What city in TN would be described as the most liberal in the state? (Memphis: university, military)

[gimme it]

Is it Nashville? Any other cities that are smaller?

[VolDude]

Memphis city is controlled by the Democratic party and there are a few small west TN towns that are blue, but I wouldn't go as far to say they're that liberal. Across the board "liberal positions," like you'll see in San Francisco or Boston, are just not that prevalent in TN. Think Southern Democrat.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by VolDude

Memphis city is controlled by the Democratic party and there are a few small west TN towns that are blue, but I wouldn't go as far to say they're that liberal. Across the board "liberal positions," like you'll see in San Francisco or Boston, are just not that prevalent in TN. Think Southern Democrat.

I agree. Memphis is overwhelmingly Democrat. But when it comes to Califorina-style Democrats, Nashville is probably more liberal than Memphis even though it's also more Republican than Memphis.

Jackson County, up on the lower reaches of the Cumberland Plateau, has become quite a little hotbed of old guard hippies and flower children. I believe it's the only county in Tennessee east of Nashville that went for Obama. Even Al Gore's "home county" (haha) of Smith County went for McCain.

[Hishiad]

Johnson City on paper could be very liberal....ETSU boast an extremely diverse population of students.


Liberal is a tricky word...

[akm4]

There's a joke in very red Williamson County about the influx of Nissan folks from Orange County. What do you call a SoCal Republican once they move to TN? A Democrat.

It works in reverse, too. When a Southern liberal moves to Orange County, they see what was considered radically left in TN may actually fall on the conservative side in CA.

Most liberal smaller city in TN- Sewanee?

[Michi_B]

I would be interested to know the answer to this 'liberal' question, too. I'm considering a move to Clarksville...coming to visit soon to scope it out more closely. I have to say, though, that some of the things I've been reading on the Internet make it sound like you HAVE to be VERY conservative Christian and you HAVE to be Republican or NO ONE in Tennessee will have anything to do with you, and you'll be basically run out of town.

I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate depiction, however, and I'm hoping to have that myth dispelled.

I am a Democrat who voted for Obama and a liberal Christian -- Lutheran, actually. I am also heavily tattooed, highly educated, and work for myself. I keep to myself and have no problem with people whose views are not the same as mine, because I welcome diversity and what we can learn from one another. I'm not interested in changing people so that they'll agree with me or do things 'like they did where I came from.' If I wanted people to do things like they do where I am now, I'd just stay here!

But I'm also not interested in being shunned or looked down upon or treated poorly because I don't agree with 'them.'

I realize that there will be some people everywhere who would have a problem with me...that's not what I'm getting at...I guess what I'm looking for is the level of overall acceptance for people who are different but keep to themselves, are friendly, honest people, and cause no trouble.

I would think with a military base and a university that Clarksville would be a bit more diverse and accepting, but I could also be wrong about that.

Am I going to survive in Clarksville?

[jabogitlu]

Dunno about Clarksville, you'll probably be fine. These days the only places you'll run into problems is little communities of 200 or less people. I know you'd do well in the Big 3 and also Jackson, the Tri-Cities and Cookeville.

To the above poster, Johnson City does have some pockets of liberalism here and there. Mostly the South State of Franklin area around the university, and into the Tree Streets. But, yeah... you're not going to find anything like Boston or Cali here. Not even in our big cities. For its size, population and geographic location, I would say that JC is somewhat liberal. But note that that is a relative judgment, and not in comparison to any other cities outside of this geographic area.

[LauraC]

Originally Posted by Michi_B

I would be interested to know the answer to this 'liberal' question, too. I'm considering a move to Clarksville...coming to visit soon to scope it out more closely. I have to say, though, that some of the things I've been reading on the Internet make it sound like you HAVE to be VERY conservative Christian and you HAVE to be Republican or NO ONE in Tennessee will have anything to do with you, and you'll be basically run out of town.

I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate depiction, however, and I'm hoping to have that myth dispelled.

I am a Democrat who voted for Obama and a liberal Christian -- Lutheran, actually. I am also heavily tattooed, highly educated, and work for myself. I keep to myself and have no problem with people whose views are not the same as mine, because I welcome diversity and what we can learn from one another. I'm not interested in changing people so that they'll agree with me or do things 'like they did where I came from.' If I wanted people to do things like they do where I am now, I'd just stay here!

But I'm also not interested in being shunned or looked down upon or treated poorly because I don't agree with 'them.'

I realize that there will be some people everywhere who would have a problem with me...that's not what I'm getting at...I guess what I'm looking for is the level of overall acceptance for people who are different but keep to themselves, are friendly, honest people, and cause no trouble.

I would think with a military base and a university that Clarksville would be a bit more diverse and accepting, but I could also be wrong about that.

Am I going to survive in Clarksville?

Why are you moving here? Is it because it's cheaper here than where you are from? Then you have to ask yourself - Might the reason be because where you're from is very liberal?

[cashmannsdq]

I would say that Clarksville is equally split among Conservative and Liberal. A good balance.

[Michi_B]

Hi LauraC,

Yes, I am moving there partially because it's cheaper, especially where housing is concerned. Also to get the four seasons again instead of the constant summer that is basically what I get here in the Florida panhandle, and there are other reasons. This is NOT a liberal area here, and I haven't had any problems...I just wanted to make sure I wasn't moving to an area where I would be deliberately made unwelcome by the majority.

Originally Posted by LauraC

Why are you moving here? Is it because it's cheaper here than where you are from? Then you have to ask yourself - Might the reason be because where you're from is very liberal?