Question about Moscow (Council: to buy, schools, college)

[redwhiteblue]

Is Moscow a liberal town? and by liberal I am not meaning San Francisco liberal but compared to other parts of the state does it lean more left or right?

[EnochTheSleestak]

Originally Posted by redwhiteblue

Is Moscow a liberal town? and by liberal I am not meaning San Francisco liberal but compared to other parts of the state does it lean more left or right?

It's a college town sprinked with guys in flannel who fish. Let's just say if you want to buy some new lures or find a meeting of your local chaper of the feminist marxist poetry cooperative, you're in luck.

[Keim]

I can almost agree with Enoch. Id flip it: It's a hunting and fishing area sprinkled with college town liberals.

Moscow is probably the most liberal town in Idaho. But thats not saying much when you consider how conservative Idaho is.

On a serious note: The town does have a lot of liberals. But it also has a lot of ultra conservatives.

[zimmyzee]

keim, what do you mean by "ultra conservatives"? thank you.

[Keim]

Originally Posted by zimmyzee

keim, what do you mean by "ultra conservatives"? thank you.

In this case I am referring to religious conservatives. The LDS church is about 10% of the population. More notoriously, another large local church, Christ Church, has some VERY conservative (some might say backward) beliefs. This church has several outreach efforts, including highly academically respected local schools. These efforts have been successful enough that some people move to town specifically to attend these schools, or church. This church was the source of much friction between its members and local liberals several years ago. Small town politics got nasty between these two groups. That friction has quieted significantly in recent years.

This is a nice summary of Christ Church:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_...(Moscow,_Idaho)
Please note that it doesn't go into a major controversy created by the pastor several years ago when he appeared to endorse slavery in his book Southern Slavery: As It Was (Amazon.com: Southern Slavery: As It Was (9781885767172): Douglas Wilson, Steve Wilkins: Books). Also note that Wilson supporters deny that he was supporting slavery in this book.

Here is some info on Pastor Doug Wilson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Wilson_(theologian)

Here are two web pages/articles about that little debacle:
Not On The Palouse, Not Ever
Taliban on the Palouse? | Southern Poverty Law Center

If you take the time to read the above links you will see a church and pastor with some unique, controversial and potentially repugnant views. This combination of religious conservatism located in a liberal college town provides some interesting economic lifeblood, dynamics and debates in town. I mean interesting in a good way-as long as all parties play nicely. Which they usually do.

[zimmyzee]

Keim, interesting. I had no idea that Moscow had this element. I'm not religious but don't judge others who are. Why do religious zealots feel the need to push their views onto others? They should practice their faith quietly and let others live their lives the way they see fit. It's none of their business.

[Keim]

Originally Posted by zimmyzee

Keim, interesting. I had no idea that Moscow had this element. I'm not religious but don't judge others who are. Why do religious zealots feel the need to push their views onto others? They should practice their faith quietly and let others live their lives the way they see fit. It's none of their business.

In my experience the Christ Church folk haven't been very pushy. They don't proselytize door to door, etc. They simply push back when the local liberals (Intoleristas, as their pastor refers to them) push them.

[zimmyzee]

What do the "Intolerista" liberals do to "push" the Christ Church folks?

[Keim]

Originally Posted by zimmyzee

What do the "Intolerista" liberals do to "push" the Christ Church folks?

You should say "did". The issue has quieted greatly. When the topic was hot:
1. Both sides had regular editorials in the paper.
2. Went to City Council trying to get church tax-exempt status removed, claiming it was primarily a publishing business.
3. Fought vehemently to prevent church affiliated schools from being able to locate downtown.
4. Went after church over gambling regulations-the church had hosted a "Casino Night" for its members.
5. Vandalized local church affiliated businesses.
6. Pickets, flyers and posters.
7. Went after at least two local church leaders jobs, claiming they couldn't effectively do them due to their religious affiliations.
8. Created and disseminated a boycott list of businesses owned by church members.

It was pretty ugly for a while.

[zimmyzee]

The Righteous Religious are typically the Biggest Hypocrites in my experience. I don't like to be part of a community that is Church Dominant.

What percent of Moscow adults attend Church in your opinion?