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What about the city makes people sway more to the left? Is it the environment, or does the city just attract people with more left views? My theory is that there is a much larger community of poor people, and dems tend to be more concerned with poverty and social justice type issues, perhaps because of this. What do you think?
1. The city has a larger non-white population, which tends to not be conservative, on average, in their voting patterns. On the other hand, the country tends to be, for the most part, in most places, namely European-American, the most conservative group. European-Americans tend to value less government intrusion into their lives, and are much more sympathetic to the founding documents of the U.S., such as the U.S. Constitution.
2. Rural Areas often attract the more free spirit, interested in Liberty and not interested in excessive government regulation.
3. Rural Areas, since they often have fewer non-whites, and since the government has less of a hold, tend to allow people not to be brainwashed and to talk in a politically correct manner, which leads to a left-leaning socialist stance on issues.
4. Cities are more inclined to attract liberals who like more diverse settings, who are not bothered by excessive government regulation (but actually promote and push for "programs", etc.). On the other hand, rural areas attract conservatives who wish to have as little government interference in their lives as possible.
5. Cities tend to attract liberals who enjoy things like museums, plays, and other ammenities that cities bring. Rural areas tend to attract conservatives who, on average, prefer the great outdoors and outdoor activities at a higher percentage to that of liberals.
6. Rural areas tend to not brainwash their youth in the public schools, much like is done in urban public schools. Less emphasis is placed on diversity, supposed wrongs of the past, the Civil Rights Movement, or many things designed to make European-Americans look bad, while avoiding the negatives of other groups. On the other hand, in urban areas, a greater percentage of left-leaning teachers ensure that the youth are exposed as much as possible to supposed European and European-American wrongs, as well as a curriculum that downplays the history and contributions of European-Americans, but plays up the history and contributions of other groups.
1. The city has a larger non-white population, which tends to not be conservative, on average, in their voting patterns. On the other hand, the country tends to be, for the most part, in most places, namely European-American, the most conservative group. European-Americans tend to value less government intrusion into their lives, and are much more sympathetic to the founding documents of the U.S., such as the U.S. Constitution.
2. Rural Areas often attract the more free spirit, interested in Liberty and not interested in excessive government regulation.
3. Rural Areas, since they often have fewer non-whites, and since the government has less of a hold, tend to allow people not to be brainwashed and to talk in a politically correct manner, which leads to a left-leaning socialist stance on issues.
4. Cities are more inclined to attract liberals who like more diverse settings, who are not bothered by excessive government regulation (but actually promote and push for "programs", etc.). On the other hand, rural areas attract conservatives who wish to have as little government interference in their lives as possible.
5. Cities tend to attract liberals who enjoy things like museums, plays, and other ammenities that cities bring. Rural areas tend to attract conservatives who, on average, prefer the great outdoors and outdoor activities at a higher percentage to that of liberals.
6. Rural areas tend to not brainwash their youth in the public schools, much like is done in urban public schools. Less emphasis is placed on diversity, supposed wrongs of the past, the Civil Rights Movement, or many things designed to make European-Americans look bad, while avoiding the negatives of other groups. On the other hand, in urban areas, a greater percentage of left-leaning teachers ensure that the youth are exposed as much as possible to supposed European and European-American wrongs, as well as a curriculum that downplays the history and contributions of European-Americans, but plays up the history and contributions of other groups.
Moderator cut: off-topic
Thanks for the post. I like a lot of what you said, but try not to be so biased. It does not solved anything, let alone answer my questions.
Last edited by Bo; 05-31-2009 at 02:41 PM..
Reason: National elections should be discussed in the Politics and other Controversies forum.
When you live in the sticks and your nearest neighbor is 1 mile away, you don't need a referee (government) to keep you and your neighbor on good terms. When you live in Manhattan and your nearest neighbors live 10 feet above and below you, without extensive regulation of things like noise, pollution, refuse disposal, parking, zoning, etc, life becomes impossible.
For having a username like City Fanatic you certainly come off as hating the people that actually live in cities.
I think that in a certain sense, sukwoo hit it on the head. It is a lot easier to live without government regulation when you don't live around a lot of people. People in cities know this, and tend to look with suspicion on those who advocate the privatization or dismantling of government services we all know our living environment would be a nightmare without.
Additionally, city sorts lean toward being socially liberal because of exposure to people and ideas that are vastly different from ones own on a regular basis, as such, I think that lends itself to more of a 'live and let live' when it comes to social issues.
I won't even touch that histrionic rant about public schools as I think that has absolutely nothing to do with why cities trend more socially liberal than rural areas.
Cities see more diversity of people, events and cultures. I think socially people are more use to being around people different than they are, and are more liberal and accepting and "live and let live".
In more rural areas or suburbs where you might find 100% of the same type of people, it can be more traditional in culture and values. They also seem to be submursed in religion more than city areas I've witnessed - which can lead to a more rigid lifestyle and a more conservative way of thinking. People are accepting of things they are use to - and not as liberal in their thinking.
Perhaps cities are places where people go for new things, new experiences, etc. In particular where unmarried people go to find adventure. A love of novelty doesn't really fit with the traditional idea of conservatism. And young unmarried people seeking adventure often means something very unconservative. (In ye olden times, booze and easy women. In modern times drugs and "action" of a heterosexual or homosexual nature) Or, for those born in cities, they give more opportunities for new and exciting things.
Granted that could still fit libertarianism rather than American liberalism. However in cities the amount of people unattached might also mean more people lonely and homeless. (Rural people are among the poorest, but in my experience they can usually find a shack or relative's trailer or failing that a church to sleep in) Anyway perhaps government provides that kind of community and protection for when the city is less fun.
Or not as I'm just winging it. Some of that kind of makes sense though.
Hmmm I wonder who you voted for in 2004.
Thanks for the post. I like a lot of what you said, but try not to be so biased. It does not solved anything, let alone answer my questions.
Haha, I was going to say - I wonder what point of view he/she is coming from.
I can see the points in the post, but they seem to be mixed up as far as cause and effect. Like the whole "person X is conservative because they're white, person Y is liberal because they're black". Obviously there are millions of very liberal white people in cities, and their skin color or minority status isn't the REASON they're liberal.
People aren't born liberal and move to the city, or born conservative and move to the country. People are for the most part shaped by their surroundings and the people they're near.
Because the city knows what it like to have poor and destitute and disadvantged people living among you, who are in such desperate need of any kind of helping hand they can get. People in the city are anonymous, cnd can't depend on their neighbors for help, because they don't know their neighbors. When you look out around you and see so many people in a bad way, with nobody to help them, it makes you feel a little more altruistic, or liberal, whichever way you want to put it.
Because the city knows what it like to have poor and destitute and disadvantged people living among you, who are in such desperate need of any kind of helping hand they can get. People in the city are anonymous, cnd can't depend on their neighbors for help, because they don't know their neighbors. When you look out around you and see so many people in a bad way, with nobody to help them, it makes you feel a little more altruistic, or liberal, whichever way you want to put it.
True, but as far as the neighborly thing goes... I find the exact opposite true... I knew tons of people living in the city, tons of people in my neighborhood, and tons of people in my building. and absolutely 0 here because everybody is always in their car, at work, or at the store, nobody ever walking around, nobody talks to each other, people look at you weird if you talk to them. Most people in the country are more conservative because they have seen far less differences as well, exposed to a lot less, tend to have traveled less, think their way of life is the right way, etc. etc.
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