Do you think I will love the "weirdo" culture of Portland? (living in, rain)

[markymarc]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

People in Portland seem pretty ordinary to me.

I met a lot of ordinary people there too. Yet they were all more independent than people I met in other locations.

[turquoise1]

I don't think Portland is weird. I think it's a rather liberal enclave in a quite conservative state, so that might read as "weird" to some people.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by turquoise1

I don't think Portland is weird. I think it's a rather liberal enclave in a quite conservative state, so that might read as "weird" to some people.

I think that is a good description.

[PacNW-bound]

Is Oregon that conservative? There is a democratic Governor, two democratic Senators, and four of the five members of the House of Reps are democrats.

[Larry Caldwell]

Originally Posted by PacNW-bound

Is Oregon that conservative? There is a democratic Governor, two democratic Senators, and four of the five members of the House of Reps are democrats.

Only because of the huge voter base in the Portland metro area. Outside of the Willamette Valley, Oregon is solidly red state.

[Random_Walk]

Larry nailed it.

Oregon ends up looking blue-state on the political maps because of Portland and to some extent Salem (and maybe Bend). Since those two towns comprise the majority of the state's voting population, they pretty much decide the rest of the state politically.

On the state-wide legislative level, I believe that things even out a bit.

[EnricoV]

The whole red state/blue state thing is such a joke, anyway. 51% does not make the state red or blue. It usually comes down to a narrow majority, and you can't discount the other 49%.

[rass33]

Originally Posted by turquoise1

I don't think Portland is weird. I think it's a rather liberal enclave in a quite conservative state, so that might read as "weird" to some people.

I think it's that "outside the mainstream" vibe that attracts alot of people to Portland, especially young people. From a social and political standpoint, most people who are not from Oregon have this idealized view of Portland as being an Amsterdam-like city located in the PNW. Infact, Portland is seen as a liberal city almost to the point of fanaticsm, so it sort of influences the political identity of the entire state of Oregon. Most states are conservative but because of the liberal vibe found in the metropolitan areas, it sort of distorts the political picture of the entire state. For instance, in my home state of Illinois, most people think it is a blue state because it's where Obama is from, but if it wasn't for the city of Chicago, illinois would be considered a red state for sure.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by Random_Walk

Larry nailed it.

Oregon ends up looking blue-state on the political maps because of Portland and to some extent Salem (and maybe Bend). Since those two towns comprise the majority of the state's voting population, they pretty much decide the rest of the state politically.

On the state-wide legislative level, I believe that things even out a bit.

Yes, though it's really Portland, Eugene, and Corvallis, along with Washington County tending to be more Democratic these days. Then on a smaller level Hood River, Ashland, Astoria, and parts of the coast are voting Democratic these days. I think Obama barely won Marion County(Salem) last election and I think Deschutes County where Bend is might actually have more of a Republican majority. But it's why the whole blue state/red state, urban/rural pardigm can be a little more complicated then it actually is.

The next national election could look completely different on a county by county basis in Oregon--as you've got a lot of moderate voters who could swing either way in some areas. Multnomah County is a democratic as any urban area in the country, but much of the other most populated counties, can range from almost a 50/50 split to about 60 percent for one side or the other.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by ras 33

I think it's that "outside the mainstream" vibe that attracts a lot of people to Portland, especially young people. From a social and political standpoint, most people who are not from Oregon have this idealized view of Portland as being an Amsterdam-like city located in the PNW. Insect, Portland is seen as a liberal city almost to the point of fanaticism, so it sort of influences the political identity of the entire state of Oregon. Most states are conservative but because of the liberal vibe found in the metropolitan areas, it sort of distorts the political picture of the entire state. For instance, in my home state of Illinois, most people think it is a blue state because it's where Obama is from, but if it wasn't for the city of Chicago, illinois would be considered a red state for sure.

Good summation of both Illinois and Oregon. Portland seemed to me to be a pretty conservative city when I first moved here. But the emigration of people of a more liberal leaning from California and other states have made it more a majority of liberals.

I sometimes wonder though, where one ideology ends and another begins. I see some Liberals who are so militant in their beliefs they are positively Conservative about them.