Conservatives? (Boston, Revere, Marshfield: college, living in, versus)

[rb5200]

Just wondering but are there any conservatives in the Boston Metro area or is everyone pretty much from Stockholm?

[LovelyBoston]

Originally Posted by rb5200

Just wondering but are there any conservatives in the Boston Metro area or is everyone pretty much from Stockholm?

What, as in are we all socialist?

I get so tired of that rhetoric. I'd be less tired of it if people who said it understood the political structures of socialist countries versus the political structures of the various states. Because I have studied that, and studied law, and worked in various capacities in social services (and seen first hand that this state's social and welfare programs are pretty much the same as what many other states offer), this kind of question seems unjustifiably loaded.

Yes, this is generally a liberal state. No, the Republican party is not strong, although this is the first time in over a decade we have a Democrat in the Governor's office. This is a blue state the way, say, Texas is a red state. There are pockets of conservatism, and some towns tend to vote red rather than blue. Overall, strong Democratic tendencies here. My husband is conservative and often votes Republican, and he is hardly alone.

[rb5200]

Originally Posted by LovelyBoston

What, as in are we all socialist?

I get so tired of that rhetoric. I'd be less tired of it if people who said it understood the political structures of socialist countries versus the political structures of the various states. Because I have studied that, and studied law, and worked in various capacities in social services (and seen first hand that this state's social and welfare programs are pretty much the same as what many other states offer), this kind of question seems unjustifiably loaded.

I did not mean to offend you, and if I did, I apologize.

However, if my "rhetoric" makes you tired then I would like to share with you that I would say 90% of polls taken determine that Massachusetts has the reputation of being THE most liberal state in the US (debatable, Vermont, Cali), and from what I have heard from others, and from my experiences, the city of Boston seems to be intolerant to conservative ideas, and you always hear in the news some crazy issue the legislature of mass is trying to get their hands in, i.e. naming the Boston Commons Christmas tree the "Holiday Tree".

It just adds to the things that make the city drift farther from the US we use to be proud of. You walk downtown and wonder would Revere be proud of what has happened to this city? Adams? Even the great JFK? The answer, "NO WAY!!" We dont have to change our history, at the expense of being tolerant when the next anti-christian wacko decides Hummm, I dont think I like Christmas because......

Its good to hear that your husband does not conform to some of the nut jobs.

My family moved from Marshfield years ago and I still have lots of family that live in Mass. I would move there in a heartbeat from the DC area, but from what I hear, I would be among the shrinking minority of conservatives in the area. I love Boston and everything it has, HUGE SOX fan! I just wish someone could even tell me that there is hope for a conservative in the area

[Stockholmaren]

Originally Posted by rb5200

Just wondering but are there any conservatives in the Boston Metro area or is everyone pretty much from Stockholm?

Should I respond to this? :-)
Just wondering what's wrong with Stockholm? I think I know what you tried to say, but like the other poster mentioned it gets pretty frustrating when someone simply gives the impression that people from Stockholm must be close to communists.

Sure there are great conservative ideas such as a balanced budget, little governement interference and so forth, but in general I always find the conservatives to be less tolerant of new ideas, hence the word conservative :-)

[LovelyBoston]

Honestly, I think your view of Mass is extremely skewed. Your post screams intolerance, more than anything I've experienced here in Mass -- calling people who are liberal "nutjobs."

Liberal does not equal socialist. As I said, this is a liberal state, by and large. That is not the same as socialist. Vastly different things, there. That is the tiresome rhetoric. I'm not offended at the idea that this is a liberal state. I am offended at the idea that people can be so intolerant as to call others nutjobs and socialists because they have different -- but still democratic, free market -- political views. (And to use socialist as an insult anyway.)

Anyway, honestly, the talk of the Christmas tree is an example of that rhetoric. So some random person at the Mayor's office called it a Holiday Tree. So what? How is that anti-Christian? Have you seen the city at Christmas? It is decorated all over with lights and trees. And yet you pick out the fact that someone at the mayor's office thought that perhaps calling it a holiday tree would be more welcoming to people of all faiths. That feeds well into the media hyteria that exists over the supposed secularization of Christmas (which I hear talk of all over the country, not just in Mass), but it does not reflect the reality. Besides, everyone I know calls it the Christmas tree. Even the people I know who are Jewish.

But certainly, if liberal ideas are detestable to you, Mass is the wrong place, because you would meet many liberal people. I have not found it intolerant, personally. Sure, there are some liberals who call Republicans lunatics. Just as there are, apparently, conservatives who call liberals nutjobs.

[chionactis]

I am a MA native - from the other end of the state - Lee, MA. In 1998 I moved away for a better job opportunity and have been living in AZ since. I am a conservative. I am a religious conservative, political conservative, social conservative...I am conservative. I read my old Berkshire Eagle newspaper on-line and am always amazed at how biased they are towards the liberal agenda, but I also see some balance every now and again, which is promising. I say to you, if you want to live in MA, go for it! Bring your conserevative views with you and be who you are. I have plenty of family in the Berkshires who will be glad you're in MA

[NY'er lost in MA]

RB- have you ever been to Stockholm?

Boston is actually very conservative socially. It is part of New England which tends to be fairly traditional compared to MANY other states. But yes- politically, MA is Democratic.

I don't understand what perturbs you about the city and MA? Boston is a college town now- very different than when Revere was riding around on horseback. Love it or leave it!

I'm very liberal and personally feel MA is a long way off from my comfort zone in many ways- especially compared to my native NY.

[skytrekker]

The paradox of Boston is this;

The city and area I find to be very staid and conservative; and Hartford CT is the same.

The people in many areas of New England including myself live their 'personal lives' in a very structured and conservative manner. We tend to be fiscally conservative with our own money; do not like debt, do not like to live beyond our means, and dislike massive consumer showiness. However in areas of Gay rights, civil unions a womens right to choose, Universal health care and other social issues the region is perhaps the most liberal in the nation.

It goes way back to the Puritan ethics- Actually Vermont is more the most Liberal state in New England, and I find Providence Rhode Island very liberal, and much more fun then Boston.

[ontheroad]

Conservatives live throughout MA - Whilst in Western MA I joked that I lived on the Right Hill because it was the more conservative and actually an anti-Kennedy group of towns. During one election, I had a Kennedy poster ripped out of the ground on my lawn.

Overall, however, MA is more progressive on social issues.

And like skytrekker mentioned above VT may be more liberal, and certainly Providence (RI) is extremely progressive (I lived there for ages).

[ChunkyMonkey]

Originally Posted by rb5200

Just wondering but are there any conservatives in the Boston Metro area or is everyone pretty much from Stockholm?

What an ignorant statement. Have you even been to Stockholm?

First of all, I really despise statements like this because someone can be fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Does that make him a conservative or liberal? It is people who perpetuate stereotypes and labels that will divide this nation.