What is the political temperature in NH? (Hanover, Washington: college, tax)

[sevdie]

You don't have to give me your personal view, I am just curious as to the overall general politicl view of NH. I hear the motto "Live free or die", but couls someone elaborate on that? Forgive my ignorance, but I would love to hear from people who live there rather than just read up on this type of thing or guess. Thanks!

[Earthangel1776]

I think people here overall tend to be more conservative than people in Mass. and definitely more so than in Vermont. I'd say NH may be the most conservative of the New England states. But many of the people moving up here from Mass. bring their political viewpoints with them. There is a pretty equal mix here, including a lot of independents and libertarians. Many of the people here tend to be rugged Yankees who have made their way to success by working hard, and for whom the liberal platform doesn't jive. But I know a lot of liberals too. Pretty much, anything goes here!

[Dragondog]

New Hampshire was once one of the most conservative states 25-30 years ago- and the most republican/conservative in the northeast. That has changed however, the state has been 'blue' in the presidential elections of 1992, 1996, and 2004. Yes many have moved from neighboring Mass. and brought their political views with them, but also the 'radical' right wing, which is what most of the GOP has become, has turned off many in New Hampshire which may hold conservative views on economic issues, but tend to be liberal on social issues.
And therefore, it has joined the rest of New England in becoming a 'block of blue states' in the region.

[New Hampshire]

New Hampshire has a strong libertarian streak. In fact, the Libertarians have targeted New Hampshire, encouraging its members to move here, and become involved in politics. Libertarian in the sense that NH wants minimum involvement by the government in their lives. There are a minimum of laws, regulations, etc. The flip side is that there is a minimum of public services and public redress of grievances. Courts favor the plaintiff. Judges are not elected.

In terms of voting, I think NH would like to vote moderate Republican given a chance - very frugal, but not ideologues. Our senators and representatives call themselves conservative, but they are not conservative by the standards I now see in Washington. They are fiscally conservative, but don't have an ideological agenda.

This describes almost all of New Hampshire. The major exception is Hanover, a college town - Dartmouth College - which votes Democratic.

[sevdie]

Thanks for the description. I was also asking about Hanover in another thread, so you answered both of my questions. Thanks.

[Mark S.]

What kind of conservative are most NH conservatives? Are they the working class, traditional values, old-fashioned type? Or the old money type? Or both?

Just curious.

[Earthangel1776]

I'd say they mostly tend to be self-made working class people which hold to traditional family values, as most native New Englanders do. Not too much "old money" here in NH! I heard many of them call in on Massachusetts talk-radio shows and they usually express moderate conservative viewpoints, which include favoring traditional values, smaller, less-interventive government and favoring tax laws that make it feasible for small businesses to thrive, as opposed to bleeding them dry.

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Earthangel1776

I'd say they mostly tend to be self-made working class people which hold to traditional family values, as most native New Englanders do. Not too much "old money" here in NH! I heard many of them call in on Massachusetts talk-radio shows and they usually express moderate conservative viewpoints, which include favoring traditional values, smaller, less-interventive government and favoring tax laws that make it feasible for small businesses to thrive, as opposed to bleeding them dry.

I'm all for policies that promote small, locally-owned businesses. But I'm all for policies that bleed dry Big Business (since Big Business hurts the locally-owned businesses).

Does that make me a liberal or a conservative?

[Dragondog]

Mark S.

I would say you are center to slightly left- the current GOP cares nothing for small business-only the huge corporate monsters and their overpaid CEO'S

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by Dragondog

the current GOP cares nothing for small business-only the huge corporate monsters and their overpaid CEO'S

I could not agree more. Further, that seems the very antithesis of freedom to me. I love NH's motto: "Live Free or Die." If that holds true, isn't it time for NH to kick out Big Business and invest in their own economy?