one that wants smaller government. Plus, it's a very diverse city, which also plays to democrat political views more often.

It's nowhere near as liberal as the west coast or NYC. Tribal is another great adjective someone used.

It's mostly a tolerant city as well - gay neighborhoods abound, it's not "weird" to be gay here. But you won't find too much of the granola types - this is a cold-weathered city with hard walls and masculine energy. The "whatever-dude" way of thinking will be eaten for lunch. It's not really part of the culture here. But the diversity is everywhere, and people of all kinds can find a home.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

The Democratic not liberal comments are totally bang on.

Chicago is old-school democrat, and votes that way mostly because of history and powerful influences. They want the government and politicians to control things, which falls into a "liberal" mindset more than a conservative one that wants smaller government. Plus, it's a very diverse city, which also plays to democrat political views more often.

It's nowhere near as liberal as the west coast or NYC. Tribal is another great adjective someone used.

It's mostly a tolerant city as well - gay neighborhoods abound, it's not "weird" to be gay here. But you won't find too much of the granola types - this is a cold-weathered city with hard walls and masculine energy. The "whatever-dude" way of thinking will be eaten for lunch. It's not really part of the culture here. But the diversity is everywhere, and people of all kinds can find a home.

What about hipsters? Do you see any differences between Chicago and the coastal cities?

[PerseusVeil]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

The Democratic not liberal comments are totally bang on.

Chicago is old-school democrat, and votes that way mostly because of history and powerful influences. They want the government and politicians to control things, which falls into a "liberal" mindset more than a conservative one that wants smaller government. Plus, it's a very diverse city, which also plays to democrat political views more often.

It's nowhere near as liberal as the west coast or NYC. Tribal is another great adjective someone used.

It's mostly a tolerant city as well - gay neighborhoods abound, it's not "weird" to be gay here. But you won't find too much of the granola types - this is a cold-weathered city with hard walls and masculine energy. The "whatever-dude" way of thinking will be eaten for lunch. It's not really part of the culture here. But the diversity is everywhere, and people of all kinds can find a home.

You could literally use the bolded section to describe NYC and virtually every other East Coast city. The fact stands that Chicago has plenty of "granola types" like all other big and liberal cities. The "hog butcher of the world" Chicago dies a bit more with each passing year.

I do concur that Chicago is not as liberal as a lot of West Coast cities, especially in the PNW, and NYC, but it's on par, if not more liberal, than the rest of the Northeastern cities.

[Kmanshouse]

Originally Posted by goofy328

What about hipsters? Do you see any differences between Chicago and the coastal cities?

Hipsters are everywhere, but a lower percentage of the population in Chicago would fit this description than on the west coast.

[Nodpete]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

I'd call Chicago regressive in terms of politics.

You hit the nail on the head ! I've never understood how the liberals are 'progressive' when everything they do is a step backwards.

[goofy328]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

Hipsters are everywhere, but a lower percentage of the population in Chicago would fit this description than on the west coast.

I thought all of the granola types were in Portland Oregon.

[BRU67]

Originally Posted by Nodpete

You hit the nail on the head ! I've never understood how the liberals are 'progressive' when everything they do is a step backwards.

Well, they're certainly trying to progress towards something. What that is we might not like but that's how I view it

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

The five largest metro areas in the US are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston. I'd say it's pretty safe to put Chicago right in the middle of those five in terms of liberalism, though certainly closer to #2 than #4.

[SkylarkPhotoBooth]

Originally Posted by Kmanshouse

Hipsters are everywhere

Exactly. I'm still after all these years not *entirely* sure what Boomer/yuppie/conservative people mean when they say "hipster," but if they just mean young creative people who aren't super money-focused, have eclectic taste in art and music, and wear cool glasses and thrift stores clothes, I would say you see more of those in Tulsa and Nashville these days than you do in Manhattan or North Side Chicago. In Chicago they've really been increasingly pushed into a small number of neighborhoods, if you're not counting the trust fund or yuppie-in-denial types.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by SkylarkPhotoBooth

Exactly. I'm still after all these years not *entirely* sure what Boomer/yuppie/conservative people mean when they say "hipster," but if they just mean young creative people who aren't super money-focused, have eclectic taste in art and music, and wear cool glasses and thrift stores clothes, I would say you see more of those in Tulsa and Nashville these days than you do in Manhattan or North Side Chicago. In Chicago they've really been increasingly pushed into a small number of neighborhoods, if you're not counting the trust fund or yuppie-in-denial types.

I think it’s rather that “indie” culture is dead and dated to the point where it’s affectations are now nearly comical. I’m sure there are a few art school hard liners still wandering around but for the most part young people today are far more conscious of things like career paths than kids from 20 years ago, and tech jobs have given a lot of them a way to be professionals in their own right instead of going into finance or law.

Like Johnny Rotren said 40 years ago, it’s all fashion.

Although occasionally I’ll still run into a real hippie trying to live a genuinely alternative lifestyle, usually on a Greyhound bus, and it is quite refreshing, even if they are 25 years behind the times.