Liberals smarter or less innocent?

[dcentity2000]

Democrats, like Labourites over here in the UK, tend to be found in cities whilst Republicans, like Conservatives over here in the UK, tend to be found in more isolated areas.

Does this mean that the more sophisticated person is more instinctively Democratic?

Does it mean that the innocent and untainted rural inhabitabts are more instinctively Republican?

Or both?



Rich::

 

[WDWHound]

Ah yes, the old "smart, sophisticated people live in the city" claim.
I guess city people aren't sophisticated enough to recognize how insulting such predjudice is.

 

[palmtreegirl]

I live in a rural area and I'm a Democrat, but then again I grew up in NJ.

 

[dcentity2000]

Ah yes, the old smart people live in the city claim

You didn't read the thread right (or I used poor language)!

Smarter people in cities?

Or more tainted people in cities?



Rich::

 

[WDWHound]

Democrats, like Labourites over here in the UK, tend to be found in cities whilst Republicans, like Conservatives over here in the UK, tend to be found in more isolated areas.

Does this mean that the more sophisticated person is more instinctively Democratic?

Does it mean that the innocent and untainted rural inhabitabts are more instinctively Republican?

Or both?



Rich::

You refer to city people as "sophisticated" and rural people as "innocent". I admit you didn't use the word smart, but I think I cought the gist of it. You may not have intended to say this, but thats how it came accross to me.

I guess you need to define sophistication vs innocence.

 

[dcentity2000]

Both are good traits to have. The question is, which one makes the distinction?

City dwellers are commonly seen as more sophisticated. Could this make them more socialist?

Rural dwellers are commonly seen as less tainted and (less) artificial. Could this make them more conservative?

It's a question of philosophy. Which is it better to be - untainted or sophisticated - and what does that say about the voting structure of our nations?



Rich::

 

[Charade]

Democrats, like Labourites over here in the UK, tend to be found in cities whilst Republicans, like Conservatives over here in the UK, tend to be found in more isolated areas.

Does this mean that the more sophisticated person is more instinctively Democratic?

Does it mean that the innocent and untainted rural inhabitabts are more instinctively Republican?

Or both?



Rich::

Are you related to FKLHOU?

 

[septbride2002]

This is an arguement that has come up before. I think sophisticated is the wrong word to use though.

I do believe that people in rural areas do not come into as much contact with different races, income status, sexual orientation...etc as people in cities do. Most small towns know everyone and it is very rare for an outsider to move into those towns. Not to mention people who do differ tend to move out of those small towns. In a metropolis where you can blend a bit more you tend to come into contact with people of different backgrounds, different up bringing, different religion, and therefore may or may not have a better understanding of that "culture" more so then someone who has never come into contact with it.

With the advancement of technology even rural towns should have a better awareness of these things though. So I really don't thinks saying lack of awareness is a good arguement either.

Rural areas do tend to be more centered around the church and that religions values. The Republican ticket does tend to talk more about morality and religion and therefore I could see that being a bigger factor for them when it comes to politics.

In other words - I have no idea.

~Amanda

 

[septbride2002]

Are you related to FKLHOU?

Are you related to dmadman? Do you need a pony too?

~Amanda

 

[ToriLammy]

You refer to city people as "sophisticated" and rural people as "innocent". I admit you didn't use the word smart, but I think I cought the gist of it. You may not have intended to say this, but thats how it came accross to me.

I guess you need to define sophistication vs innocence.

WDWHound - But he did use the word smart - in the title of the thread. You were right with your first post. I don't believe that "city dwellers" are necessarily more sophisticated than "country dwellers." Some are, by virtue of where they live more "street wise" (I know I was from growing up in Philadelphia where you had to pay constant attention to your surroundings or you could end up mugged, raped or dead) but that doesn't make them more sophisticated - just more wise to the dangers of city dwelling.

 

[dcentity2000]

For what it's worth, the jury for me is still out over city = smart claim, but I'm pretty sure that cities tend to corrupt, which reflects well on the conservative voting base.



Rich::

 

[Crankyshank]

I definitely don't think political affiliation has anything to do with intelligence.
Especially considering conservative Republicans are often stereotyped as rich white Christian males. Generally you have to be pretty intelligent to acquire wealth. I'm not saying I agree with the stereotype, though.

In my experience, I have found more liberals in urban areas and more conservatives in more rural areas. That could be because rural areas are more agrarian, which makes their priorities a bit more in step with the conservative platform. Whereas the urban areas have more of a diverse population but less agriculture.Also rural areas are more religious and less populated by a larger cross section of ethnicities and sexualities, which also falls more in step with conservative platforms. You know less gays and racially different people, you're not going to be as interested in issues that affect them and instead you're issues are going to be more focused on things you have first or second hand interest/info on..

 

[WDWHound]

For what it's worth, the jury for me is still out over city = smart claim, but I'm pretty sure that cities tend to corrupt, which reflects well on the conservative voting base.



Rich::

Hmmm, I'm not sure I agree. I guess I have a problem with the idea tha city dwellers and rural dwellers are different in any real way, especially in today's world of instant commmunication. The country offers lots of oportunities to corrupt. For example, most of the drug labs in Texas are in the country.

I think people are people. It the local issues that influence how they vote. The sorts of issues each group faces would probably be a better thing to examine in determining their political leanings.

 

[jrydberg]

My opinion is that it's quite simple. Those in the city are in constant contact with others. They're never alone. Those outside the city tend to live more independent lives in the sense that they take care of more things themselves (I'm speaking in gross generalities here).

Essentially, I think the mentality is that those in the city are used to having to consider the impact of their actions on others, so they tend to be more liberal in that they place more emphasis on the impact on others where policy is concerned.

Those in rural environments, by contrast, are more used to having to deal with things themselves. Thus, they tend to place more emphasis on the "stay out of my way" style of government -- conservative.

Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

 

[Charade]

Are you related to dmadman? Do you need a pony too?

~Amanda

No, I'm not. Are you offering rides on yours?

 

[jgmklmhem]

My opinion is that it's quite simple. Those in the city are in constant contact with others. They're never alone. Those outside the city tend to live more independent lives in the sense that they take care of more things themselves (I'm speaking in gross generalities here).

Essentially, I think the mentality is that those in the city are used to having to consider the impact of their actions on others, so they tend to be more liberal in that they place more emphasis on the impact on others where policy is concerned.

Those in rural environments, by contrast, are more used to having to deal with things themselves. Thus, they tend to place more emphasis on the "stay out of my way" style of government -- conservative.

Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

I think I have to agree with these sentiments for the most part. It isn't just how their actions impact others...but a dependence on others as well...whereas in the country you have to depend on yourself more. There isn't a restaurant and oil change place on every corner like in a city. Again gross generalities...but I would assume most country dwellers do their own work (examples..car work, work on the house, fix it type things) because there isn't a 24 hour plumber to fix everything as there is in the city.

 

[septbride2002]

No, I'm not. Are you offering rides on yours?

Nope - I didn't want a pony for Christmas.

~Amanda

 

[Dennis O'Dell]

My opinion is that it's quite simple. Those in the city are in constant contact with others. They're never alone. Those outside the city tend to live more independent lives in the sense that they take care of more things themselves (I'm speaking in gross generalities here).

Essentially, I think the mentality is that those in the city are used to having to consider the impact of their actions on others, so they tend to be more liberal in that they place more emphasis on the impact on others where policy is concerned.

Those in rural environments, by contrast, are more used to having to deal with things themselves. Thus, they tend to place more emphasis on the "stay out of my way" style of government -- conservative.

Just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

That is an insightful observation. Not a presperctive I have taken in before. I would somewhat agree with this. Nevertheless, while I know there are studies that have equated intelligence with liberal thinking and implying that is a good thing, I'm not sure I put much stock in them. I think values determines ones political leanings more than intelligence (or lack thereof)

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

jrydberg, I would have to agree with you on that point. But to put it a step further--rural people are used to handling things either completely by themselves (like an oil change), or with the help of immediate neighbors. For example, our fire dept. is all volunteer. So, if my kid passes out at school, I know the people who are treating him. Similarly, people are likely to know your troubles, so when my husband was out of work last year, the scout troop happened to give us a gift card to the grocery store. Technically, it was an award for DH's service to the pack, but they knew we could use it. It's that sort of "community" self-sufficiency that makes rural people more leery of government--what would the government know about our little town, better than we would?

 

[rcyannacci]

It's a deceivingly complicated question, isn't it? Not like we all didn't read the "country mouse, city mouse" stories when we were little. It's not much of a choice really- being the country bumpkin or the city snob? Who'd want to chose with only those two options?

I grew up in a small town in a very rural area, and I'm Democrat through and through. As early as 16, I was having heated debates with my other classmates. A lot of it comes from my father, who teaches American history, but that's not the whole story either. It's partially about exposure to different people and different ideas, but I can't help thinking that it's also part...just me.