Connecticut stereotypes (Hartford, Vernon, Southbury: houses, rent, travel)

[kidyankee784]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

I disagree with this. Election returns in both congressional and Presidential returns will refute this. In Fairfield county there are some strong republican towns like Darien, Redding, Wilton, New Canaan etc. That are very wealthy. But wealthy towns also like Westport are liberal. In the Hartford area in the 2004 Presidential election Kerry easily carried more affluent towns like Avon, Farmington, West Hartford & Glastonbury.

Looking at the map of election results from the 2004 election, you're right about the Hartford area - very liberal. A couple of Hartford's suburbs voted for Bush, like Avon, Burlington, New Hartford, Granby, East Granby, Suffield, Ellington and Somers. The rest (the vast majority) did go for Kerry.

In Fairfield County, Norwalk, Stamford, Redding, Weston, Danbury, Stamford, Fairfield, Westport all went for Kerry. The rest (as you said, Darien, Wilton, New Canaan, Greenwich etc.) all went for Bush. The upscale towns between Danbury and Waterbury all went for Bush too. It seems the towns centered between Routes 7 and 8 from Torrington to Bridgeport, and the big money lower Fairfield towns are the Republican strongholds in the state, with a few exceptions in extreme Northeastern and eastern CT (Thompson, Woodstock, Voluntown, Sterling and a few others).

Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections - City and Town Map

I'm not sure why, but the towns in Red went for Kerry and the towns in Blue went for Bush. Odd way of doing it... Anyone know why?

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JViello

Maybe you like high taxes and fuel costs and a government safety net for everything in life but I don't.

At the risk of making this a political war, I'll simply say that your view of conservatives is wrong and leave it at that. If you want to DM me to know more about "the other side" feel free.

Maybe he doesn't like huge federal government budget deficits...

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

Maybe he doesn't like huge federal government budget deficits...

Why, that's a very conservative mindset there...

[Rich Lee]

Originally Posted by JViello

Why, that's a very conservative mindset there...

I just wish Republicans didn't spend so lavishly and abided by balanced-budget legislation. It's one thing to be "tax and spend." It's another to be "don't tax but spend and spend and spend."

[JViello]

Originally Posted by Rich Lee

I just wish Republicans didn't spend so lavishly and abided by balanced-budget legislation. It's one thing to be "tax and spend." It's another to be "don't tax but spend and spend and spend."

I'm with you on both counts and please pay attention to my verbage. I never said "Republicans" I said "conservatives". One doesn't automatically go with the other.

IMHO any new tax is a bad tax for the most part. Most taxes, once instituted, never go away. We have so many "temporary" taxes in this state that never went away it's sickening.

How about we reduce spending and cut waste without the "children and elderly in the street" speach everytime it's mentioned? I'm SURE we can reduce spending and cut waste without putting grandma in the street. Example: Do we REALLY need document shredding provided by the state?

Bush spent like a drunken sailor. No doubt. So do the Dems currently in power in CT.

I'm against all of it for the most part.

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by JViello

LOL No not at all. Those with a lot of money are more likely to be in an older Volvo with a "peace" sticker on the back wearing old jeans and a "rag" sweater with a pair of mocs. (Albeit very expensive mocs I'm sure.LOL )

I think the distinction is old money versus new money..CT has always been a old preppy fave...

[paule]

Originally Posted by kidyankee784

Believe it or not, the majority of Connecticut's affluent suburbs are overwhelmingly Republican (especially in Fairfield County and the Waterbury area.)

I should have been more specific, since in terms of liberal, I do not mean favoring political parties (Democrat/Republican), I mean "liberal" in terms of an overarching ideology of the acceptance of people, which I have seen and heard people from Connecticut predominantly embrace, but because of the continued segregation of minorities in the cities of CT, I have to think that "liberality" does not truly exist, which would mean that people have embraced the status quo a little more than I originally thought. I have lived in 10 different cities and towns in CT, and now Los Angeles, CA...and CT must address the issue of poverty in the cities, without creating gentrification, and adding to the prison system. That is a major CT stereotype, "the incarceration rate of CT prisons".
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" MLK, Jr.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by paule

I should have been more specific, since in terms of liberal, I do not mean favoring political parties (Democrat/Republican), I mean "liberal" in terms of an overarching ideology of the acceptance of people, which I have seen and heard people from Connecticut predominantly embrace, but because of the continued segregation of minorities in the cities of CT, I have to think that "liberality" does not truly exist, which would mean that people have embraced the status quo a little more than I originally thought.

Haha...funny and very true story:

Having dinner with to be future "inlaw" at the time who worked for the state's affirmative action policies for YEARS and was a "pioneer" in "equality", "fairness", "rights" etc etc A real bleeing heart "let all the illegals stay at my house" liberal type.

My wife who at the time was looking to sell and purchase a new home mentioned Bloomfield. "Inlaw" stopped dead in her tracks and said "OH NO...NO NO NO, you will be a minority in that town". I literally spit my food out and laughed out loud at her and we argued all night about fake liberals who are all for "rights" and "equality" until it affects THEIR family or pocket. LOL

I don't let her forget it to this day.

[kidyankee784]

Originally Posted by JViello

Haha...funny and very true story:

Having dinner with to be future "inlaw" at the time who worked for the state's affirmative action policies for YEARS and was a "pioneer" in "equality", "fairness", "rights" etc etc A real bleeing heart "let all the illegals stay at my house" liberal type.

My wife who at the time was looking to sell and purchase a new home mentioned Bloomfield. "Inlaw" stopped dead in her tracks and said "OH NO...NO NO NO, you will be a minority in that town". I literally spit my food out and laughed out loud at her and we argued all night about fake liberals who are all for "rights" and "equality" until it affects THEIR family or pocket. LOL

You are SPOT on with everything you posted, especially in that last sentence. It made me laugh because of how true it is.

I'd give you a positive rep but I already have and I "must spread around reputation before giving it to JViello again."

But anyway, positive rep to you!

[sevdie]

Originally Posted by FLsuxsendmeback

Black ppl and actually anyone other than white conservative religious people with a laid-back mentality and either southern sounding or slow paced voice are disrespected down here like no where else. people down here will never learn that we are all human beings and continue to teach hate to their children.

I was brought up as many in CT to see others as equal and be respectful to others. I think living here I may have become a more bitter person just because I haven't been fairly accepted which leads me to backlash against those who oppose me. Its simple down here if you're something other than whats expected you get outcasted.

Its a good bet u will notice here that original southerners are closed minded and those from up north become bitter whether because they are forced to conform or they are outcasted due to the fact that they didn't.

I guess it's close minded to group all in a specific category. These statements, as stereostypes always are, are simply generalizations. In fact that should be a period to this entire post.

Good post. I agree with your points. Where in Florida are you? I visited St. Petersburg and it was beautiful. Anyway, I live in the midwest now and have the same issues you talk about in this post. Because if that I am looking to relocate back to my native east coast...hopefully CT. When I think of CT though, I still think of a bunch of rich people...that's the main stereotype caught up in my head (I know it isn't true). Peace!