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One of the biggest correlations in politics is the tendency of rural voters to vote conservative and urban voters to vote progressive. One complaint that occasionally surfaces is how the city government ignores the voice of the rural voter.
How do politics differ in the two environments?
The government ignores the voice of rural and suburban and small town voters because of the bubble boys in the national news media all work in large cities and think the world revolves around them. Everyone they know thinks just like they do. The best example - When is the last time the national news media did stories on rural or suburban blacks and rural or suburban hispanics that didn't involve murder? It's not just white suburbia or rural America that they ignore. That's why people who live in big cities think the opinions and issues of people in rural, suburban and small town America are extreme.
Ever see news people (and some politicians) at the Iowa state fair before primary time? They're like Alice in Wonderland. Everything is foreign or special to them and yet many of them still drag their Washington/NY analysts with them to give their opinions based on data instead of talking to the local media. Greatly improved in this area is Brett Baier who although still has the elitist farts from DC on his panel also does a separate one with the local media.
The government ignores the voice of rural and suburban and small town voters because of the bubble boys in the national news media all work in large cities and think the world revolves around them. Everyone they know thinks just like they do. The best example - When is the last time the national news media did stories on rural or suburban blacks and rural or suburban hispanics that didn't involve murder? It's not just white suburbia or rural America that they ignore. That's why people who live in big cities think the opinions and issues of people in rural, suburban and small town America are extreme.
Ever see news people (and some politicians) at the Iowa state fair before primary time? They're like Alice in Wonderland. Everything is foreign or special to them and yet many of them still drag their Washington/NY analysts with them to give their opinions based on data instead of talking to the local media. Greatly improved in this area is Brett Baier who although still has the elitist farts from DC on his panel also does a separate one with the local media.
Not sure what you are talking about here, I have seen plenty of news segments talking about current issues with the heartland. Though to add to your statement, Fox News is located in the middle of Midtown Manhattan.
My impression...every area is different, but just in general...
In rural areas, the tendency is towards self-sufficiency in daily life, relying more on the same people-friends, neighbors, family members, people with a long history with the community-plus, having fewer amenities, an encouragement towards a rugged, no-frills lifestyle. Being in a small town or rural area, you pretty much will run into the same set of people on day-to-day basis, many of whom have lived there for a long time; the local community leaders keep in regular contact with much of the population. These include local leaders in businesses, churches, news organizations, and city and county governments.
All of these keep rural politics local and fairly personal, but combined with things like less religious diversity and more religiosity, on average, than the big cities-plus less ethnic and racial diversity, but also, often a less diversified local economy, making more people directly dependent on a smaller number of employers (often in "blue-collar" extractive or manufacturing industries-which tend to have something of a conservative mentality these days)-well, that all breeds conservatism naturally.
Combine all of that with rural Americans generally being distant from the federal government at best, suspicious of and cynical about it at worst...well, it's easy to see why rural America is more conservative than the cities.
In urban areas, you are exposed to a much greater and more diverse number of people, who live closer together than in rural areas. You will run into strangers all the time. The presence of government is undeniable in urban America. There is also plenty of demographic and cultural diversity of all kinds (other than political, perhaps, largely because of the other kinds of diversity fostering an overall liberal atmosphere!). Urban residents are used to rapid change and novelty, and are less likely to care about local traditions-or indeed, tradition in general.
All of this means that urban areas are generally much more liberal than rural areas in America. Of course, there are plenty of urban Republicans, just as there are plenty of rural Democrats. And the urban-rural divide is a continuum, with the suburban sprawl being in the middle.
An interesting difference is found in the healthcare debate. Rural and urban poor share many of the same problems with affordability and access to care, statistically, but rural poor tend to be more resistive to government programs while urban poor are more receptive.
A lot of this is due to different views on self-sufficiency. Not necessarily because rural people are inherently stronger, though I can say that the rural side of my family are pretty tough stock. Some of this difference is because of the special challenges of being poor in expensive urban areas. There are more social and practical barriers to real self-sufficiency in cities than in rural areas. Sounds counterintuitive, but it's true.
My impression...every area is different, but just in general...
In rural areas, the tendency is towards self-sufficiency in daily life, relying more on the same people-friends, neighbors, family members, people with a long history with the community-plus, having fewer amenities, an encouragement towards a rugged, no-frills lifestyle. Being in a small town or rural area, you pretty much will run into the same set of people on day-to-day basis, many of whom have lived there for a long time; the local community leaders keep in regular contact with much of the population. These include local leaders in businesses, churches, news organizations, and city and county governments.
All of these keep rural politics local and fairly personal, but combined with things like less religious diversity and more religiosity, on average, than the big cities-plus less ethnic and racial diversity, but also, often a less diversified local economy, making more people directly dependent on a smaller number of employers (often in "blue-collar" extractive or manufacturing industries-which tend to have something of a conservative mentality these days)-well, that all breeds conservatism naturally.
Combine all of that with rural Americans generally being distant from the federal government at best, suspicious of and cynical about it at worst...well, it's easy to see why rural America is more conservative than the cities.
In urban areas, you are exposed to a much greater and more diverse number of people, who live closer together than in rural areas. You will run into strangers all the time. The presence of government is undeniable in urban America. There is also plenty of demographic and cultural diversity of all kinds (other than political, perhaps, largely because of the other kinds of diversity fostering an overall liberal atmosphere!). Urban residents are used to rapid change and novelty, and are less likely to care about local traditions-or indeed, tradition in general.
All of this means that urban areas are generally much more liberal than rural areas in America. Of course, there are plenty of urban Republicans, just as there are plenty of rural Democrats. And the urban-rural divide is a continuum, with the suburban sprawl being in the middle.
Exactly! This has been my experience.
Rural voters also often have closer personal ties to their representatives as well, as politicians tend to rise up from where they live. A county commissioner comes from within his county, and a Congressional Representative comes from his district.
Less social and economic diversity in rural areas also creates conservative voting pockets in liberal states or liberal pockets in conservative states.
Less social and economic diversity in rural areas also creates conservative voting pockets in liberal states or liberal pockets in conservative states.
Wrong.
Being conservative comes from learning to be self-sufficient, and from understanding the nature of political power. This has NOTHING to do with "social and economic diversity". It's just one more of the veiled ways that you libs attempt to make this about the person, not the ideas, of your opposition.
Being conservative comes from learning to be self-sufficient, and from understanding the nature of political power. This has NOTHING to do with "social and economic diversity". It's just one more of the veiled ways that you libs attempt to make this about the person, not the ideas, of your opposition.
Understanding the nature of political power? Is that why you guys lost seats in 2012 and lost the presidency that you all thought you had in the bag? Self sufficient? You must think no one on any form of government aid votes for Republicans. Sounds like you don't know your own party that well.
Understanding the nature of political power? Is that why you guys lost seats in 2012 and lost the presidency that you all thought you had in the bag? Self sufficient? You must think no one on any form of government aid votes for Republicans. Sounds like you don't know your own party that well.
I'm not part of any political party. Get through your head, already.
And, "understanding the nature of political power" has nothing at all to do with winning elections. Understanding the nature of political power is what brought the founders to write the Declaration of Independence. And, it was why the winning side was those who argued for liberty, rather than a strong central power. They had just fought a war to rid themselves of capricious and unlimited government.
Wow, I'm just blown away at your lack of even basic English comprehension. Or, maybe it's that you do zero critical thinking. Either way, your response isn't even on topic.
I'm not part of any political party. Get through your head, already.
And, "understanding the nature of political power" has nothing at all to do with winning elections. Understanding the nature of political power is what brought the founders to write the Declaration of Independence. And, it was why the winning side was those who argued for liberty, rather than a strong central power. They had just fought a war to rid themselves of capricious and unlimited government.
Wow, I'm just blown away at your lack of even basic English comprehension. Or, maybe it's that you do zero critical thinking. Either way, your response isn't even on topic.
Ah yes, you are one of those Conservative Republicans who tries to pretend they aren't a Republican so you can blame others when the Republicans lose. So tell me, who do Conservatives vote for if they aren't calling themselves Republican? I am sure you have voted for numerous Democrats.
Ah yes, you are one of those Conservative Republicans who tries to pretend they aren't a Republican so you can blame others when the Republicans lose. So tell me, who do Conservatives vote for if they aren't calling themselves Republican? I am sure you have voted for numerous Democrats.
You do realize that being a "Republican" has to do with self-identification, right? Same as being a "Democrat" has to do with self-identification. You can choose to be part of a party... Or not. I choose "not" because I absolutely abhor party politics.
So, unless you're prepared to find my voter registration, alter it to say I'm affiliated with a party, then YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT OBFUSCATED.
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