Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I have seen a variety of posts referring to towns such as Croton-on-Hudson (as well as others) as being very "progressive" or having "very liberal minded people".
Clearly I understand the concept of "progressive", and while I tend to lean right on fiscal policies, I am a bit more liberal on social policies.
That being said, when I hear about a town falling into this category, are we talking about dirty looks from people because I am not driving a Prius? Clearly my reference is a bit stereotypical (as I know there are comments to be made on both sides).
Obviously, I do not want this to turn into some crazy political thread - I'm just trying to get an understanding of what context people are using when they use these references.
I have seen a variety of posts referring to towns such as Croton-on-Hudson (as well as others) as being very "progressive" or having "very liberal minded people".
Clearly I understand the concept of "progressive", and while I tend to lean right on fiscal policies, I am a bit more liberal on social policies.
That being said, when I hear about a town falling into this category, are we talking about dirty looks from people because I am not driving a Prius? Clearly my reference is a bit stereotypical (as I know there are comments to be made on both sides).
Obviously, I do not want this to turn into some crazy political thread - I'm just trying to get an understanding of what context people are using when they use these references.
Check out this map that shows the vote in the recent county executive election. Astorino, the Republican, is red, and Bramsom, the Democrat, is blue.
You will see some blue in the top left of the map, which is Croton. The good news is that part of Croton is red, and part of Croton is blue. There seems to be a lot of 55-45 voting patterns. Click on the map to see the results.
So this is not a monolithic community like Hastings-on-Hudson, the only predominantly white community in Westchester that went overwhelmingly for Bramsom. Hastings is the capital of "progressivism," which means they are tolerant of everything, except for Republicans and conservatives.
So just based on this recent vote, Croton seems to be politically diverse, and you should not have any worries.
It's a word used for people who are socially open-minded, don't care if you're gay or need to terminate a pregnancy, and generally (supposedly) try to include all races in their view of the world.
Also, they believe in high taxes and having lots of regulations in place to keep everyone's behavior on the up and up. (Progressives do a lot of worrying about what the other guy might do.) Lots of programs for the less fortunate, paid for by the people who managed to find a decent job.
I think they started using the word 'progressive' because 'liberal' had a negative connotation attached to it. 'Progressive' also has a nice condescending tone to it, implying that if you are not 'progressive' you are against progress. Therefore it handily insults everyone who isn't 'progressive.'
While all of the above paints a pretty picture, when it comes to implementing a liberal agenda fiscally, it is unaffordable, inhibits personal freedom, enlarges government (which is always inefficient and wasteful) and basically ties the hands of people with an entrepreneurial spirit, and big business to boot. For example, due to the high taxes in NY, the state has developed an 'under the table' and 'off the books' underground. Contractors and employees work off the books, businesses are bought and sold with most of the capital hidden. Many of my close friends own businesses in NY, and claim that if you follow the rules, you will go broke. I myself operate a small biz in NY, and I'm killed with taxes. It's almost funny how they can squeeze every drop that they possibly can, and I need a permit for everything except breaking wind (I'm sure there will be a tax on that soon, maybe when the gas moratorium is over.)
This doesn't make for a healthy economy.
Most people who are middle-aged or older are a combo-platter; we are socially "progressive" yet fiscally conservative.
The only way for business to thrive is for government to keep regulations and taxes off its back. Then they can provide the jobs that everyone needs.
The only way for people (male, female, black, Hispanic, poor, handicapped, etc.) to thrive is to be accepted and welcomed in every channel of society, and for government to clear the way for new business.
I personally don't think many of the "progressives" truly understand the crippling effect liberalism can have on an economy. The social part is fine. The fiscal part doesn't work.
Generally agree with roskybosky's take. The real sincere progressives are the ones who have no qualms intermingling with the poor and/or people of color that would be in NYC, Yonkers, and new Rochelle. Maybe greenburgh.
So much for avoiding politics. The rabid right wingers are incapable of controlling themselves.
I don't think the Astorino/Branson vote tells you anything at all since local politics tends to be all about local issues and not big political issues. I know plenty of very progressive people who voted for Astorino simply because they were nervous about Branson's experience level. If you want a sense of political backing, look at a presidential election.
I think you'll be fine in Croton. It has both a blue collar and a progressive history (Mt Airy is Red Hill because John Reed and Louise Bryant lived there and later it had a socialist commune, which is now the Mt Airy Trails neighborhood), and it still tends to be bifurcated socio-economically. You'll find both Prius and Suburbans.
To be clear, I understand what Progressive is - it's just that when people place it in quotations (as I have seen in some posts here), I sometimes wonder if there is something more behind the comment.
We all have our political biases - I have mine and you have yours. My issues come up when someone (from either side) tries to make the other feel guilty for believing or behaving a certain way.
I think Ruby said it a little better - tolerating everything except the views of their opponents.
Since Hastings isn't on our list of places, I don't think that will come into play.
Where is there such a place where you can live next door with a gay couple (with kids perhaps)? Where your children go to school and be close friends with students in the pjs or living on sec 8, free lunch, Esl etc? Where you can be in the PTA with parents who use schools as a way to supplement daily meals? Converse with new immigrants? And also live with those who went to college and have careers? Best place to get that exposure is in a city environment. Out in a suburban area one would have to stretch the definition of "progressive"
So much for avoiding politics. The rabid right wingers are incapable of controlling themselves.
I don't think the Astorino/Branson vote tells you anything at all since local politics tends to be all about local issues and not big political issues. I know plenty of very progressive people who voted for Astorino simply because they were nervous about Branson's experience level. If you want a sense of political backing, look at a presidential election.
This is your classic "progressive." Say something he doesn't like and you are a "rabid right winger."
There are plenty of "very progressive people" who admitted that they would vote for Astorino? Baloney. That's like finding a conservative who admitted voting for Obama or voting for Bramson. It didn't happen.
And Branson was the mayor of the second largest city in Westchester. Not exactly a low "experience level."
My point was that the OP was worried that Croton was a monolithic "progressive" community totally dominated by people who would think he is a "rabid right winger." It is not.
This is your classic "progressive." Say something he doesn't like and you are a "rabid right winger."
There are plenty of "very progressive people" who admitted that they would vote for Astorino? Baloney. That's like finding a conservative who admitted voting for Obama or voting for Bramson. It didn't happen.
And Branson was the mayor of the second largest city in Westchester. Not exactly a low "experience level."
My point was that the OP was worried that Croton was a monolithic "progressive" community totally dominated by people who would think he is a "rabid right winger." It is not.
Typical right winger: no sense of sarcasm or irony whatsoever.
My neighbor who is a founding member of Yorktown Green, a major backer of all Democrats, an anti-development activist, powers his house with solar energy, has backyard chickens, and grows his own veggies voted for Astorino. And he's not the only progressive I know who did so. Not everyone is completely red or green. Personally, I voted for Branson, but I have voted for plenty of Republicans in local elections.
I have seen a variety of posts referring to towns such as Croton-on-Hudson (as well as others) as being very "progressive" or having "very liberal minded people".
Clearly I understand the concept of "progressive", and while I tend to lean right on fiscal policies, I am a bit more liberal on social policies.
That being said, when I hear about a town falling into this category, are we talking about dirty looks from people because I am not driving a Prius? Clearly my reference is a bit stereotypical (as I know there are comments to be made on both sides).
Obviously, I do not want this to turn into some crazy political thread - I'm just trying to get an understanding of what context people are using when they use these references.
It depends a lot of who is applying the label. People who call themselves "progressives" usually use it as a generic term for people who's politics are left of center. However, conservatives, use "progressive" as a pejorative, much like they used to use the word "communist." It is just a generic slur against those they see as their enemies.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
