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Technically, the map suggests that Boulder is flyover country and Myrtle Beach is coastal. But which place aligns more with the "liberal coastal elite" and which one with "conservative middle America"?
Usually when I hear "the coasts" or "coastal elite" mentioned in the media, I think they're referring to specifically LA-San Fran and New York-DC.
These aren't necessarily real terms though, they're terms created by political strategists and the media to create a political narrative about certain people in a specific part of the country.
Usually when I hear "the coasts" or "coastal elite" mentioned in the media, I think they're referring to specifically LA-San Fran and New York-DC.
These aren't necessarily real terms though, they're terms created by political strategists and the media to create a political narrative about certain people in a specific part of the country.
Very true, but this is a bit misleading from a purely geographic perspective. There are millions of Americans who live in coastal areas that are far removed from the nation's media hubs. The real fault lines across the nation in a political sense are increasingly metropolitan vs. rural rather than regional, or coastal vs. inland. Here in suburban Atlanta, many aspects of daily life have more in common with faraway suburban Seattle than with rural parts of Georgia just an hour's drive away.
Very true, but this is a bit misleading from a purely geographic perspective. There are millions of Americans who live in coastal areas that are far removed from the nation's media hubs. The real fault lines across the nation in a political sense are increasingly metropolitan vs. rural rather than regional, or coastal vs. inland. Here in suburban Atlanta, many aspects of daily life have more in common with faraway suburban Seattle than with rural parts of Georgia just an hour's drive away.
Well, I disagree. Having lived in Houston and now in Philly, there is a difference between living in a progressive city in a liberal state and a progressive city in a conservative state. Now matter how much a city like Houston may tout itself a liberal island, it is still subject to the intrusive reach of state policies and practices: constant efforts to ban Planned Parenthood, open carry laws, underfunded education, "family values," the prison industry, right-to-work, abstinence education only. Uh, Ted Cruz. Need I go on? Folks who live in liberal cites in the northeast and California don't have to deal with such unwelcome interference. Trust me - living in PA (which is a purple/blue state) is far different from living in Texas.
Both of the terms coastal elite and flyover country are a negative jab at the perceived regional differences in the US. There truth is when you look a lot closer at communities, you see past the pathetic attempt to drive people apart. The US is the US.
Both of the terms coastal elite and flyover country are a negative jab at the perceived regional differences in the US.
Referring to the bulk of the country as “flyover” is condescending, but acknowledging the coasts as elite is something of a compliment, don’t you think? Besides, outside of the occasional CD thread, does anyone even use the term “flyover country” anymore? I thought that faded from use in the 90s.
Referring to the bulk of the country as “flyover” is condescending, but acknowledging the coasts as elite is something of a compliment, don’t you think? Besides, outside of the occasional CD thread, does anyone even use the term “flyover country” anymore? I thought that faded from use in the 90s.
It seems to have seen a big resurgence in the last 10 years or so. Coinciding with the introduction of political division as the central feature of the American national geist.
It grates on me, too. People who use the term tend to use it with the implication that they are cosmopolitan, yet it proves their provincialism.
Big-city, coastal provincials are just as closed-minded and inexperienced with the world as their interior dwelling provincial countrymen no matter how many languages they overhear on public transport.
I think there's a big similarity and overlap between the rich sets of New York/D.C./Boston and L.A./Bay Area. There's a lot of movement between those cities as well. Many major corporations, especially in media, entertainment and tech have presences on both coasts, high-level people would often enough spend significant time on both coasts. There's a reason true premium travel exists domestically mostly just on the NYC/LA route. Plenty of rich guys on any flight between New York and L.A., not so much on other domestic routes. I think that's the 'coastal elite' you'd be talking about.
Now obviously most people in New York or L.A. are not part of the elite and may rarely if ever venture to the other side of the country. But obviously there is a notable difference between ordinary folks in Kentucky, Arkansas, Kansas etc. and those in NYC and L.A. as well. The % of first generation migrants is much higher in the latter, the % of people whose grandparents were all already born in America is much higher in the former. There are, of course, other differences in that the former will most likely be more rural, religious and conservative while the latter will be more urban/suburban, secular and liberal. The cultural gap is definitely real on a population level.
That doesn't mean everyone in those places is the same or feels the same about everything, but there are clear distinctions overall in those populations.
Big-city, coastal provincials are just as closed-minded and inexperienced with the world as their interior dwelling provincial countrymen no matter how many languages they overhear on public transport.
Well, I disagree. Having lived in Houston and now in Philly, there is a difference between living in a progressive city in a liberal state and a progressive city in a conservative state. Now matter how much a city like Houston may tout itself a liberal island, it is still subject to the intrusive reach of state policies and practices: constant efforts to ban Planned Parenthood, open carry laws, underfunded education, "family values," the prison industry, right-to-work, abstinence education only. Uh, Ted Cruz. Need I go on? Folks who live in liberal cites in the northeast and California don't have to deal with such unwelcome interference. Trust me - living in PA (which is a purple/blue state) is far different from living in Texas.
I think a lot of cities like to appear progressive as outside opinion is important to them, but deep down, when it comes down to it, their true colors will appear. The south still has a lot of conservatives.
The West Coast has like a militant left. The East Coast is more like "I guess I'll vote for the Democrats"
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