Red/Blue

[Zkribbler]

Although we like to talk about reds states and blue states, a more telling patterns emerges when looking at the counties.

There are ~3,000 counties in the U.S. 2,500 of them vote Republican; 500 vote Democratic. The US vote though is split roughly 50/50 because the 500 Democratic counties are located in urban areas while teh 2,500 Republican counties are sparcely populated.

Q: Why?

Is there something about cities that drives Americans to the left. Is there something about the countryside that drives Americans to the right?

Or are Dems attracted to cities while Repub's are exiled to the hinterlands?

[Admiral]

The troll answer would be that people are generally better educated in cities, and people with more education tend to vote Democratic.

[Whoha]

Re: Red/Blue

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Although we like to talk about reds states and blue states, a more telling patterns emerges when looking at the counties.

There are ~3,000 counties in the U.S. 2,500 of them vote Republican; 500 vote Democratic. The US vote though is split roughly 50/50 because the 500 Democratic counties are located in urban areas while teh 2,500 Republican counties are sparcely populated.

Q: Why?

Is there something about cities that drives Americans to the left. Is there something about the countryside that drives Americans to the right?

Or are Dems attracted to cities while Repub's are exiled to the hinterlands?

there was a pretty interesting article about this, but yes, the two differing environments have a lot to do with why people would vote the way they vote.

[Asher]

http://www.redvsblue.com/home.php

[chequita guevara]

In cities, people can see more readily how the government benefits them and they are exposed to greater diversity and have a need to get along. In the countryside, people can see more readily how the government gets in their way and there is far less diversity so people don't learn how to get along with new and strange people.

[Admiral]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
In cities, people can see more readily how the government benefits them and they are exposed to greater diversity and have a need to get along. In the countryside, people can see more readily how the government gets in their way and there is far less diversity so people don't learn how to get along with new and strange people.

This is quite accurate. Much of Republican strategy is based around fear of the Other, whereas Democrats try to adhere to ethics and responsibility for the Other. And in the Other is much more present in the city than it is in the country.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
In cities, people can see more readily how the government benefits them and they are exposed to greater diversity and have a need to get along. In the countryside, people can see more readily how the government gets in their way and there is far less diversity so people don't learn how to get along with new and strange people.

I tend to agree.

Take gun control. If I lived out in the country with mountain lions, roving bands of motorcycle gangs and the nearest help two hours away, I'd want a gun. But in the cities, guns are most often use to shoot friends and family members...and cops are just minutes away. In the city, guns are counterproductive.

[MrFun]

Re: Red/Blue

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Although we like to talk about reds states and blue states, a more telling patterns emerges when looking at the counties.

There are ~3,000 counties in the U.S. 2,500 of them vote Republican; 500 vote Democratic. The US vote though is split roughly 50/50 because the 500 Democratic counties are located in urban areas while teh 2,500 Republican counties are sparcely populated.

Q: Why?

Is there something about cities that drives Americans to the left. Is there something about the countryside that drives Americans to the right?

Or are Dems attracted to cities while Repub's are exiled to the hinterlands?

I grew up through my entire childhood in a rural, Catholic town of German descent -- I was and still am, a proud liberal.

So am I suppose to be an excpetion to the norm/pattern?

[Dis]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
In cities, people can see more readily how the government benefits them and they are exposed to greater diversity and have a need to get along. In the countryside, people can see more readily how the government gets in their way and there is far less diversity so people don't learn how to get along with new and strange people.

yeah well goverment doesn't benefit me at all

but I'm altruistic enough to support programs for those people who have kids and are poor.

[Dis]

Re: Re: Red/Blue

Originally posted by MrFun


I grew up through my entire childhood in a rural, Catholic town of German descent -- I was and still am, a proud liberal.

So am I suppose to be an excpetion to the norm/pattern?

you're gay so that doesn't count

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Dissident
yeah well goverment doesn't benefit me at all

So those roads and the police don't help you? Aren't you a construction worker? You know the Fed's subsidizing housing construction. Emergency services, programs to help the poor and keep them from stealing from you, etc.

[Kuciwalker]

He works in a casino, IIRC. Where'd you get Diss being a construction worker?

[Dis]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
He works in a casino, IIRC. Where'd you get Diss being a construction worker?

actually I don't work in a casino anymore (though I am still affiliated with gaming). casinos suck. I was part of a union, but not all unions are construction related.

[Shi Huangdi]

Bear in mind that the GOP/DEM split between cities and countryside is not always uniform. It heavily depends upon the culture of the area. For instance, there are some rural counties in Pennsylvania that are very much democratic. There are also some cities that vote Republican, such as Dallas, TX.

There are some demographic difference between cities and rural areas that point to the split. More people are unionized in the cities then in the countryside. More people are ethnic minorities in the cities then in the countryside. More people in the countryside own guns. More people in the countryside are religious conservatives. More people in the cities are Catholic, more people in the countryside are Protestants. More people in the cities are openly gay. More people in the cities are employed by the government.

All of those are demographic features which point towards voting for one party or the other. I would also suggest in many cities there is more of a tradition of machine politics, in which solid political loyalty is valued and voting for one party becomes an important value in itself.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
He works in a casino, IIRC. Where'd you get Diss being a construction worker?

I thought I read something about him being a construction worker a couple months ago.