How unified/divided is your state/region?

[MissCris]

Got on the topic of how divided the state of Colorado is (over in the Streams thread), and it got me wondering if other states have similar problems (I'm sure many do).

What I'm curious about:
Is your state (or region, or country...) completely divided as far as politics/voting goes?
Is part of your state like a foreign country as far as the rest of the state is concerned?
Is part of your state sadly neglected while the rest seems to get all the money/visitors?

That pretty much sums it up, I think. There's definitely an "Us vs. Them" attitude here on the Western Slope...but I don't know that the folks in the Denver area feel that way about us because I honestly don't think they ever consider that we exist over here, for the most part.

It's kind of funny, to me...there's a few cities in CO that most people in the country have at least heard of- Denver, Aspen, Vail. And then there's the few cities that at least most Coloradans know of- Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs, Grand Junction, Pueblo...and then there are the towns that exist less than an hour away from these cities that a huge number people swear they've never heard of. How do you live someplace and have no clue what the next town over is?

So with that type of mind-set, I'm not at all surprised that politicians and voters on the other side of the mountains don't realize there's a whole, huge portion of the state that they're representing pretty poorly.

A lot of people in this area seriously want to become part of Wyoming; a lot of people think we should split the state down the middle and be East/West Colorado. A lot of people think we should split off at the Rocky Mountains and push the "other side" over to Kansas and send legalized marijuana with them.

It occurs to me this could just be a new thread.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

The majority of Texas is solidly conservative/republican. However, Dallas and Austin are democratic islands in the vast sea of red, as well as some of the counties bordering Mexico. Austin (ironically the state capitol) is especially known for it's liberal leanings.

(2014 Senate Elections)

 

[maxwel]

Only a Texan knows every bit of arcane minutia about their own state, and has it all available for immediate recall day and night.

I don't really know if that's good or bad...
but it does make me fear them.

: )

 

[Fenner]

Pennsylvania is a bit odd, we have two major cities Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the each have their own plethora of sports teams and accents. I like Pittsburgh, it's beautiful and interesting. I've only been to Philly once and that was enough for me. No offense to anyone living in Philadelphia. My city Erie is in the northwestern part of the state, it's mid size, we have a lake. We're known for our lake and beaches and horribly cold snowy winter weather, see odd combinations. I think because we have very rural areas and very urban areas we are a little divided.

 

[Oncefallen]

A lot of people in this area seriously want to become part of Wyoming; a lot of people think we should split the state down the middle and be East/West Colorado. A lot of people think we should split off at the Rocky Mountains and push the "other side" over to Kansas and send legalized marijuana with them.

I've always been a firm proponent of drawing new state lines around the Denver metro area and leave the rest of it be. Let them have their own state of Denver.

I recall that CA (from my younger years) is heavily divided also in much the same way, major metro areas against the more rural. If I remember right there was a drive back in the late 70's or early 80's to cut CA in half at the Tehachapi Mts creating a new state of Northern Ca.

 

[gypsygirl]

oregon is one of the liberal touchstones of the union. i recently read oregon is the 5th most liberal state. not sure if that has changed since the most recent election.

however, the mash up of political leanings is almost as bi-polar as its landscape. there is the urban region (the Willamette valley) which is primarily liberal (democratic/green party). then the rest of the state which has been shifting from quasi-conservative to libertarian. we haven't had a conservative in the governor's seat since vic atiyeh in the 80s and routinely elect democrats to congress.

oregon is kind of a frontier in that the voters will pass things that would never fly in other states. we've had access to medically assisted suicide for the terminally ill for 20 years, medical marijuana access for 16 years, and recently joined the list of states with legal access to recreational marijuana. we also have very favorable laws for same sex unions and marriage, which have been in place for awhile.

i can't really speak to the neglected, vs. funded people. higher property tax rates seem to be designed to offset the fact that we have a zero sales tax, something i personally despise.

but my favorite thing about this state is the plethora of great outdoor adventuring options. tons of great hikes, multiple winter sports and runs, probably the single best place to go windsurfing in the world (columbia gorge) and a countless number of hiking trails set in many, many terrain and scenery, from coastal, old growth forest, mountainous, arid desert and the list goes on.

one of my favorite hikes is a trail that boasts 10 waterfalls.

we also have a very rugged and beautiful coastline that features about 10 lighthouses, and i believe half of them are still in operation. in fact, the nation's most photgraphed lighthouse is the haceta head lighthouse, in florence.

a few more noteables: crater lake, the deepest lake in the country, mt. hood, the tallest peak in the state (also a dormant volcano) and an aquarium with a successful research and breeding program, including the first harbor seals born in captivity.

 

[wisebeardman]

Indiana is hard to call.. It is mostly Republican/Conservative cept for the large cities. (Cities with high populations of minorities along with N.W. Indiana go demoncrat) (I would love for us to trade Lake and Porter counties in exchange for all of southern Illinois.)

Accents very from hillbilly south,to a chicago, to a flat midwest, to a midland north, and some have a bit of a east coast accent.

For the most part, I don't think the majority would care if northwest Indiana and Indianapolis just went away.

Overall majority of the state has been hit hard with the loss of factories, where I live is down about 30 to 40 thousand jobs we have had "plants" move in but less then 10% actually went to locals the rest just moved here from where the closed the other plant down in some other state. (Gets really obvious when a new plant opens and all of a sudden all the car plates you see are from Ohio and around the same county in Ohio) so the jobs thing is just a number fudging. So while 3k jobs may come. 40% still remain unemployed thus end up turning to making drugs like meth to have money.

I should add, if you come from a blue state don't move here unless you are willing to leave the liberal garbage where you come from. we don't need anyone else with the mental disorder known as liberalism

 

[Nautilus]

North Carolina seems to follow the trends. All the rural areas are full of conservatives and rednecks and pretty much only white people. The cities are far more liberal with younger populations and lots of diversity.

 

[Shortstop17]

Hey!! Were neighbors!
Lol I'm from PA too. A little north of Pittsburgh.
I have been told in general our state is mostly conservative but around my place there are a lot of liberals. So it's kinda hard to judge. Most of the friends I have that arnt from around Pittsburgh live in Ohio so I wouldn't even know anyone to ask.

 

[Roh_Chris]

Noob questions -

Who are conservatives? Who are liberals?

Are all Republicans conservatives? Are all Democrats liberals?

 

[AlaynaJ]

Noob questions -

Who are conservatives? Who are liberals?

Are all Republicans conservatives? Are all Democrats liberals?

All right, who let the non-American into this thread? Someone else will have to explain political parties to him, because i barely understand them myself.

I honestly don't pay enough attention to politics in general to have a clue how Nebraska is, but of course with only being here a year, it takes a long time to learn.

When i lived back in Colorado though, near MissCris, I was always in agreement of letting Northern Colorado form their own state/ do their own thing, and let the people in Denver who didn't seem to care about us or our little communities deal without us. Coal production is the #1 industry where I grew up, and the guys in Denver kept trying to add all these regulations and stuff that threatened to shut that down. There would literally be thousands and thousands out of work in our area if it were to happen. They never stopped to take a look at the big picture about who would really be effected. It's quite sad, honestly.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

Noob questions -

Who are conservatives? Who are liberals?

Are all Republicans conservatives? Are all Democrats liberals?

This is a loaded question. Republicans are basically conservative in politics. Democrats are basically liberal in politics.

 

[Test_F_i_2_Luv]

This is a loaded question. Republicans are basically conservative in politics. Democrats are basically liberal in politics.

There are a few Conservative Democrats(practically an oxymoron in my mind) and seemingly a lot of liberal Republicans.

Generally, though, Conservatives will be found voting for Republicans and Liberals will vote for Democrats.

I am strongly Conservative. I have, though, voted for a Democrat in the past...though it is rare.

 

[Roh_Chris]

This is a loaded question. Republicans are basically conservative in politics. Democrats are basically liberal in politics.

Thanks, but you did not completely answer my question.

I meant "Who are conservatives", as in, what are the traits of a conservative?
- Religious or not?
- Pro-life or pro-choice?
- Capitalist or socialist?
What defines a conservative? What defines a liberal?

And what do you mean by the term "Republicans are basically conservative in politics". Do you mean that they don't support development and capitalism? Or do you mean that they never take big decisions like Obamacare, going to war, spending cuts, fiscal overhaul, regulatory overhaul, etc.?

 

[gypsygirl]

Thanks, but you did not completely answer my question.

I meant "Who are conservatives", as in, what are the traits of a conservative?
- Religious or not?
- Pro-life or pro-choice?
- Capitalist or socialist?
What defines a conservative? What defines a liberal?

And what do you mean by the term "Republicans are basically conservative in politics". Do you mean that they don't support development and capitalism? Or do you mean that they never take big decisions like Obamacare, going to war, spending cuts, fiscal overhaul, regulatory overhaul, etc.?

fyi, here is a decent explanation of conservative vs. liberal beliefs, by issue.

of course there are exceptions, and many who ascribe to one party aren't exclusive in their agreement of the position taken by their chosen party for EVERY issue.

 

[Susanna]

Only a Texan knows every bit of arcane minutia about their own state, and has it all available for immediate recall day and night.

I don't really know if that's good or bad...
but it does make me fear them.

: )

Yeah, I think their major plan is to intimidate everybody else...you know what 'em bumper sticker's sayin...Don't mess with Texas

 

[Lynx]

Roh_Chris: You have unwittingly opened a can of worms, a can that is always left open in the Bible Discussions or political forum somewhere. The sane thing to do would be to follow the link gypsygirl provided.

As to my state, the beautiful state of Tennessee, I have lived in the far northeast corner and at the bottom edge of west TN, and sojourned in Nashville many times. It seems the farther east you go, the more people are inclined to be liberal. The closer you get to Memphis, the more conservative people are. But everyone has a low opinion of the president and his health care plan, everyone has an opinion on how the country is being run wrong and how it could be run better and everyone is happy to make himself unhappy by griping about politics ALL FRIGGIN DAY LONG! Usually at work or sitting around the table at the local diner.

 

[Susanna]

Roh_Chris: You have unwittingly opened a can of worms, a can that is always left open in the Bible Discussions or political forum somewhere. The sane thing to do would be to follow the link gypsygirl provided.

As to my state, the beautiful state of Tennessee, I have lived in the far northeast corner and at the bottom edge of west TN, and sojourned in Nashville many times. It seems the farther east you go, the more people are inclined to be liberal. The closer you get to Memphis, the more conservative people are. But everyone has a low opinion of the president and his health care plan, everyone has an opinion on how the country is being run wrong and how it could be run better and everyone is happy to make himself unhappy by griping about politics ALL FRIGGIN DAY LONG! Usually at work or sitting around the table at the local diner.

You sure you aint from Mississippi? Sounds lak whah' all 'em fokes round here's a' doin fo' a livin aint'nt it be fo them gubmint scoundrels sittin on their (beep) all day we aint been in this mess...yep...lol...this was nice one...though...

 

[MissCris]

Thanks for the replies, everyone

I know I could just check out Google and find out on my own how each state is divided, politically speaking, but I think it's more interesting to hear how people who actually live there see it. Because, you know, people adding their own views about it makes it more real to me and whatnot, and less like a Social Studies class in high school.

 

[BowTied]

Unified? Well, whatever that is, it's about to get worse here in Florida. Sodomitic "marriage" is, apparently, about to be legal here.