Is Red Missouri Not Actually That Conservative? (Kansas City, St. Louis: university, minimum wage)

[FalstaffBlues]

in 2 years Missourians have voted with strong majorities to protect organised labor, to raise the minimum wage, and to legalize marijuana.

3 things their right wing reps (both state and federal) would have never done if left to their own devices.

Why? Are rural Missourians so distracted by right wing identity politics that they vote red even when their heart is blue on the substanative issues?

[GunnerTHB]

Missouri has historically had higher union membership rates than many other conservative states, so that part doesn't really surprise me. (Even in some rural areas, especially in the Lead Belt)

I can't say I've paid much attention to the minimum wage discussions, but is there a state where a similar measure was defeated?

Marijuana does surprise me a bit. Not sure what to make of that except that it seems to be that society isn't against it as much as in the past.

[FalstaffBlues]

Originally Posted by GunnerTHB

Missouri has historically had higher union membership rates than many other conservative states, so that part doesn't really surprise me. (Even in some rural areas, especially in the Lead Belt)

I can't say I've paid much attention to the minimum wage discussions, but is there a state where a similar measure was defeated?

Marijuana does surprise me a bit. Not sure what to make of that except that it seems to be that society isn't against it as much as in the past.

This is what I mean, though.

If Missourians are really this moderate then why did they elect a ding bat like Greitens who was for right to work and opposed to minimum wage hikes and marijuana legalization?

It seems to me like they have just bought the GOP BS about mexicans, muslims, Soros, and how the left is going to come take all their guns away.

Or does it all just come down to taxes?

[Mosep]

Three words:


Abortions and Guns

[GunnerTHB]

Originally Posted by FalstaffBlues

This is what I mean, though.

If Missourians are really this moderate then why did they elect a ding bat like Greitens who was for right to work and opposed to minimum wage hikes and marijuana legalization?

It seems to me like they have just bought the GOP BS about mexicans, muslims, Soros, and how the left is going to come take all their guns away.

Or does it all just come down to taxes?

I always felt that you see this because a lot of people don't have a consistent set of political ideas. You'll hear someone complain that Obama was a socialist, and then turn around and say something like "Keep your hands off my Social Security". I get the argument that they paid into it, but how can you complain that someone is a socialist, and then advocate for a program that is socialist even by European standards? I do think that some of this is a cultural divide. People are reluctant to vote for a party that insults them.

I must say as someone who is somewhere between Libertarian & Conservative, the Missouri Republican Party has never impressed me. I ended up in Tennessee for a reason: There are jobs here, and there weren't jobs for me in Southeast Missouri. I don't know whose fault that is, but it is unfortunate.

The folks I grew up around were very conservative, but there definitely were more pro-union people around than you would see in many other red states.

[FalstaffBlues]

Originally Posted by GunnerTHB

I always felt that you see this because a lot of people don't have a consistent set of political ideas. You'll hear someone complain that Obama was a socialist, and then turn around and say something like "Keep your hands off my Social Security". I get the argument that they paid into it, but how can you complain that someone is a socialist, and then advocate for a program that is socialist even by European standards? I do think that some of this is a cultural divide. People are reluctant to vote for a party that insults them.

I must say as someone who is somewhere between Libertarian & Conservative, the Missouri Republican Party has never impressed me. I ended up in Tennessee for a reason: There are jobs here, and there weren't jobs for me in Southeast Missouri. I don't know whose fault that is, but it is unfortunate.

The folks I grew up around were very conservative, but there definitely were more pro-union people around than you would see in many other red states.

I completely agree with you about the cultural divide people being reluctant to vote for a party that insults.

Democrats have almost completely turned away from rural people would rather mock them on TV and deride them as ignorant racists than actually try to understand them and reach them.

[RisingAurvandil]

It's a matter of cultural demographics, not individual issues. And Missouri's demographics currently align with the Republican Party.


The Democratic Party largely represents wealthier states, the university educated, urban areas, and minorities.

The Republican party largely represents poorer states, working-class whites, and rural areas.


Both parties represent the wealthy.

If represented at all, the suburban middle class is still a political battleground and can swing either way.


None of this is constant. A lot of the older folks here can remember a time when the Democratic Party was dominated by conservative and rural voters. Change is the only constant.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by RisingAurvandil

It's a matter of cultural demographics, not individual issues. And Missouri's demographics currently align with the Republican Party.


The Democratic Party largely represents wealthier states, the university educated, urban areas, and minorities.

The Republican party largely represents poorer states, working-class whites, and rural areas.


Both parties represent the wealthy.

If represented at all, the suburban middle class is still a political battleground and can swing either way.


None of this is constant. A lot of the older folks here can remember a time when the Democratic Party was dominated by conservative and rural voters. Change is the only constant.

Parties change over time. One could argue that both the Democratic and Republican parties have very little present resemblance to what existed 25-30 years ago, a relatively short time horizon.

[GunnerTHB]

I do find it interesting that if you look at the 2016 Primary Election map, the rural counties around Kansas City & Columbia voted for Cruz, but the rural counties around St. Louis voted for Trump. SW Missouri was won by Cruz, plus Cape Girardeau County & Marion County (A county which I know nothing about). Everything else was won by Trump. Is this relevant to this discussion at all? I'm not sure.

[FalstaffBlues]

Originally Posted by GunnerTHB

I do find it interesting that if you look at the 2016 Primary Election map, the rural counties around Kansas City & Columbia voted for Cruz, but the rural counties around St. Louis voted for Trump. SW Missouri was won by Cruz, plus Cape Girardeau County & Marion County (A county which I know nothing about). Everything else was won by Trump. Is this relevant to this discussion at all? I'm not sure.

More wealth/education in those areas?