Conservative vs. Liberal (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City: high school, living, cost of living)

[NDak15]

I would think you would do just fine in Des Moines regardless of your political beliefs. Iowa seems to have representation from both sides of the political spectrum and everything in between. (Even my family in Iowa represents this). I am not sure which suburb or area of Des Moines is more Republican or more Democratic, but I think you will probably be able to find people who agree with you.

[scubasteve15]

Why would you want to shelter yourself from other ways of thinking? I think it makes life a lot more interesting. I'd say pick the place you like the most aesthetically and live there. Iowa City is pretty nice, especially in the summer when most of the louder students are back at home.

[Xander_Crews]

I think Iowa is more Conservative socially (minus the obviously liberal cities), and Progressive politically.

It should not matter anyway, people who argue the Democrat vs. Republican paradigm vehemently are sheep distracted from the real issues by flashy TV ads and debates.

The battle in this country is not left vs. right... it is up vs. down.

[Zoness]

I agree, party politics are pretty much a sham...two sides of the same coin.

That said, however, politics is pretty important to me. I've considered Cedar Rapids or Des Moines for a job (assuming there is any economy left when I graduate university lol) and I fall on the side of pretty liberal but not bleeding heart San Francisco style. I am big into sustainability and environmentalism but way moderate, possibly even rightest on issues such as immigration. I am wondering if I would feel comfortable in these areas? I'm sure I can make friends regardless of my political persuasion but local and state policies are a big deal to me since they are far more likely to affect me personally.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Xander_Crews]

Originally Posted by Zoness

I agree, party politics are pretty much a sham...two sides of the same coin.

That said, however, politics is pretty important to me. I've considered Cedar Rapids or Des Moines for a job (assuming there is any economy left when I graduate university lol) and I fall on the side of pretty liberal but not bleeding heart San Francisco style. I am big into sustainability and environmentalism but way moderate, possibly even rightest on issues such as immigration. I am wondering if I would feel comfortable in these areas? I'm sure I can make friends regardless of my political persuasion but local and state policies are a big deal to me since they are far more likely to affect me personally.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

I think you would like Des Moines more than Cedar Rapids... more urban style living there, and urban areas tend to be more liberal than rural/the burbs. Iowa was a blue state last presidential election, so you shouldn't feel to out of place.

How set on Iowa are you? Minneapolis sounds to be up your alley.

[Zoness]

Originally Posted by Xander_Crews

I think you would like Des Moines more than Cedar Rapids... more urban style living there, and urban areas tend to be more liberal than rural/the burbs. Iowa was a blue state last presidential election, so you shouldn't feel to out of place.

How set on Iowa are you? Minneapolis sounds to be up your alley.

Iowa was my accepted first choice because its closer to my location of origin (Galesburg, IL) and less extreme of a climate than anywhere in Minnesota. Although Minneapolis is definitely not off the list. I'm not sure about cost of living between Des Moines and Minneapolis, I am going to guess Minneapolis is more expensive?

Thanks for your help.

[Xander_Crews]

Originally Posted by Zoness

Iowa was my accepted first choice because its closer to my location of origin (Galesburg, IL) and less extreme of a climate than anywhere in Minnesota. Although Minneapolis is definitely not off the list. I'm not sure about cost of living between Des Moines and Minneapolis, I am going to guess Minneapolis is more expensive?

Thanks for your help.

Minneapolis would definitely be more expensive, and Des Moines is a great city, but if you want it to offer the urban exciting lifestyle you want to be in East Village or Court Ave. There isn't a lot of urban living in Des Moines compared to other cities, but it is quality where it does exist.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by Zoness

I agree, party politics are pretty much a sham...two sides of the same coin.

That said, however, politics is pretty important to me. I've considered Cedar Rapids or Des Moines for a job (assuming there is any economy left when I graduate university lol) and I fall on the side of pretty liberal but not bleeding heart San Francisco style. I am big into sustainability and environmentalism but way moderate, possibly even rightest on issues such as immigration. I am wondering if I would feel comfortable in these areas? I'm sure I can make friends regardless of my political persuasion but local and state policies are a big deal to me since they are far more likely to affect me personally.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

Yes, Des Moines would be fine if you were "blue, and Cedar Rapids would be as well. Cedar Rapids is more quiet on the political scene (at least from what I gathered from growing up in the area for 22 years). People have views, but it never seemed to be as in-your-face as many areas. Your views were more respected as your views - and that there was nothing wrong with that.

That said though, Des Moines and Cedar Rapids both swing democratic in almost every election, as does the Iowa City whos northern fringes are only about 12 miles south of Cedar Rapids' southern fringes.

Results:

Iowa City & Suburbs:
Obama: 70%
McCain: 29%

Cedar Rapids & Suburbs:
Obama: 60%
McCain: 39%

Des Moines & Suburbs:
Obama: 57%
McCain: 42%

Cedar Rapids voted Obama by a 2-1 margin, Iowa City by over 3-1.

[DirtMagurt]

Originally Posted by Zoness

Iowa was my accepted first choice because its closer to my location of origin (Galesburg, IL) and less extreme of a climate than anywhere in Minnesota. Although Minneapolis is definitely not off the list. I'm not sure about cost of living between Des Moines and Minneapolis, I am going to guess Minneapolis is more expensive?

Thanks for your help.

Having spent decades in both states, the notion that winter is worse in Minneapolis is a little bit of a myth, to say the least. The temperature difference between here and DSM is about five degrees on average and we get an additional 7-10 days tacked onto either side of winter. Apart from that, summers are actually a little better here (slightly less hot and humid).

One big difference is that the extra five degrees of cold (on average) means that we very, very rarely get the messy winter "tweener" weather here that areas further south have to deal with. I haven't scraped ice from my driveway...ever...and I've been here since '98. When Iowa gets an ice storm, here it just snows.

There is also far more to do here during winter, indoors obviously but particularly outdoors. Winter in places like Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois sucks because the weather is just about as bad there as anywhere else, but those states lack most/all of the recreation options that you have in other cold weather states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, the northeast, etc.

Cost of living in the Twin Cities is appreciably higher than in the Des Moines area, absolutely. It's a major metropolitan area so of course it's more expensive. More demand = higher housing cost (and higher wages, naturally).

There are loads of reasons why a person might choose to live in Des Moines rather than the Twin Cities, but weather is probably the least rational among them.

[capitalcityguy]

I agree. I wouldn't put the weather very high in your equation when making your decision.