A non-conservative State of Mind - Combox #3

So the modern liberal tend to flock to urban settings:

Tier 1
Los Angeles (well, more like a giant suburb)
New York City (Manhattan and select parts of Brooklyn)
San Franscisco

These usually are the three main cities that the self-loathing small town resident moves to once college is over, or once they graduate from high school to pursue a career in the arts - performing or otherwise. Always the arts as well - must be something to do with the mentality that pervades such an industry.

Tier 2
Portland
Seattle
Chicago

These are also cities that may be on the list. These are mostly seen as back ups.  In my experience, those reside in Chicago tend to move to NYC if they are given a chance - not due to better pay but for the "It's NYC!" Chicago is mostly seen as a stepping stone type of city the creative type or the aspiring stock broker.

Tier 3
New Orleans
Nashville
Austin 

These three cities are becoming known to the hipsters, the "cool kids," the "open minded and progressive" types.

The reason I bring this up is because, as I do when I visit any site, I read, if not skim, the combox. In this particular case I've been reading articles on the Midwest and there is at least one, almost a staple on such articles, self-loathing Midwesterner or someone who wants a more "progressive city." This is why I listed the cities to what they are perceived in the eyes of the "non-conservative"  who is looking for greener pastures.

If you haven't already, city-data.com is a fantastic site; it's akin to wikipedia, but for metros and cities instead of being an online encyclopedia of anything and everything. It's a niche site. The forums of city-data offer a unique perspective on urban living from those who are very much familiar with a given city or metro.

Comments like this on Cincinnati:

The momentum is certainly building, but the old money and influence isn’t going down without a fight. The thing is that at least the fight is going on. Young people, creative people, progressive people, and diverse people are starting to take hold and make this city their own. If we can do that the foundation is there for a truly amazing city.

 and

I left because I was not happy in the Greater C’s dominant environment of baseball, football, right-wing politics, and limited horizons. For me it was an excellent decision to leave. My brother lives there still, and although he gets frustrated as hell with the negatives of Cincinnati, he has a circle of good friends to transcend them and an excellent quality of life for next to nothing. As I get closer to retirement, I’ve got an eye on nearby Columbus. Not quite as pretty, but just as cheap, plenty of “kul-cha”, and a bit more liberal-minded.

The first comment reeks of entitlement and bitterness. Key words used: progressive & diverse. These two things tend to be in the lexicon of such a mentality. No word of wanting low taxes, less business regulations, respectful encounters with strangers, the ease of public transportation. Nope. The comment is also a bit creepy. "If we can infiltrate the city and quietly position ourselves the takeover will be successful."

The second comment is similar to the first. It complains about the city being too "right wing." Interesting. Ain't NYC progressive enough? Not enough warm weather & gorgeous people strutting down an LA boulevard with organic grocery stores near by?  BUT good friends, according to the comment, 'transcend' the politics of the city. Even thought the QOL (Quality of Living) is a bang for ones buck (so I've heard) in Cincy and I don't believe the poster was verbally or physically attacked for his beliefs in real life, ever, the city isn't enough because of its "right-wing politics." Not because such politics is keeping business out or raising taxes further depleting ones wallet. No. It's "this is a conservative city ... I feel ... feel .. not welcomes here." Well, coming from someone who has conservative politics and lives in a major US city, I think I can say I'm proud not to call its quits simply because there's a "gay" flag flying 10 blocks from me, or that most of my colleagues and friends vote (D) instead of (R) or independent, or that most loathe authors I read and philosophies I support. I don't see the urge of moving to a more "conservative" city in order to feel comfortable with myself.   

 This ties into the "tiers." Mainly the non-conservative, if he is already living in a city, say Chicago or even Cincy, they may not be entirely happy. Why? Well, it's not progressive enough. The grass is greener in NYC/LA for such mindsets. It's been my experience that conservatives tend to survive in opposite political climates better than non-conservatives. If they do leave a given place, it's usually because of the taxes; if they do complain about the politics it's because they see the politics devaluing the city and making the city into a Detroit. Fair enough. I met one ex-Chicagoan who moved to Kentucky and never looked back. The reason? He noted that the city was turning into a city that was a  political wasteland filled with corruption and rats (both figuratively and literally).  Non-conservatives? "It ain't progressive enough."

Now, the great thing about the US is that one can choose, if the job offer comes (or not, just bus tables and work "survival jobs"0, to move to any city or town. You don't like a city? You can choose to move. You don't like your kids current school? Home school them or look for another school that suits your standards. You don't like your parish? Find another parish and become member. You don't like your university? Transfer. Think you want to study film instead of accounting? Switch majors.

The 'funny' ('funny' because it's somewhat juvenile) with the whole "this town's politics ain't to my liking so I gotta move" is that is kinda flies in the face of the ever popular criteria of modernists of being "open minded." Now Cincinnati is a city of  almost 300, 000 so it isn't exactly a conservative bastion. Plus, it's a city - not a town - so it's natural for "progressive" politics to have a seat at the table, front and center. Compared to major cities like NYC or LA, it's small; then again those in such cities probably don't even want to set foot in the Midwest unless they absolutely have to. Compared to a place like Charleston, Illinois, Cincy is Godsend depending on how you look at it. 

Like I mentioned, it all seems a bit juvenile. It just seems non-conservatives crave the comforts of those politically like minded -- not just in their group of friends, but also the place they live in. Now besides the ex-Chicagoan moving to Kentucky, I haven't come across comments of conservatives wanting to live in a more conservative town. In my experience, all cities are innately "liberal" - it's just some are more "liberal" than others. It is non-conservatives seeking out their own kind, like they can't survive in a small college town or a city like Cincy. Conservatives seem to know there are other views out there and are aware of the context of their given situation. Non-conservatives seem to want to enforce their "better-ness" (see the first quoted comment) in a tone of bitterness. "This is OUR time. Get. The. F_ck. Outa. The. Way." Sure it is.

May I ask what type of policies you want to put into law before you hop on your one speed bike?

""Gay marriage!"

What else?

"Um, more artists and barber shops, but with barbers who have sleeve tattoos and 1950 haircuts! Not those old school bigoted Italians barbers."

Okay, what else?

"More bike lanes!"

How about better public schools? Do you want that as well?

"Of course."

How about less gang violence?

"Yea."

How about a stronger sense of civic pride?

"Sure."

Sure.