[valpoguy]

Well, notice I said "to an extent". I meant by Oklahoma standards, not by normal standards and most certainly not by Berkeley standards. I've met more long-haired young hippie types who like to play musical instruments, play outside, maybe even live semi-communally in the woods, etc., per capita from there than I have from just about anywhere else in Oklahoma, though. Go hang out at Roxie's some night. I think outside of the Paseo and some small pockets in Tulsa, Norman, and Stillwater, Tahlequah has to come the closest to what the original poster was looking for.

I don't think anything in Oklahoma matches what he was looking for, though. There is no Oklahoma version of Austin, which is why so many Okies end up in the actual Austin.

Heck, just the fact that you were in Berkeley in the hippie days and ended up in Tahlequah pretty much makes my point for me. There probably isn't anyone with that resume in Idabel, Elk City, Blackwell, or Perry.

[Mattie Jo]

Interesting valpoguy,

I believe this is an area that hippies would like. I have never been to Roxie's. Maybe someday we will have to check it out.

Austin was a pretty cool town. I really liked it, but it was too expensive to live there when we lived in Texas.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie

But paying higher taxes is certainly worth it if they have been wisely spent for the betterment of society. For instance, the living conditions in Massachusettes are much better than they are in Oklahoma with people having higher income, less poverty, better health and better educated people.

Do you really think higher taxes in OK would even partly solve the poverty issues, do you honesty think the more you spend on education, the better educated kids who don't want to learn will be? There are some things that are helped by higher taxes, one being roads. Better medical conditions are not a product of higher taxes. You can't compare apples and oranges. What Mass offers is very different from what one would expect living in OK.

Nita

[valpoguy]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Jesseka,

This is the secret to being accepted period. Volunteer your services, take part in the community and keep an open mind. Being liberal or conservative doesn't make you a better person or make it easier to be accepted

I realize that "liberal" and "conservative" have become very loaded terms that don't mean what they're supposed to mean anymore, but keep in mind that when many talk about "liberal" they are, in fact, talking about keeping "an open mind" and being community-centered more than anything. I think you're saying the same thing they are, just using different terms.

same with what church you belong to does. If that were the case we would have no friends in NM cause we are not catholic.

In my experience this is one major difference between Catholicism and Fundamentalism, and by extension between New Mexico and Oklahoma. (I've lived in both states.) There are certainly some churches known for being more accepting than others, and I would agree with the earlier poster who talked about Unitarian Universalism being one of (if not THE) most accepting. Obviously these things vary from place to place, congregation to congregation, and person to person, but there are certainly overall general trends.

I'm curious, where in NM do you live? I can't see calling it politically "liberal" unless you're in a place like Santa Fe or Taos, or perhaps parts of Albuquerque. The state as a whole certainly isn't. It may not be as conservative as OK (few places are), but it did go to Bush in both '00 and '04.

I really miss the Sangre De Cristos, and go back to the Land of Enchantment every chance I get, which sadly isn't all that often lately.

[valpoguy]

Originally Posted by jessaka

Interesting valpoguy,

I believe this is an area that hippies would like. I have never been to Roxie's. Maybe someday we will have to check it out.

There are some local artists there like My Tea Kind and Randy Crouch (either solo or backing the Red Dirt Rangers), and another young bluegrass-type band whose name I'm blanking on. If you go to any of their shows you'll see a few Okie hippies.

Austin was a pretty cool town. I really liked it, but it was too expensive to live there when we lived in Texas.

Oh, it's the greatest. It is definitely getting expensive and overcrowded, but still...If I had to live in a tiny apartment in a bad area of town to move there, I would! I'm always checking the job listings there.

[Mattie Jo]

I was thinking of your posts and something you said, and I wondered where I would live if I were vert weathy. I love Oklahoma, especially east, but I would also want a home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and maybe in Italy once I saw it. (Photos of Italy are wonderful), but I would not choose Austin or Santa Fe. I love New Orleans, but mainly the French Quarter, and I love Key West, and Ashland, OR. I wouldn't buy a house in any of those places though.

I wrote down the names of the bands you mentioned.

[valpoguy]

Well yeah, if I were wealthy and could live anywhere, I wouldn't choose Austin or Santa Fe, either! Those are places where I realistically would like to live.....places where I know people and there are jobs in my field. If we're talkin' fantasy-land, I could come up with all sorts of cool places.

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Do you really think higher taxes in OK would even partly solve the poverty issues, do you honesty think the more you spend on education, the better educated kids who don't want to learn will be? There are some things that are helped by higher taxes, one being roads. Better medical conditions are not a product of higher taxes. You can't compare apples and oranges. What Mass offers is very different from what one would expect living in OK.

Nita

Well, if we wish to improve the living standards of Oklahoma we had best find out what other states are doing that rate higher and copy off of it. After all, Oklahoma has to compete with 49 other states as a good place to live.

Of course, raising taxes can produce better medical conditions. Raising taxes on cigarettes will discourage consumption of them. A couple of decades ago California did this, found it works, and many other states, including Oklahoma have followed along.

But nevertheless, if you just study the statistics, you'll find that in states where taxes are higher than in Oklahoma the living conditions are higher. It just can not be disputed. For instance, Minnesota has higher taxes than Oklahoma and as a result it's living conditions just about make Oklahoma look like a third world state.

[Jammie]

Stillwater, sorry but I have to disagree with you. Just recently we learned what type of shape a huge bridge in Mn. was in. Isolated incident? Maybe, but it is something to consider.

[docgary2]

I don't count myself as a 'Liberal' but a 'Libertarian'
ie Libertarian party and I often read lewrockwell.com
My hesitancy to get involved with Repubs and Dems is
largely due to the scandals and hypocricy that goes
up in the upper echelon of Washington.
I have seriously considered Talequah as a place to settle
down, but wonder if I would fit in after being an ex pat
for so many years, especially after living in China/Hong Kong
and Taiwan, having learned Mandarin and finding Asian customs
and ideas regarding 'being liberal' quite different than
the thoughts of my own countrymen.
Any thoughts or comments are certainly appreciated. I am interested
in Cherokee and Native American customs due to my work as a
healer (homoeopathic, herbs) and interest in Chinese Medicine.