What makes NH the only Red state in the region? (Concord: high school, income)

[GregW]

I agree with skytrekker. Most NH residents seem to believe a person's sexual orientation, religious beliefs and similar topics are an individual's choice not the governments’. This also seems to be changing as there are more and more fundamentalist Christian churches sprouting up around here. I just hope they stay out of politics. I believe politics is the realm of Mammon and should be the place we debate topics related to money, education, industrial development and taxation. I think we should not be debating marriage, abortion, and gun control because these are individual not communal topics.

I am not calling for a spendthrift extravagant government but a government responsive to the economic needs for good educations and industrial jobs for all the citizens and not just concerned with pristine views for the affluent vacationer.

[seamusnh]

My initial snide answer to the question was "intelligence".

I believe part of it is pushing govt down to the most local level. The more top heavy a state govt gets the more liberal it gets.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

From what I understand many Democrats who ran in 2006 never thinking they would get elected are not running for a second term. In Manchester alone it's looking like Republicans wil be picking up at least 7-10 Democratic seats. The thing about NH is that it was never as Republican as it seemed to be.....and it is in no way as Democratic as it seems to be now. The trends in this election cycle are Republican, and after Lynch's third term (yes, I think he wins in November) a Republican will take over the ofice. Lol.....we just need to hang on here

I agree. I am cautiously optomistic about this election that we will send a good deal of the pro-income tax- tax and spenders home and replace them with reps who realize the state should have to live within a budget-like you and I do. I hope enough people are angry over the 17.5% budget increase. I also hope people realize that if an income tax is implemented-your property tax will not disappear or reduce. The state senate seat in my district-currently held by a very liberal tax and spender- is considered the most vulnerable of all senate seats in the state. I do believe that the voters will send her home and elect the guy running who is fiscally conservative.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by nicolem

I agree. I am cautiously optomistic about this election that we will send a good deal of the pro-income tax- tax and spenders home and replace them with reps who realize the state should have to live within a budget-like you and I do. I hope enough people are angry over the 17.5% budget increase. I also hope people realize that if an income tax is implemented-your property tax will not disappear or reduce. The state senate seat in my district-currently held by a very liberal tax and spender- is considered the most vulnerable of all senate seats in the state. I do believe that the voters will send her home and elect the guy running who is fiscally conservative.

The state of Connecticut promised that the income tax it inacted in the 90s would "fix" the tax situation.....it fixed it alright, Conn is the second highest taxed state in the nation. Their property taxes, which the state promised would go down, only went down for a while. It's all about spending, spending, spending

NH is trending red again, and Sununu has caught up with our former tax & spend governor in the polls. Thanks to the Palin pick the Republican party has come back, and come back fast.

[thisguyrighthere]

I moved here recently from CT. I don't see where Greg is coming from at all. I've found wonderful job opportunities up here and misery is no where in sight (except maybe in the South near MA (as "progressive" as the area is)). However, CT with its wonderfully progressive taxes was nothing but misery. The entire state is filled with unemployed dependents and it isn't like jobs are hard to come by there. Just showing up and being literate had employers begging me to work for them.

I hope NH grows more and more libertarian over time not "progressive." If it turns into another CT or MA I'm apt to hang myself.

I think my old CT apartment and job are still vacant if you want to head down there and see all the progressive wonder for yourself Greg. The state will soon have two populations. The very poor and those wealthy enough to insulate themselves. There is no middle class left and the minuscule labor class that still exists is being wiped out through the states taxation, acceptance of illegals and out of control crime. NH has plenty of examples all around it of how not to run a state. Here's hoping it's people are paying attention.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by thisguyrighthere

I moved here recently from CT. I don't see where Greg is coming from at all. I've found wonderful job opportunities up here and misery is no where in sight (except maybe in the South near MA (as "progressive" as the area is)). However, CT with its wonderfully progressive taxes was nothing but misery. The entire state is filled with unemployed dependents and it isn't like jobs are hard to come by there. Just showing up and being literate had employers begging me to work for them.

I hope NH grows more and more libertarian over time not "progressive." If it turns into another CT orMA I'm apt to hang myself.

I think my old CT apartment and job are still vacant if you want to head down there and see all the progressive wonder for yourself Greg. The state will soon have two populations. The very poor and those wealthy enough to insulate themselves. There is no middle class left and the minuscule labor class that still exists is being wiped out through the states taxation, acceptance of illegals and out of control crime. NH has plenty of examples all around it of how not to run a state. Here's hoping it's people are paying attention.

NH is the only New England state that has had steady job growth and population growth over the last 30 years. It is voted again and again and again as the best state to live in for QUALITY of life in the USA. There's NOTHING progressive about Mass or Conn. People are moving out of there as fast as they can like they are moving out of other high tax states like Californa.

Liberals love diversity except where it concerns the tax situation.....then they want conformity. Sales taxes, income taxes, government involvment.

The left has always despised NH because it is different. NH shows that there are other ways to run a government. NH exposes the tax & spend folly for what is is.....nothing but a system to take the citizens money and pump it into pensions & jobs for state workers.

[maestramommy]

May I ask a question? Why is NH so important during elections, or is it just the primaries? It's such a small state population-wise, does it have a disproportionately large number in the electoral college? I don't ever remember learning about it, but I hear about NH every four years.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

May I ask a question? Why is NH so important during elections, or is it just the primaries? It's such a small state population-wise, does it have a disproportionately large number in the electoral college? I don't ever remember learning about it, but I hear about NH every
four years.

We are the first state in the nation that votes for the national ticket every 4 years. We can make, or break a politican. So we get a lot of attention.

[nicolem]

Originally Posted by maestramommy

May I ask a question? Why is NH so important during elections, or is it just the primaries? It's such a small state population-wise, does it have a disproportionately large number in the electoral college? I don't ever remember learning about it, but I hear about NH every four years.

No-we only have 4 electorial votes as that is based on population. NH is a different state because of the first in the nation primary. Candidates have to come here and they must actually talk to people, shake hands, etc. Many people expect all candidates to shake their hands. They have to visit certain diners, general stores and other establishments-it is tradition. The NH primary is almost like a sport to some. Candidates are much more available and aproachable than they are in other states. Also -NH is a make or break for some candidates-with many basing the future of their run on how they fare here. NH has reenergized many a campaign from Bill Clinton to most recently McCain.

[maestramommy]

Originally Posted by GregW

I agree with skytrekker. Most NH residents seem to believe a person's sexual orientation, religious beliefs and similar topics are an individual's choice not the governments’. This also seems to be changing as there are more and more fundamentalist Christian churches sprouting up around here. I just hope they stay out of politics. I believe politics is the realm of Mammon and should be the place we debate topics related to money, education, industrial development and taxation. I think we should not be debating marriage, abortion, and gun control because these are individual not communal topics.

Totally agreeing with you here, but if the rest of the GOP is any indication the churches will probably start to get much more active in politics if they can mobilize themselves.