The map everyone SHOULD be looking at, page 1

How about some illumination?

Originally posted by Intelearthling
Great post Eso.

What confounds me the most is that the blue areas (not the states) are mostly large metropolitans.

Why would that confound you? It's an obvious extension of current party philosophies that rural areas go red and urban go blue. The Democratic Platform is one of Social Responsibility that recognizes diversity and harmony, promoting the good of all. The current Republican Platform is one of Personal Responsiblity that (while noble in it's broadest sense) works best in homogeneous environments, right down to "moral values."

One says we're in this together; the other you're on your own.

Are the inner cities in such bad shape that they would want the "liberal giva-away" programs largely proposed by the Democratic Party?

It's more like the inner cities are in such good shape, they're still willing to subsidize red areas. Don't take that for granted. Look at who really lives off of who, no matter what the bumper stickers lining the rural/suburban sprawl would indicate. I realize some of the most needy in America are congested in urban centers, but so are the most affluent and overwhelmingly they still vote for the social good over their own selfish interests.

The white flight of the 70's with urban projects to merely "house" the poor is long since over. Re-gentrification was not just the norm, but the rage throughout the 90's. City planning is now an art form of the highest order creating fully integrated, functioning communities of upper and lower income with employment, transportation and recreational opportunities for all. It's quite nice really...if one has an open mind.

There's got to be a solution. It's entirely my speculation that people in the inner cities are depressed by the situation of having to be on welfare (or paying outrageous rent) and other government programs (or constantly on the guard for criminal elements that find easy prey in large crowds) due to the lack of jobs and the inability to relocate to areas that may have a wider variety of employment to choose from. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that everyone in larger cities are on welfare. From my visits to large metropolitan areas, it looks like a rat-race that I'd rather not be a part of.

The solution is to stop thinking that way. Cities fuel this country. Not rural "rest stops" centered around a Wal-Mart (which apparently is most of where federal funds still go). The ideological divide (which clearly does exist) is based on nothing more than false perceptions, fear of the unknown and something to do with enforcing morals.

There was a time, not so so long ago, that everything was reversed. Rural areas were blue, urban red. The concept of you're on your own suited the city elite just fine, while disenfrachised farmers and rural "pioneers" couldn't make an honest dollar or get electricity to save their life. Frankly, there was no rural middle class before the Democratic Party engineered one over the past century.

You're welcome.

But now "morals" have entered into it (or at least the perception of morals), and the flawed concept of "self reliance" to the exclusion of the greater good that made this country great.

Have you bit the hand that fed your Grandfather lately? If you voted Republican, you did.

[edit on 11-11-2004 by RANT]