What is the truth about Gilbert's political leaning? (Phoenix, Mesa: good schools, living in)

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by MN-Born-n-Raised

Literally three days ago, I was talking to a "right wing conservative" and said I thought something kind of "sucked". I literally got an earful on how that offended him with my profanity. He asked me if I knew the origin of the word. I told them that I guessed the origion was related to when a runner sucks-wind: which means he or she is inadequate. He had a different meaning. The business that he owns says on his website that it's a "Christian owned business". Whatever.

So some right wing conservative think they are better than others and are judgemental. Thankfully this guy was in the sever minority. So if I had a wine (or 4) will I be judged by a Morman?? Isn't that a big no-no (drinking)??

The only people I've known to advertise Christian owned business are the born again Christians. I had one working for me years ago in a different type of business. He had the born again Christian logo on his car. Just before I fired him, I learned that while he was supposed to be out working for me, he was out promoting his wine selling business.

I think most Mormans don't drink alcohol.

We belong to a club of around 100 members and the members are made up of many religions including Mormans. The club furnishes beverages for the monthly pot luck dinners, and we stock soft drinks and wine with the club funds.

The members who don't drink alcohol will drink the sodas. The members who drink alcohol will drink the wine. A couple of people bring their own hard liquor so they can have a martini, or whatever they want. No one cares what the others drink.

[SlowHeavyGroove]

I've lived in Gilbert for 3 years now and have a 10 inch goatee, have a half sleeve of tattoos, am an alcoholic, and have had no problems. I rarely leave the area, shop locally and everyone knows me at my regular stores(kinda hard to miss me). Everyone is friendly and polite....and if you never really leave the area as I stated....you feel like youre living in a small town. Politics have never been an issue, and have I never run across someone spouting their beliefs in the street or anywhere else. Despite my appearance, I'm far more right than even the far right.....so even if someone wanted to give me a piece of their mind....I'd blow theirs.......Gilbert is a great place to live.....low crime.....nice neighborhoods, and all the stores and restaurants you need to survive. And to be honest, I've never followed or been affected by the politics of the town.....I just live here, and live.

[dsmovingfromaustin]

Wow, I'm really surprised people were so upset with the "right wing" comment. There are different degrees to the political spectrum. People on the far right are generally referred to as right wing, I don't see how that is pejorative. Would it be any different if we mentioned left wing??

We are looking for much more than a safe community in which people take care of their property. My husband and I are Sikh and we've lived in conservative upscale communities in the past. Yes, they were safe but the neighbors didn't exactly embrace us either or we always had to bend over backwards to be friendly just to be accepted. We've lived in more moderate to liberal communities and our experience was much more positive. We don't mind moderate communities but ones that lean to the right are something we are not in favor of. Based on the responses, it seems like Gilbert is a little too conservative for us and we will look elsewhere in the Valley. Thanks to everyone for responding.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by dsmovingfromaustin

People on the far right are generally referred to as right wing, I don't see how that is pejorative. Would it be any different if we mentioned left wing??

Nope. That's pejorative, too.

The Phoenix metro area is huge, so I'm confident you'll find the right place for you, whether east valley or west, or within the city itself. Best wishes on your search.

[Bondurant]

You're going to give up on Gilbert based upon a handful of posts on a message board?

[shadow750]

I think you're probably making a good choice. I own a home in Gilbert but work in Texas (SA and Austin). Gilbert is decidedly more conservative than Austin, and more idealogical than SA. Also, it seems to me that I "bump into" political discussions in Arizona a lot more than I do in Texas. I am a fiscal conservative /social liberal (Silicon Valley breed), so I'm quite left of most folks I met in Gilbert. I stopped socializing there two years before moving to Texas because I found the dinner parties, etc., awkward -- with so many discussions ending up political. Even casual banter from a repair guy included comments like "... if the 'libs' have their way...." When trying to sell my house, a realtor showing it kept raving about "how great Sheriff Joe is". I think if you lean right, as some of the posters above admit they do, you just don't notice it. Much like as a white person I never really noticed how much bigotry exists until I dated someone of another race and saw the reactions they faced on a daily basis.

On the plus side, I think Gilbert's council has put in place a lot of what I consider socially-left community-oriented investments: bike paths EVERYwhere in Gilbert, sidewalks, parks everywhere, great town rec center, great library, dog park, free compost bin for residents, amazing recycling program, and the roads are in excellent shape compared to Texas (this likely more a function of how much younger the town is than SA, in particular). Plus, what I really think is great in Gilbert: lagging left turns!!! They are awesome life-savers, whether people realize that or not.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by shadow750

I think you're probably making a good choice. I own a home in Gilbert but work in Texas (SA and Austin). Gilbert is decidedly more conservative than Austin, and more idealogical than SA. Also, it seems to me that I "bump into" political discussions in Arizona a lot more than I do in Texas. I am a fiscal conservative /social liberal (Silicon Valley breed), so I'm quite left of most folks I met in Gilbert. I stopped socializing there two years before moving to Texas because I found the dinner parties, etc., awkward -- with so many discussions ending up political. Even casual banter from a repair guy included comments like "... if the 'libs' have their way...." When trying to sell my house, a realtor showing it kept raving about "how great Sheriff Joe is". I think if you lean right, as some of the posters above admit they do, you just don't notice it. Much like as a white person I never really noticed how much bigotry exists until I dated someone of another race and saw the reactions they faced on a daily basis.

On the plus side, I think Gilbert's council has put in place a lot of what I consider socially-left community-oriented investments: bike paths EVERYwhere in Gilbert, sidewalks, parks everywhere, great town rec center, great library, dog park, free compost bin for residents, amazing recycling program, and the roads are in excellent shape compared to Texas (this likely more a function of how much younger the town is than SA, in particular). Plus, what I really think is great in Gilbert: lagging left turns!!! They are awesome life-savers, whether people realize that or not.

That is true in my community too, and it is a long way from Gilbert. We never can have a community event where someone is not spouting off for all to hear about Obama and socialism taking over the country. I think this "sickness" may be nationwide. There was a time when people kept their politics to themselves in mixed company. No more. It certainly is not confined to Gilbert.

[_Charles_]

Gilbert is predominately LDS. The majority of Mormons are conservative Republicans.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

Gilbert is predominately LDS. The majority of Mormons are conservative Republicans.

Where on earth did you get the information that Gilbert is predominately LDSi?

Wikipedia states that less than 13% of the population of Gilbert are Mormons.

Take a look at the terrific stats available on city-data here. Shows 43% Catholic, 38% Other, 13% Mormon, 6% Southern Baptist.

Oh yeah, 44% of the population of Maricopa County voted for Obama. Not exactly as right wing conservative as you would think, eh? (and yes, I'm a registered republican.)

And one more interesting bit of information (from July, 2009): 5 Senators were Mormon ( 2 Democrats and 3 Republicans; *Note Harry Reid D-Nevada, Tom Udall D-New Mexico; so in other words, 40% of LDS Senators are Democrats)

Geez, before you make remarks like this, check your facts.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by dsmovingfromaustin

Wow, I'm really surprised people were so upset with the "right wing" comment. There are different degrees to the political spectrum. People on the far right are generally referred to as right wing, I don't see how that is pejorative. Would it be any different if we mentioned left wing??

We are looking for much more than a safe community in which people take care of their property. My husband and I are Sikh and we've lived in conservative upscale communities in the past. Yes, they were safe but the neighbors didn't exactly embrace us either or we always had to bend over backwards to be friendly just to be accepted. We've lived in more moderate to liberal communities and our experience was much more positive. We don't mind moderate communities but ones that lean to the right are something we are not in favor of. Based on the responses, it seems like Gilbert is a little too conservative for us and we will look elsewhere in the Valley. Thanks to everyone for responding.

While I don't agree that you absolutely would feel uncomfortable in Gilbert, I sense that YOU feel that you would. You might want to consider Scottsdale and Tempe, and possibly Chandler.