Are cities like Livonia and Redford socialist/liberal? (Detroit, Ann Arbor: schools, living)

[theasker379]

It seems like it to me while Oakland County is far-right and Republican!

[MS313]

Oakland County usually votes democratic the majority of the time.

[animatedmartian]

Oakland - Election Results

Oakland County is generally 50/50. Most of the rural areas generally vote Republican, no surprise there, but there's almost an interesting ying-yang shape that is formed in the more populated part of the county. Quite a number of suburbs themselves seem 50/50 in most of their precincts.

http://media.macombgov.org/sites/def...ber_4_2008.pdf (long PDF file)

Macomb County is somewhat similar with a 50/50 split. There's only a handful of suburbs that have any great margin towards one end or the other.

Wayne County Clerk | Elections Results November 2008

Wayne County, however, is what tips the scales. Detroit is always overwhelmingly democratic as well as being the most populous in the region, giving pretty much the whole state its democratic weight (in addition to Ann Arbor and a few other Michigan cities).

Outside of Detroit though, the suburbs are all pretty much the same with a near 50/50 split. That includes Livonia and Redford.

So pretty much, without Detroit city, Michigan as a whole would possibly be considered a swing state.

To call any of Detroit's suburbs socialist or extremely liberal is a hyperbole, though they're not really fortresses of conservatism either. It's definitely near an even mix.

[brodie734]

even then, the only place in Michigan that could be considered to have a more or less far left/socialist bent would be Ann Arbor... Detroit is a Democratic stronghold, some suburbs lean more to the left than others (more blue collar vs more affluent generally) but nowhere goes to either extreme in the metro area.

[Cliffie]

Michigan in general is overall Democratic, largely due to the heavy union influence, with a few pockets of GOP holdouts. I do want to point out (looking at the above posts) that "Democrat" does NOT equal "Socialist." Plenty of yellow-dog Democrats would have a stroke if you called them Socialists. Those are two very different schools of fish. In general, though, the more collegiate and/or citified the area, the more Democratic, and the more rural and penniless (despite the Republican Party's disdain for the concerns of the poor) the more Republican.

[jonnynonos]

Originally Posted by Cliffie

Michigan in general is overall Democratic, largely due to the heavy union influence, with a few pockets of GOP holdouts. I do want to point out (looking at the above posts) that "Democrat" does NOT equal "Socialist." Plenty of yellow-dog Democrats would have a stroke if you called them Socialists. Those are two very different schools of fish. In general, though, the more collegiate and/or citified the area, the more Democratic, and the more rural and penniless (despite the Republican Party's disdain for the concerns of the poor) the more Republican.

Not really. There are a bunch of clean living, tight-fisted, upper middle class/wealthy Protestants communities that are basically straight Republican.

If you are talking about major cities -- yes, of course. Shocker.

And isn't it "blue dog Democrats." LOL. "Yellow dog."

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

With the decline of the UAW in the past few decades, the union influence isn't what it used to be. However, the "blue collar" mentality still dogs this region.

[snoopygirlmi]

Livonia has a lot of Republicans. Redford is more liberal.

But Democrat doesn't equal socialist. However, admittedly, lately it is harder to actually make the distinction.

Yes - there are regions that vote straight Republican, but there are also areas that vote straight Dem as well. Let's not act like some Republicans are the only ones who vote straight ticket. That's just disingenuous.

Michigan is a purple/bluish state.

Since 1992, the presidential has gone to the Dem candidate.

However, our state government moves between divided government/one-party control (which we have now).

[brodie734]

Originally Posted by Arthur Digby Sellers

With the decline of the UAW in the past few decades, the union influence isn't what it used to be. However, the "blue collar" mentality still dogs this region.

even then, the whole "Reagan Democrat" phenomenon was discovered amongst union workers in Macomb County.

[Arthur Digby Sellers]

Originally Posted by brodie734

even then, the whole "Reagan Democrat" phenomenon was discovered amongst union workers in Macomb County.

Indeed. I'm referring more to the "we don't need no education" mentality that seems to persist in many pockets of SE Michigan.