Liberal in Sumter (North: how much, unemployment, taxes)

[PalmettoGuy]

And I do find it laughable that people think liberals are necessarily more educated or open-minded. If I brought my evangelical, skeptical-of-global-warming, pro-life, traditional marriage views to San Francisco or many places in New England, I seriously doubt I'd be welcomed with open arms. I'd have a more difficult time finding friends with similar values, and I would know that going in.

I get sick and tired of people painting S.C. as some backwards, backwoods state, as if the locals are out to get anybody with a different opinion. People are basically the same everywhere.

[Woodlands]

Sumter may have a little more leather and a bigger buckle in its Bible Belt than Columbia that is may unscientific analysis ..whether or not some one gets after you for having a "liberal issue rally" on the Courthouse steps I guess may be a matter of debate depending on the exchange between individuals.. I image you could get a few hard stares or jeers depending on the issue but you could get that anywhere. Everytime I visit the White House grounds...different groups clash verbally outside with people passing by shouting for or against a group's cause (particuliarly around opinions on the War...yikes....those got ugly, though I admit i did not stick around to see if there was any physical conflict)

[swampwolf]

"You could argue that physical violence is a part of the culture around this part of the south."

That's exactly the gist of what I was saying, in a few different ways.

If it was just a matter of disinterested discussion, I might not have even brought it up. But if somebody is thinking of investing what for most people is the vast majority of their worldly goods, as well as the well-being of their families, they would be ill-advised to be allowed to think that ALL of the stuff they see on TV is made up.

What state has a LOT of KKK activity? We do, for one. When I first moved here the national Grand Dragon of the KKK lived in Lexington County. Where is the headquarters of one of the three major national Nazi parties? Lexington, just a few miles away (unless the guy moved it very recently, and he didn't move it there in the first place for no reason). Where do we seem to find it impossible to pass sensible legislation on drunk driving? Right here. Where are one-third of the people who drive uninsured? Right here. What state has the highest infant mortality rate and very poor health statistics among children? I could go on.

And as I said, it's not all SC. Where did many "religious" people conspire to hide a fugitive murderer, for YEARS, who had shot and killed a doctor at clinic that does abortions? NC, just a few miles above the state line.

And it's not just violence either. Sometimes it's militant ignorance. Where have they tried to ban the very mention of evolution in high school science classes? Here, AND in Georgia next door, and other places. (would disqualify the students for many universities without taking remedial courses) Where do we have a very popular public figure and barbecue magnate who preaches that slavery was the Christian thing to do? Was it Cayce, right across the river from the state capital, Columbia?

And this small but dangerous minority lives without fear of community disdain right among us, which most of the time is the ugliest aspect of the whole thing.

There are many wonderful things about our state, and most of the people are honest and kind, but we do have a heck of a lot more tolerance than we should have for some truly bad people.

These are among the things I would want to know if I was considering moving here. Like most people, I would have a hard time financially moving twice.

I don't label myself liberal or conservative or anything else, but I respect those that do until they give me reason to think otherwise.

Oh yeah, where were people standing to the side waving confederate flags and generally trying to intimidate those who had gathered for a King Day observance on the state house (capitol) steps? Don't say it didn't happen! Let's see what happens this coming Monday.

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by swampwolf

"You could argue that physical violence is a part of the culture around this part of the south."

That's exactly the gist of what I was saying, in a few different ways.

The "gist of what I am saying" does not include the KKK, Nazis or any other fringe groups you refer to.

In fact I lived 20 years in Sumter and during that time never saw anything resembling a klansman or a Nazi in Sumter County. While I realize things are not "all roses," I think you paint a wildly distorted picture of what the area is like, misleading people who might potentially rely on this forum for reasonable opinions.

For example, refering to Lexington as "a few miles away", when it is more like 2 hours away. Saying we have "A LOT" of KKK activity, when in reality there are about 40 rednecks statewide who show up once a year at the statehouse to wave flags and yell obscenities, amid 200 policemen; none of which involves Sumter. You refer to "sensible legislation on drunk driving", and something about uninsured drivers, but fail to explain what that has to do with the discussion.

[swampwolf]

ATTENTION: None of the things I mentioned are OVERWHELMING obstacles. They are not certainties or even likelihoods.

The fact remains that they do exist here a lot more than in some other places. And all it takes is for the good people to say nothing.

Now to the potential mover-in, you probably have more information than you bargained for, and you could do a lot worse than to move here. You should be aware however that these are real things (you won't see them every day) that you may find disturbing (and I doubt it will take 40 years). I was trying to be helpful. As you can see these are sensitive subjects.

Part of the misunderstanding might be related to the notion that it takes two hours to drive from Sumter (town) to Lexington (town), a distance of less than 60 miles. To Lexington County, a lot less.

Google Maps

But Lexington, town and county, are just conspicuous examples. The conditions I describe are regional.

Best of luck to all. Signing off of this thread before I do even more harm.

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by waccamatt

I'd rather see her stay in South Carolina and make a positive difference here. We are in need of more open minded people in our state.

Bull. South Carolina is just fine the way it is. Leave it alone and stop trying to turn it into another California

[PalmettoGuy]

S.C. does not have "a LOT of KKK activity." I grew up in a rural, conservative S.C. county and never knew anyone in the Klan. Maybe I did know some members and they just kept it hidden, but that kind of demonstrates my point: any activity that did exist was small and kept clandestine. Unfortunately, there are some racists in S.C. (from all races). They are the minority, however. It's always the few, vocal jerks that give everyone else a bad name.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

Bull. South Carolina is just fine the way it is. Leave it alone and stop trying to turn it into another California

'Scuse? SC has lots of positive elements, but it needs change. It needed change in 1865. It needed change in 1950. It needs change now.

What I WILL grant is that in order for that change to really take root, it should be change from within. SC has never taken kindly to outsiders attempting to alter the way things have been done. Still, if you don't think there are things that could use improving in South Carolina, we should go for a ride together. You show me an SC that has everything covered, and I'll show you an SC that has tons of promise, but some REAL problems.

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

'Scuse? SC has lots of positive elements, but it needs change. It needed change in 1865. It needed change in 1950. It needs change now.

What I WILL grant is that in order for that change to really take root, it should be change from within. SC has never taken kindly to outsiders attempting to alter the way things have been done. Still, if you don't think there are things that could use improving in South Carolina, we should go for a ride together. You show me an SC that has everything covered, and I'll show you an SC that has tons of promise, but some REAL problems.

Bingo. And the person I replied to IS an outsider and was suggesting that SC become more "progressive". To me, that word is simply a PC way of saying liberal.
I like my state as is. Its my home, and I'll take it as its always been ( every ornery, politically stubborn inch of it) thankyouverymuch. If it does change, I dont want a bunch of outsiders, as you put it, to be making those changes.
No state has "Everything covered". But despite that, each state's residents take the good with the bad.

[waccamatt]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

Bingo. And the person I replied to IS an outsider and was suggesting that SC become more "progressive". To me, that word is simply a PC way of saying liberal.
I like my state as is. Its my home, and I'll take it as its always been ( every ornery, politically stubborn inch of it) thankyouverymuch. If it does change, I dont want a bunch of outsiders, as you put it, to be making those changes.
No state has "Everything covered". But despite that, each state's residents take the good with the bad.

What do you consider to be an outsider? I've lived in Columbia for 36 of my 44 years.