How liberal is Austin? (Houston, Dallas: city hall, neighborhoods, living)

[readymade]

Originally Posted by love roses

Speaking of bumper stickers and liberal/conservative viewpoints: I still get a kick out of the one my sister saw while driving to work a while back..."I'd rather go hunting with Cheney than for a ride with Ted Kennedy"

Oh my god, that made me laugh out loud! HAH!

[DeadInSuburbia]

Originally Posted by Susyq25

I've noticed, more than once, the word "liberal" is used to describe Austin.
(I don't want to annoy anyone so i'll tell you up front that politics is not my cup of tea.)

Just exactly how liberal is it?

Dixie Chic "i'm ashamed to be from the same state as George Bush" liberal?

Those of us that are from CA know what it's like to be from a liberal state and it's not always pretty and might be the reason why some of us are leaving.

My husband is a conservative, Bush supporter, "no spin zone" fan, veteran. Would someone like him be uncomfortable there, not able to blend in or enjoy the city?

SA has several military bases, is that a more conservative city?

What do you locals think? Care to start up a political debate.

Personally I doubt locals would make you uncomfortable, but you may not feel "at home." I am moving to Austin from Atlanta partly because Austin is more liberal than anyplace I've found in Georgia. There are too many people like your husband here ;-)

" Those of us that are from CA know what it's like to be from a liberal state and it's not always pretty"? Maybe I should move THERE!

[DeadInSuburbia]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

I still find these liberal/conservative threads amusing. And I still want to know how being liberal or conservative manifests in your daily life, other than at the voting booth?

I have a theory about this, but it relates to Atlanta (Sprawl Capital of the South): Atlanta's sprawl is directly related to its spirit of self-government and lack of interest in any kind of planning authority whatsoever. Without nearly enough restraint, it's grown into a massive cancer covering much of north Georgia.

I think decisions in daily life manifest in things like driving way out to the burbs (or from burb to burb) because of a desire to have a huge house for the same money; perhaps even driving a Hummer to get there because it's "my right" to drive what I want.

I think you see more of that in conervative cities.

[DeadInSuburbia]

Originally Posted by atlanta hope

Yep, I'll second that statement.

You too, weird and moving from Atlanta? We're taking over!

[love roses]

Austin isn't so liberal that a conservative would be uncomfortable there or not feel at home. It's definitely not a NYC or San Francisco or Seattle. Just outside of Austin Central everything is mainly conservative anyway.

[artsyguy]

ya but most areas are not hardcore conservative. They are moderate/conservative.

The larger cities like San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas are pretty progressive and diversified.

Originally Posted by love roses

Austin isn't so liberal that a conservative would be uncomfortable there or not feel at home. It's definitely not a NYC or San Francisco or Seattle. Just outside of Austin Central everything is mainly conservative anyway.

[love roses]

Yeah, I can see that.

[SlumberPartiesbyGenipha]

Originally Posted by b. frank

So, artsy and liberal = weird?
Families and kids = conservative?

Any Austinites with families/kids take issue with this statement?
I hope so.

I do but I think I am an anomoly here. I am artsy/farsty and liberal from NY with kids but live in RR!

I think the bigger questions for Atx is the diversity. It's pretty poor here although I keep hearing people say its diverse. Its not. Maybe because I moved here from NY.

I recall reading that many minorities were leaving Austin for that reason.

[Aggiemundo]

I'm a 30 year old conservative who had read both of Rush Limbaugh's books by age 12, shed a tear every time I hear the national anthem at a ballgame, watch Fox News regularly, and generally ask myself "WWRD? -- What would Ronnie Do?" when thinking about politics.

When I left college I thought Houston or Dallas would be more my cup of tea, but the ideal job opened up in Austin - behind enemy lines and a place I never thought I'd be. I'm glad it did.

I love it here and have never felt uncomortable or unwanted. Its definately home, and the larger liberal presence than the rest of the state of Texas shouldn't deter a solid conservative or anyone else. Unless you have skin as thin as Ted Kennedy's blood on a Saturday night you'll be just fine and you might just have some fun conversations with those of an opposing point of view. You might even just become good friends with some of them. Hell, I once had a half hour chat with Leslie down on 6th Street one night. We may not have seen eye to eye, but s/he's seriously a really nice "gal"!

[bdjtexas]

Liberal? Austin is anything but liberal. It is about anti-liberal as most places in Texas. It falls a paltry 93 in the country - Little Rock, Arkansas is only 8 places behind it. Don't let the people here in Texas/Austin try and fool you. If you're looking for a progressive city, go to Dallas. Don't come near Austin. You'll only find prejudice, narcissism, and rudeness.