Why is Orange County Still Republican? (Los Angeles, San Francisco: how much, home, incomes)

[j760]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

I AM embarrassed that enough Americans expect so much of their government that they elected the guy who promised to take care of everyone. Free health care for you! Free education for you! Free house for you! Free gas for you!

I'm surprised that the economy isn't fixed, the war isn't over, and that everyone's mortgages aren't paid off by now to be honest with you. I thought for sure the moment he was elected everything was going to be hunky dory.

I agree with everything you just said by the way. And the question is why is Orange County still Republican? My answer is Thank God it still is!

[slang75]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

People that work for a living and take care of their own problems instead of waiting for the government to fix everything?

I have never understood arguments like this. If you look at who is getting the majority of welfare and help in the united states it's overwhelmingly in the red states and counties.

OC is an anomaly in CA since you'd think it would be blue. I think it's part $$$ and part the mega-church Christians. I have no problem with fiscal conservatives (tho I think it's a dying breed). It's the social conservatives that I don't get. For people that want the government to stay out of THEIR lives, they're sure FOR the government poking into their neighbors.

[happ]

Originally Posted by slang75

I have never understood arguments like this. If you look at who is getting the majority of welfare and help in the united states it's overwhelmingly in the red states and counties.

OC is an anomaly in CA since you'd think it would be blue. I think it's part $$$ and part the mega-church Christians. I have no problem with fiscal conservatives (tho I think it's a dying breed). It's the social conservatives that I don't get. For people that want the government to stay out of THEIR lives, they're sure FOR the government poking into their neighbors.

Hard-core Republicans are anti-intellectual who even believe in "creationism." They don't trust someone who is smart because it challenges their own insecurity & limited self-confidence. Its like "country people" who mistrust the "city slickers."

This mentality is understandable in rural America but not in urban Orange county. That's why I believe that once the old white racists die off than Orange county will join the rest of California & reject the GOP.

[missionhome]

I think taxes are a major reason for most Orange County residents in addition to a large church presence here.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I think taxes are a major reason for most Orange County residents in addition to a large church presence here.

Because there's a ton of entrepreneurs in OC who make good money and are tired of being viewed as a limitless ATM by the government.

[califantastic]

Obama won Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Santa Ana...

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Because there's a ton of entrepreneurs in OC who make good money and are tired of being viewed as a limitless ATM by the government.

My husband is among them. We are just a little bit over Obama's "threshold" for a tax increase and it isn't like my husband was born with it. He was born in a 15 foot trailer and his family lived in poverty in Indiana. His parents couldn't afford to send him to college so he went to the US Naval Academy because it was free, got a B.S. in Engineering, served in the military for several years, and then finally got into the business world starting at Boeing and now at the company in Irvine where he is today.

He has worked hard to provide for our family and get where he is. We donate money, already pay higher taxes, help support my sister's bills for their severely autistic daughter, and give back to this region because we are thankful for what we have. Giving even more money to the government to get lost in the national debt and get irresponsibly spent is not why my husband goes to work everyday.

[Mach50]

I'm embarrassed of OC, these repubs here just vote to protect their bank accounts, nothing for the good of us all.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by missionhome

My husband is among them. We are just a little bit over Obama's "threshold" for a tax increase and it isn't like my husband was born with it. He was born in a 15 foot trailer and his family lived in poverty in Indiana. His parents couldn't afford to send him to college so he went to the US Naval Academy because it was free, got a B.S. in Engineering, served in the military for several years, and then finally got into the business world starting at Boeing and now at the company in Irvine where he is today.

He has worked hard to provide for our family and get where he is. We donate money, already pay higher taxes, help support my sister's bills for their severely autistic daughter, and give back to this region because we are thankful for what we have. Giving even more money to the government to get lost in the national debt and get irresponsibly spent is not why my husband goes to work everyday.

BTW missionhome your husband and I sound very similar in upbringings, I was a Navy Officer, born to agriculture workers(Irish dad, Mexican mother), I sent myself to school for Aerospace Engineering, worked fulltime while going to school. I got out after 6 years and serving during the Desert Storm aboard the JFK. I worked for Lockheed Martin after getting out of the military as a LT.

Now my wife and I make over the 250k too.

But you know what? I know Obama is right for this country, I voted for the country not for my pocket book. We need to get out of these stupid wars, build our economy and get better healthcare. We need to unify and Republicans want to stay isolated, I have had enough of this selfish attitude.

I am just thankful CA has a whole made up for the stupid selfishness of OC and Obama won!

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by Mach50

BTW missionhome your husband and I sound very similar in upbringings, I was a Navy Officer, born to agriculture workers, I sent myself to school, my wife and I make over the 250k too.

But you know what? I know Obama is right for this country, I voted for the country not for my pocket book.

I'm glad you did that. Not sure if you have kids, but I have three. Kids are expensive, housing is expensive, we have college expenses next year ($50,000 per year , are paying a lot to help my autistic niece, etc.... If we lived in Texas we would have a mansion and be able to go to Europe every single year. In California that is not the case. Putting enough money away for retirement, saving for putting kids through college (I will have all three in college at once in three years), higher taxes etc... gets expensive and suddenly your cushion of income isn't such a cushion.

I'm sorry if you are offended we voted this way. Financially it is what we needed to do, although I understand there are so many people worse off and I understand their votes also. I am looking forward to many things about Obama's Presidency such as the end of the War in Iraq and hopefully the turning around of the economic problems. We'll see how things go. It is a time for unity, not bickering with each other and I have pretty much moved on. Obama is the next president and after 8 years of Bush, not too much could go wrong