On Average Who Faces More Intolerance, Liberals Who Live In Red States Or Conservatives Who Live In Blue States ? (unemployment, interview)

[RocketSci]

During early voting, campaign signs are placed around around our local courthouse annex for all of the candidates running for office. Every election, every year - nearly EVERY DAY - all of the signs of democratic candidates are removed during the night. Never, ever, were the republican or independent signs missing. I drove by the courthouse daily, and I saw it with my own eyes.

During the 2008 election, the local democratic party headquarters building was heavily vandalized with garbage strewn, windows broken, signs removed, and graffiti covered. Didn't get reported on the local news, but I saw it with my own eyes.

During the 2006 elections a nearby home had a sign supporting the democratic candidates, and it was repeatedly stolen after it was replaced. The homeowner then put up a large wooden sign that said "you can steal my signs but you can't steal my vote" - and someone then set the sign on fire. I saw it happening every day with my own eyes.

During the 2008 elections I had signs supporting the democratic congressman stolen from my home 3 times. My house. I was there.

So, is there more intolerance toward "conservatives" than "liberals" ? I can only speak of my experience.

That said, I live in a red state, and I AM intolerant of people who are racially and ethnically bigoted, who discriminate and "hate" people because of their gender or gender preference, who believe that the government should force people to live within the "morality" of the predominant religion's belief system, who believe depriving the poor and weak of government assistance is a "family value", and who lie and spread lies about the President of the United States.

I listen to the crap of these kind of people every day at work, even today.

If they call themselves "conservatives" then heck yeah I am intolerant of them. But, this being a red state, I have to keep my mouth shut because I know my bosses feel the same way as they do, and I live in a "right to work" state - which means that the company has a "right" to fire me without cause at any time.

God Bless the USA.

[Georgiafrog]

Looks liek an even split between the Liberals and Conservatives on this forum. Guess it will be up to us 59 moderates to determine the next election. Better be nice to us.

[justme02]

I'm a liberal in a blue county, but in a very conservative state. I'm not silent, but I'm not in your face either. I've had no problems even in the conservative areas of Texas. However, I do know people who have.

[sonic3t]

I said liberals in conservative areas, even though it's close. I'm always hearing conservatives using the word 'liberal' as a swear word or insult. The word 'conservative' isn't used like that as much. Plus there are minorities (muslims, gays, etc) that are often liberal, and they face discrimination/hate from the people AND the governments of red states.

[theinfection]

I think they're both equally hated. There's regions where the predominant ideals completly shut out opposing political views and other places are more so so in coexisting without getting crazy. Still it's equall.

Something I noticed especially since the 2008 elections is that people change their perspective just to kinda oppose the norm. When Obama was running most of the nation believed he would deliver on his "change" branding. Fast forward to last years elections and the nation leaned towards the tea party conservatives "change" branding. So I think the heat levels change according to what's trending and hot at the current point.
Of course if there's a big buzz against liberals then more conservatives will be conveyed to express themselves in a "told you so" kind of way. Same goes for liberals. So I'd have to say both because states and counties fluctuated between red and blue in the past 2 years along with the views and what topics are considered easier to talk about in the community. Hope that makes sense to you guys.

[davidals]

I live in a swing state that - at the moment is almost a bipolar state - and it can be tough to be a liberal here, even if you're a born-and-bred native. But in all fairness, it seems like political discourse on both sides here in NC has become a lot more intense and angry, and the fact that with most (not all) issues the split always is (a) nearly 50-50, and (b) either breaks along generational or rural-vs-urban lines, that just heightens the polarization.

[NaughtyDozens]

liberals who live in red states, by far

[313Weather]

lol at the results...

[Marce30]

Conservatives tend to be more intolerant. When you live in the city people are too busy to notice if you are gay, straight, black, yellow, Jewish, etc. Everyone mind their own bussiness and that's the way its supposed to be.
In a small city (which most of them time tend to be VERY conservative) people would judge you if you dont go to church, if you dont believe in God or because you are just different.

[workaholics]

The red state/blue state divide is getting pretty ridiculous by now. The concept of extreme political and social polarization based on state borders was never really a thing before the 2000s. I mean look at Illinois and Indiana. Indiana is solidly red (with the exception of 2008) and the other is solidly blue, but does anybody want to tell me that the two states are all that different overall?

I've found that extreme political polarization doesn't exist in most places. Yeah, in a lot of cities you'll find a ton of liberals and democrats clustered together, and in a handful of suburbs and rural areas you'll find conservative groupthink. But in most places in America, people are mostly moderate.

We've been lead to believe that Republicans and Democrats both have completely different visions. But in the end, we all basically want a strong economy, safe streets, good schools, freedom to live our lives and a government that works for us, which isn't red or blue.

If you're a fundamentalist zealot living in upper east side Manhattan, you'll probably get some negative feedback. Same thing if you're a militant atheist liberal living in Utah. But most people fall in between the spectrum and live in communities with a diversity of beliefs, and if you happen to be a mainstream liberal living in a conservative community, I really don't think people will harass you if you're a sane, decent person who contributes to the community.

My family is more to the left and we live in a pretty Republican outer suburb of Atlanta, and our beliefs have never been an issue. Sure, most of the people we come into contact with are conservatives, but it's really not a deal breaker for us or them when it comes to establishing friendships and living and working together.

We need to move away from the polarization. If we don't, a simple D or R label could become as dangerous as being a Crip of a Blood. Let's all just tone it downnnnnn.