| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: The Clustering of America |
 |
|
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/bigsort/archive/2008/11/10/no-we-didn-t-america-didn-t-change-as-much-as-tuesday-s-results-would-indicate.aspx
Pretty good article popping the bubble that America is magically united again after the Obama election. As a liberal, I believe liberal values are for the most part superior, and I'm glad that Obama won, but the trends as to how we're clustering around like minded people (right or left) are a little disconcerting.
| Quote: |
� Communities are just as partisan now as they were in 2004.
Most counties in the United States have grown either more Republican or more Democratic since the 1970s. In 1976, 26.8 percent of the nation's voters lived in a county where either Gerald Ford or Jimmy Carter won by more than 20 percentage points. The number of people living in these "landslide counties" increased to 38 percent in 1992, to 45.3 percent in 2000, to 48.3 percent in 2004. |
| Quote: |
There are more landslide states (where a candidate won by 10 points or more). In 1976, there were 19 blowout states plus the District of Columbia. In 2004, there were 29 blowout states plus D.C.
In 2008, there were 36 landslide states plus D.C |
| Quote: |
The Sort Continues
The vote last week was transformative in a sense. In many ways, however, the election produced no change at all. The country is split in much the same way it was divided four and eight years ago. People continue to sort by age and by way of life. As a result, our communities (and states) are growing more like-minded. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
BS.Dos.
Joined: 29 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Liberal values 'superior'?
I don't necessarily agree with your statement, but I'd be interested in hearing you expand on why you believe it to be true.
| Quote: |
Pretty good article popping the bubble that America is magically united again after the Obama election |
On this point, I think it's a case of new driver, new direction but same train. I think that there maybe an element of truth in the idea that perhaps the American people were ready for a different direction. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| I don't necessarily agree with your statement, but I'd be interested in hearing you expand on why you believe it to be true. |
I know it's true because it's a very big planet and we SHARE IT with a lot of people who have very different cultures. Like it or not we are more interconnected than ever now.
I'm tired of the NASCAR-mentality assholes giving us a bad name all over the world because they stomp in everwhere they go with their *beeps* hanging out.
Time for some normal people to engage in some normal discussion on our behalf. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
No surprise that Obama didn't magically unite us.
Everyone has heard the many 'Obama pals around with terrorists' and 'Obama is a muslim' and a 1000 other very negative propoganda tools being used for the last 6-10 months.
The 45% or whatever that chose McCain don't just suddenly change their mind with a 'Obama is President now', all of the negative stuff about him must have just been false campaign tactics, let's wipe it all out of mind now. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, at least the adults are back in charge of things for awhile. Now if the kids in the backseat would stop screaming and whining, maybe we could get some driving done. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:41 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I would have to say that anybody who believes in a set of values believe them to be superior to others, otherwise why believe in them? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seosan08
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| canuckistan wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I don't necessarily agree with your statement, but I'd be interested in hearing you expand on why you believe it to be true. |
I know it's true because it's a very big planet and we SHARE IT with a lot of people who have very different cultures. Like it or not we are more interconnected than ever now.
I'm tired of the NASCAR-mentality assholes giving us a bad name all over the world because they stomp in everwhere they go with their *beeps* hanging out.
Time for some normal people to engage in some normal discussion on our behalf. |
They have normal people in your state?!? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| jkelly80 wrote: |
| I would have to say that anybody who believes in a set of values believe them to be superior to others, otherwise why believe in them? |
Well said.
The only problem is, that may not be a very liberal thing to say. Well, its not a problem for me, as I don't identify as liberal . . . |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
laogaiguk
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: somewhere in Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Kuros wrote: |
| jkelly80 wrote: |
| I would have to say that anybody who believes in a set of values believe them to be superior to others, otherwise why believe in them? |
Well said.
The only problem is, that may not be a very liberal thing to say. Well, its not a problem for me, as I don't identify as liberal . . . |
It's actually not well said. Greed kicks out morals or values anyday. You can actually believe that someone else's values (morals) are better, but if you are making money (or gaining something) off of what you are doing... This happens a lot. Hell, most of Shakespeare is this  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seosan08
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: Korea
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
canuckistan
Mod Team
Joined: 17 Jun 2003
Location: Training future GS competitors.....
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
The political "spectrum" in the US isn't much of one. Very narrow either/or, and rather immature at times.
It's unfortunate because it suffocates rational debate of very real, serious problems in this country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jkelly80
Joined: 13 Jun 2007
Location: you boys like mexico?
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 6:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lame |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mix1
Joined: 08 May 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I think this quote pretty much sums up that blog:
| Quote: |
| Today's reason why liberals suck: their war on the family is driving us all insane. |
Is that like the "War on Christmas" as well? 
I like how the blog is filled with all sorts of straw men positions, most of which are imaginary or distort the actual position on an argument. But hey, let's just label 'em "Liberals" and use it as a pejorative term ad nauseam to describe anyone who holds a view we don't like or understand.
In reality, people hold some views that are liberal, and some views that are conservative.
The whole "My team vs. their team" mentality is getting old. I don't mind conservatives so much, since I tend to agree with them on some issues, but the whole Hannity/Limbaugh/Coulter/Palin crowd who constantly slander and distort are really doing a disservice to the country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ernie
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Location: asdfghjk
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| is anyone else really tired of this stupid 'liberal vs. conservative' BS? do these words really mean anything anymore? aren't there any words to describe a political position that are more, well, descriptive? can't i endorse some elements of conservatism (fiscal conservatism), and some elements of liberalism (gay rights) at the same time? actually, a well-thought out, nuanced position wouldn't fit into a 30-second soundbite, so forget it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ernie wrote: |
| is anyone else really tired of this stupid 'liberal vs. conservative' BS? do these words really mean anything anymore? aren't there any words to describe a political position that are more, well, descriptive? can't i endorse some elements of conservatism (fiscal conservatism), and some elements of liberalism (gay rights) at the same time? actually, a well-thought out, nuanced position wouldn't fit into a 30-second soundbite, so forget it. |
Exactly. They have little meaning for me. It would be much more productive to address the specific issue rather than hurl labels. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
