Are Martha's Vineyard/Nantucket liberal or conservative? (live, fences)

[soulful]

Are the residents of these two islands mainly liberals or conservatives?

Or is one of the islands more liberal than the other?

For example, would gay homeowners be welcome with open arms on either?


thanks in advance

[CoastalMaine]

Woefully liberal I'd say.

Gays are welcomed anywhere on the Cape or Islands. We outgrew homophobic behavior years ago.

[soulful]

That's good to hear thanks

[DreamworksSKG]

Again what's wrong with liberals?



But anyway back to Martha's Vineyard

The Vinyard has a variety of people from Libertarian to conservative to Liberal. As does most of Massachusetts. Every town has a variety of different people and the majority of mass is open to gays. so dont worry.

[CoastalMaine]

Dream, you've misinterpreted my reply.

Woefully liberal as in neither island is equally represented by any other political affiliation. There's no balance. Which is what the OP inquired about.

[ZGACK]

Originally Posted by soulful

Are the residents of these two islands mainly liberals or conservatives?

Or is one of the islands more liberal than the other?

For example, would gay homeowners be welcome with open arms on either?


thanks in advance

Islanders tend to take a live and let live attitude. It's essential in small communities. So don't expect there to be a parade welcoming you on your arrival. But don't expect there to be opposition either. Basically islanders are ambivalent about you when you arrive. And they don't care if you're gay or not. You're just another washashore so it will be a challenge to assimilate as most islanders don't warm up to washashores all that easily, mainly because so many end up cashing out after a few years and return to the mainland. Also, and this is important, islanders are very possessive about 'their island'. It takes work to be accepted and the best tack is to take it slow. But you should be able to assimilate. It will take some time though and you should be ready for that. And by 'some time' I mean a year or two. Just don't show up at your first town meeting with all kinds of ideas to improve the island. It is New England after all and the idea that good fences makes good neighbors is very much alive. Now, with all that said, once you are part of the community you will find it a fantastic feeling and well worth the effort, and patience, you took to get there. Both islands are unique and special and the sense of community is a central factor in making them that way.

There are large and active gay communities on both islands so what will decide things for you is which island you prefer. I suggest taking a week on both, after the summer, in either September or October, and get a feel for things.

The defining characteristic of the residents of both islands is self reliance. Some are liberal. Some are conservative. Some are apathetic. But most if not all are very independent and self reliant.

[CoastalMaine]

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]2006 Massachusetts Enrollment Breakdown:

DUKES COUNTY

Precincts: 7

Total registered voters: 12,503

Democrats: 4,326

Percentage of total: 34.60%

Republicans: 1,615

Percentage of total: 12.92%

Unenrolled: 6,456

Percentage of total: 51.64%

..............................................

As of 2006 (the latest stat I was able to locate online), democrats were the highest voting block (by a 2 to 1 margin) on the islands; which is why I used the terminology woefully liberal.
[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[soulful]

Wouldn't Nantucket be more conservative than Martha's Vineyard?

I ask because it seems more remote (I am referring to the world views of year round residents)? I realize remote doesn't necessarily translate to conservative

[holden125]

Originally Posted by soulful

Wouldn't Nantucket be more conservative than Martha's Vineyard?

I ask because it seems more remote (I am referring to the world views of year round residents)? I realize remote doesn't necessarily translate to conservative

It's hard to generalize. There was a time when Nantucket was associated with conservatives and Republicans and MV came to be more liberal and Democratic. The Vineyard only ceased to be a New England Republican bastion in the last 40 years or so, though, and Nantucket has moved in that direction as well. For what it's worth, they both went about 70-30 for both Obama and Kerry.

[soulful]

Thank you all for the very good feedback. It is most appreciated.