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There's a definite inland/coastal divide in the West. East of I-5, it gets pretty conservative pretty quickly. West of it, it gets pretty liberal pretty quickly
However, both the liberals and conservatives out here are what you would call "socially liberally". Not very many pockets of Social Conservatism, except for maybe Utah. Everyone just sorta wants to be left alone to do their own thing.
There's a definite inland/coastal divide in the West. East of I-5, it gets pretty conservative pretty quickly. West of it, it gets pretty liberal pretty quickly
However, both the liberals and conservatives out here are what you would call "socially liberally". Not very many pockets of Social Conservatism, except for maybe Utah. Everyone just sorta wants to be left alone to do their own thing.
I felt that the Inland Empire, parts of San Diego county, Bakersfield, and the eastern suburbs of Phoenix to extremely socially conservative. On the other hand, I've found Salt Lake City to be rather progressive. In fact, I can't think of another city where I've met more atheists.
Sure, I see your point. CA aside, I was disputing the "lion's share of people in the West" statement regarding OR/WA.
Regarding the OP, It seems to me the whole nation is trending more socially liberal on cultural issues, it's the fiscal politics that seem to be irreconcilable. Fiscal politics is skewed toward your social outlook, but in general, sexuality, pot, etc. are widely more accepted from the bible belt to the mountain west.
I agree with you. It is both the genius and the evil of political marketing. They've brain washed entire demographics into thinking that you can't have the fiscal component without the assigned social component they've designated for it.
I felt that the Inland Empire, parts of San Diego county, Bakersfield, and the eastern suburbs of Phoenix to extremely socially conservative. On the other hand, I've found Salt Lake City to be rather progressive. In fact, I can't think of another city where I've met more atheists.
It isn't a blanket rule, but just a generality I've noticed. I used to spend a lot of time in the IE (ex-girlfriend lives there) and found while there were pockets of social conservatism there, most were your garden variety "I don't want to get taxed but I want to get public services" conservatives there.
Phoenix is pretty socially liberal. Mesa has a huge Mormon contingent, which may explain some of its social conservatism but by and large most people don't care about social issues all that much. Hell, legal marijuana almost passed there.
Most people who live in the West, live in California, which is still home to more people than every other Western state, combined.
Los Angeles County alone is home to 3 million more people than the population of the five most conservative Western states (AK, ID, MT, UT, & WY), combined.
Honestly, to argue that most people who live in the West don't live in one of coastal states is laughable. How mathematically challenged are you, really?
Also, much of the West--as opposed to the Midwest, which is very much "God's country" by comparison--is very libertarian. Most of the West, even the heavily Mormon areas, is very live-and-let-live: open-minded; tolerant, even if not approving; and largely indifferent to a person's sexuality or level of religiosity (i.e., no one cares who you sleep with or what religion you are). Good luck trying to find that in most of the Midwest.
Even California is more conservative than you'd think considering most of the minorities in California are conservatives.
Depends on what you mean by conservative. Socially, yes. Economically, no, they aren't conservative.
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