Searching liberal PA small towns (Bloomsburg, Doylestown: crime, unemployment rate, living in)

[lipby]

I used to live in New England, where there were plenty of interesting, arts-conscious small towns in the countryside to visit-- places with culture and good food and vibrancy in attractive, bucolic settings. A lot of PA seems extremely conservative and (correspondingly) dull.

Besides New Hope, which I can take or leave, the only candidate I've discovered so far is Bloomsburg. Can anyone tell me where to find Vermont in PA?

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by lipby

I used to live in New England, where there were plenty of interesting, arts-conscious small towns in the countryside to visit-- places with culture and good food and vibrancy in attractive, bucolic settings. A lot of PA seems extremely conservative and (correspondingly) dull.

Besides New Hope, which I can take or leave, the only candidate I've discovered so far is Bloomsburg. Can anyone tell me where to find Vermont in PA?

I don't want to be flippant but how can you tell if a town is "liberal"?

[pinetar10]

Originally Posted by lipby

I used to live in New England, where there were plenty of interesting, arts-conscious small towns in the countryside to visit-- places with culture and good food and vibrancy in attractive, bucolic settings. A lot of PA seems extremely conservative and (correspondingly) dull.

Besides New Hope, which I can take or leave, the only candidate I've discovered so far is Bloomsburg. Can anyone tell me where to find Vermont in PA?

Ligonier, PA is a nice town with culture, countryside and good food, but its also conservative

[BPP1999]

Doylestown in Bucks County.

Swarthmore in Delaware County (the problem with Swarthmore is that there's not much to do in the town itself but it's extremely liberal, and proud of it).

How can you make the generalization that conservative towns don't have good food? Isn't that a bit of an oversimplification?

[Pilot1]

I don't know if these towns are liberal or conservative, but check out Eagles Mere and Wellsboro.

However, if you want to find Vermont, go to Vermont. PA is PA.

[BackToTheCityMouse]

One of the reasons that small towns in PA are dull is that a lot of central portion of the state has a shockingly low literacy rate: in some areas less than 70% of adults over 18 can read at the 8th grade level. This is a lower literacy rate than most developing nations.

In a low literacy environment, a greater number of people find themselves with no option other than to believe only what they are told is true by local authority figures -- who obviously support status quo as the basis of their power. This makes for a dull and very conservative society.

[HappyRider]

Originally Posted by BackToTheCityMouse

One of the reasons that small towns in PA are dull is that a lot of central portion of the state has a shockingly low literacy rate: in some areas less than 70% of adults over 18 can read at the 8th grade level. This is a lower literacy rate than most developing nations.

In a low literacy environment, a greater number of people find themselves with no option other than to believe only what they are told is true by local authority figures -- who obviously support status quo as the basis of their power. This makes for a dull and very conservative society.

Are these the same people who cling to their guns and religion?

[Icy Tea]

Bellefonte is a very scenic town that reminds me of Vermont. I'm not sure if any areas of Pa would be really like Vermont. Brattleboro Vermont is pro nudist, and there is a nudist colony in Brecknock or Robeson township in Berks, that might fit the bill.
Literacy rates vary across the state, the lowest being in the major urban areas. I'm not sure I'd classify these areas as being conservative, but they are definitely liberal. But they do value the status quo. The amish communities have lower literacy rates but lower unemployment rates and are very culturally established. Boring? hmmmm, maybe. But I don't find crime and violence exciting so I'll take boring rural over exciting urban anyday.

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by Pilot1

I don't know if these towns are liberal or conservative, but check out Eagles Mere and Wellsboro.

However, if you want to find Vermont, go to Vermont. PA is PA.

I couldn't agree more. Believe me, there is also much, much more to Pa. than Bloomsburg (no offense). From my many years here, I have found there is something for everyone, be they a city dweller, liberal, conservative or what have you. Naturally, some places. will be more consrvative than others, and vice versa. However, I will never paint Pa. as a "bland and boring" place overall, because that is so far from the truth.

One thing that I have learned from living in different locales is to never compare it to a former residence, hence I will have a very hard time adjusting. However, the natural inclination is indeed to compare, and that's understandable.

Additionally, I've been to Vermont and while I had a great time there, I personally would never live in that state for my own reasons. I will say if you seek what you are looking for in Pa., it will be here.

[Katiana]

I agree that if you want Vermont, go to Vermont.