Why are the states so different politically?

[gogogoddess1988]

Why is NH closer than its neighboring MA or VT? What makes PA any more or less Democratic than New York? Why even is Iowa so much different than South Dakota?????

Has anyone thought about why exactly states that are geographically close and very similar differ so much politically???? For instance, I don't understand why NH would be less liberal than any other NE state that surrounds it..,

[Franks Wild Years]

1. Some places just had more idiots settle in them historically.

Said concentration of idiots continued to breed, a majority stayed in their home state(s) and thus areas of GOP dominance were born.

[Iterate]

14. Local demographics and immigration patterns echo through history

NW Iowa is quite similar politically, demographically, and economically to SD -and they have the rw Steve King (IA05) to represent them. It was settled later than the rest of the state -mostly after the civil war. The prairie states have also been easier pickings for fundies.

The rest of the state had a large influx of post-famine Irish and post-revolution Germans, mixed with border state migrants who moved in prior to the civil war. Their churches were strong, they who were quick to join the "party of Lincoln", fought with the union in large numbers, and didn't forget the New Deal. Think of them as Truman-Harkin democrats.

Similarly downstate Illinois is quite different from the rest of the state, partly because of a large influx of post-civil war migrants from the south who didn't want to live near free blacks and wanted to escape the economic devastation. We all know of the migration of blacks to northern cities.

That kind of history matters; it persists in subtle ways that can last for generations.

[vanderBeth]

2. I've always wondered about NH too, especially being next to VT.

I thinks some hippies from Vermont need to go over

[fujiyama]

3. I believe in NH, it is due to RWers moving out of MA

due to lower taxes.

And it's worth noting that NY isn't quite that liberal, outside of NYC, which accounts for a huge percentage of the voting population in that state. Also, part of PA feels more like the midwest than the north east (having more in common with rural parts of OH and WV than say Philly). Both PA and NY are huge states.

I'm not so sure about the IA/SD split, though I do believe that both IA and MN are two of the best educated states in the country. I have no idea about SD. I'm guessing they have a greater evangelical presence.

[cali]

6. Exactly backward

NH is more liberal because of the influx of MA folk into the southern tier, oh, and yes, MN and IA are two of the best educated states in the country- along with VT and CT.

[fujiyama]

8. I think you have a point. NH has become bluer over the years

NH has traditionally been considered a quirky, independent state. After all, it's logo is "Live Free or Die" but I understand it's also strongly anti tax...

It is quite the contrast from VT and MA, which are two of the most liberal states in the nation.

[LVZ]

4. Some speculation ... redesigning the USA ...

NY is closer to New England than PA. Even so, most of NY is Republican.

South Dakota is a much smaller, isolated state than Iowa. SD is part of the uber-boonies.

NH is trending to be more like the rest of New England but it takes time.

I would personally prefer that we stop this red/blue impasse and truly consider if different regions shouldn't be adult enough to get a peaceful no-fault divorce:



Redesigning the USA - a 6 step rehab program

There is absolutely nothing in the Constitution or any other legal document which precludes any state or group of states from seceding from the United States. This was true in 1861. Today, countries are split and otherwise reconfigured almost daily and the United States has evolved as the world's moral leader in supporting rights of peoples to declare themselves independent. This is a comfortable position for U.S. politicians ... as long as secession occurs in Europe, Asia, South America, or Africa.

http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/history/civilwar.html

http://www.sobran.com/columns/2003/030911.shtml

[rug]

5. It's not just that. States internally are vastly different.

[remember2000forever]

16. Florida is a perfect example of that statement.

[Jamastiene]

7. Aristocracy...

At least that is how it works here in NC. Old money runs the same old towns and trains the next generation to think the same old way, then their children (aristocracy) run the town when they die. It stays the same forever and ever.

[cali]

10. Old money is why the states vary so much? codswallop.

it's demographics, history and education, not "old money".

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Agreeing with others

Re: New York. I lived in Western NY for 30 years, and moved to Central NJ about 3 years ago.

Even within a county there are differences. Being from outside of Rochester -

The city itself is solid Dem.
The larger 'burbs are solid Rep.
The 'rural' outlying areas are a mix . . . Farming community and Blue Collar workers in the small town I grew up in made my town solid Democrat.

So Monroe County normally goes 'red' - but the County Seat? You can't get elected unless you are a Democrat.

And being from Western NY - is soooooooo different than being from the Greater Metro NYC area. When I lived there, I found I had more in common with someone from Ontario CA or Western PA than someone from NYC. The Canadian part probably comes from having lived 5 years on the border and crossing back and forth, daily contact with Canadians . . . There are things in WNY that someone from NYC wouldn't 'get'.

[barack the house]

11. The latest polling says that NH is coming around goign light blue at the moment.

[markevil]

12. Ohio the Red

If you take out Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati we are farmland... Bibles, guns and hoods OH MY!!!

[cali]

13. tough shit for freeper types that you can't take the urban areas out

of any state. they'll just have to suck on Obama winning OH.

[glowing]

15. Well, as a former VTer.. most consider themselves Independents.

At primary day they can choose which party they want to vote for.. my parents are both Independents.. AND a Republican in VT isn't actually the same as a Republican say, from Florida. Normally, a republican in that region means state's rights, small town's rights... blah, blah, blah. With NH being a tax free state, they normally go with the republicans... but many have very liberal ideals. When I talk to my Republican congresscritter down here in Florida, they often wonder why I'm a Democrat.. since I have some very Republican ideals (which deal with property rights and the idea of leave me the fuck alone) that permeate through my small town back home in VT... AT the same time, we know if someone needs help in your community, you help, you don't leave them stranded, and that appeal is much stronger to me overall. Plus, my parents told me to keep my eyes peeled the last time I was up, I might see some naked people.... I asked if any of them were anything to look at? When you grow up watching cows hump in the field, naked people don't really scare people.. just make most wonder whatcya doin'? Have you lost your mind, your willy is hanging out? I suppose if you can tolerate crazy people, Democrats don't really have to scare anyone.