Chicago/IL, conservatives not welcome? (Winnetka: place to live, moving, suburbs)

[movingover]

Wondering if I'd consider Chicago or even the state of IL to be a place to live. How does it treat conservatives? Everything I hear about it is that it's run by the democrat machine, but I want to hear from real people not the media. Is a diversity of political views welcomed in Chicago? I know it's not welcomed in the NYC area, so I'm wondering if it's the same in Chicago.

And by conservative, I am not talking about Christian conservatism, but economic and national security conservative platforms.

Thanks for your honest answers, and no I'm not looking for a political discussion or the merits of certain views, just an idea about political diversity in the area.

[Drover]

It can be hard to have a civilized conversation about politics in Chicago if you are not left of center. The spectrum of mainstream political and ideological diversity here runs from center-left to left-left. There are a handful of conservatives here and there, but they are so outnumbered that they're not even a part of the political dialog. Many take for granted that if you live in the city your politics lean left, and if you happen to mention that your politics lean otherwise, it's like you've got a third eyeball in your forehead. I mostly keep my mouth shut to keep the peace with neighbors, acquaintances and fellow bar patrons unless they say something so forehead-smackingly stupid that I can't stay quiet. Even so, railing against the City Machine is a favorite sport no matter your political persuasion, yet when it's time to head to the polls those same Machine cogs keep winning re-election anyway, so go figure.

[LIS123]

It's worse in DC than Chicago, but I would imagine Chicago is pretty bad. In places like that, you can tell people a lot of interesting things about yourself and it's basically water under the bridge. But, if you dare to say you're conservative or strongly opposed to Obama (even if you back up your position)......... good luck!

[KevK]

Originally Posted by movingover

Wondering if I'd consider Chicago or even the state of IL to be a place to live. How does it treat conservatives? Everything I hear about it is that it's run by the democrat machine, but I want to hear from real people not the media. Is a diversity of political views welcomed in Chicago? I know it's not welcomed in the NYC area, so I'm wondering if it's the same in Chicago.

And by conservative, I am not talking about Christian conservatism, but economic and national security conservative platforms.

Thanks for your honest answers, and no I'm not looking for a political discussion or the merits of certain views, just an idea about political diversity in the area.

The Democrats in Chicago are not like the Democrats in California. Chicago, while not as "conservative" as Dallas is far from "liberal". Nothing like San Fransisco at all. I prefer to call it a "business casual" city. It is tolerant of differing lifestyles but it is not "liberal" by any means.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by Drover

It can be hard to have a civilized conversation about politics in Chicago if you are not left of center. The spectrum of mainstream political and ideological diversity here runs from center-left to left-left. There are a handful of conservatives here and there, but they are so outnumbered that they're not even a part of the political dialog. Many take for granted that if you live in the city your politics lean left, and if you happen to mention that your politics lean otherwise, it's like you've got a third eyeball in your forehead. I mostly keep my mouth shut to keep the peace with neighbors, acquaintances and fellow bar patrons unless they say something so forehead-smackingly stupid that I can't stay quiet. Even so, railing against the City Machine is a favorite sport no matter your political persuasion, yet when it's time to head to the polls those same Machine cogs keep winning re-election anyway, so go figure.

I don't agree. Certain parts of Chcago are quite liberal (Rogers Park, Edgewater, Hyde Park) and other parts are quite conservative (Chicago Lawn, Hedgewish). People seem to forget that Chicago is much more than the lakefront.

[Mamama Mia]

Originally Posted by Drover

It can be hard to have a civilized conversation about politics in Chicago if you are not left of center. The spectrum of mainstream political and ideological diversity here runs from center-left to left-left. There are a handful of conservatives here and there, but they are so outnumbered that they're not even a part of the political dialog. Many take for granted that if you live in the city your politics lean left, and if you happen to mention that your politics lean otherwise, it's like you've got a third eyeball in your forehead. I mostly keep my mouth shut to keep the peace with neighbors, acquaintances and fellow bar patrons unless they say something so forehead-smackingly stupid that I can't stay quiet. Even so, railing against the City Machine is a favorite sport no matter your political persuasion, yet when it's time to head to the polls those same Machine cogs keep winning re-election anyway, so go figure.

I agree. I never talk politics anywhere, but on C-D.

[jessiegirl_98]

When you say "even the state of IL to live".... pretty much everywhere outside of Chicago is republican. Just pull up a county map from the last election. I live in Chicago, but am from a smaller town in downstate in IL and I couldn't have a regular conversation with anyone about the election (I am very liberal) from there.... All IL is not democratic

[hsw]

Depends upon industry and part of Chic and suburbs...much as it does in NYC or SF or LA

For ex., many in the financial industry are indifferent about social issues but fiercely free-market capitalist...and donate to both parties and pay for lobbyists on both sides to advance any special interests, as would any shrewd pragmatist

In Chic, more of the free-market capitalists seem to favor GoldCoast or LP or LakeForest or Winnetka....just as UpperEastSide and Greenwich are favored by that set in NYC (going South of ~50th St is a "no-fly" zone for many capitalists, as the trust fund kid, celebutard and Euro set downtown tends to dislike capitalists)

Have found in any city that the term "liberal" is rather misleading, as many so-called liberals are as close-minded and ill-informed as most rabid social conservatives

[Chicago60614]

The CITY is quite liberal in most of the talked about areas. Go on the south and west sides and it's not liberal like people think (San Fran, etc).

My best friend is republican and he lives in boystown. He is perfectly fine because he can at least back up his personal reasons. It's also for the financial aspects, not the religious. I think if you're a republican for the non-religious aspects you can function ok in Chicago although you will obviously be outnumbered. Religious conservatives will have a lot more problems in Chicago. I know personally they have every right as all of us.....but I have no patience for any of it...

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by KevK

I don't agree. Certain parts of Chcago are quite liberal (Rogers Park, Edgewater, Hyde Park) and other parts are quite conservative (Chicago Lawn, Hedgewish). People seem to forget that Chicago is much more than the lakefront.

Hegewisch (note the spelling btw) is not conservative - it's pretty Democratic through and through.