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Democrat

Pensacola, FL

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What creates value and personality? jaredsxtn said it would be a better place if the values held by the people of Oregon, Washington and California were more prominent and widedpread. Particularly to the interior red states. So what makes values geographically characteristic? The origins of both groups are pretty much the same with very few native residents of either location. Are the complexities of choice resolved by location? Or choice of residence ?

pr

2016-12-31 08:16:58 AM

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pr

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Independent

Durham, NH

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Location certainly plays a huge part in it although many lower income people have no choice where they live.

People on the coasts tend to be more liberal because of population densities. Just living with and experiencing people other than your own tight knit demographic such as fly over land tends to make people more accepting of other lifestyles.

When you live in an area where all your neighbors look alike, pray alike, speak alike most people tend to just go with the flow and talk themselves in believing and accepting what the majority of their neighbors believe.

Xenophobia is real and very dangerous, as witnessed in our latest presidential election.

Dutch

2016-12-31 08:52:18 AM

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Dutch

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Independent

Ft.myers, FL

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Kind of an strange question; I agree with P.R. that indeed in the coastal cities and States, things evolve quicker than in the central states etc. Also because of the mixture of people as well developments from immigrants which may bring in other idea's etc. Like I said in some other threads, the country side in the US stays kind of passive and set in their ways. Especially the "bible belts" and "farm belts" are kind of left behind also in education or broad minded views. Related to the "rust belt" that is an different story. When they had work in the industry, they had to adapt to the "times"; now the industry is gone then they have become passive and the same as in the "bible belt" and "farm belt" . In that respect is the US an weird country. I guess the main reason is the lack of an "real" social structure, as well "capitalism" is the curse/stand in the way for lifting these "belts" out of poverty. Bernie had the right idea's, as they do in Europe. Like he said the "rich" should pay there fair share, which is certainly not the case here, ask Trump who never paid any taxes. How about in France they pay up to 75% as applied to the super rich. Why have the rich here so much money that they even don't know where to spent it on, like "goldplating" your wine glasses or pillars etc. as well buying "ridiculous"overdone things; thus that makes their life's more happy? I doubt it. I think here it is an decease like "hoarding". Trump has that decease. Yes this country has an lot to learn, because it is only in its present form 300 years old. Europe at least 2000 years experience and has learned to take care of all people not just the rich.

Chet Ruminski

2016-12-31 11:58:58 AM

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Democrat

Pensacola, FL

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"Kind of an strange question"

I don't think so. It seems the overriding determination of people is geographical. Socio geographical. The barren desert people never developed factories. A lot of cultures have developed and it doesn't appear to be the result of soul searching introspection but simply geographically environmentally influenced. Overall that is why I don't like exaggerated negative descriptions like deplorables and gun nuts. Demonizing contradicting view points is simply an excuse for not understanding. The resulting polarization developed from exaggeration prevents progress in working out compromises and solutions. Hillary characterizing Trump supporters as deplorable was wrong. Because our system failed certain groups she blamed the system failure on the group. Not any different than blaming the unemployed for not working or the poor for not having money. Negative characterizations shirk responsibility.

jaredsxtn

2016-12-31 01:35:47 PM

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jaredsxtn

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Democrat

Portland, OR

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Chet Ruminski Wrote: What creates value and personality? jaredsxtn said it would be a better place if the values held by the people of Oregon, Washington and California were more prominent and widedpread. Particularly to the interior red states. So what makes values geographically characteristic? The origins of both groups are pretty much the same with very few native residents of either location. Are the complexities of choice resolved by location? Or choice of residence ?

For individuals - having compassion, caring for the poor, and accepting people of all faiths, sexual orientations, and ethnic demographics.

For governments - investing in public education, infrastructure projects, and jobs programs that reflect modern America and not doubling down on failed policies and then blaming the Federal government when things don't change for the better.

jaredsxtn

2016-12-31 01:42:04 PM

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jaredsxtn

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Democrat

Portland, OR

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Chet Ruminski Wrote: Hillary characterizing Trump supporters as deplorable was wrong.

Her quote was taken entirely out of context.

This is her full quote:

"You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump's supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic -- you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up. He has given voice to their websites that used to only have 11,000 people -- now 11 million. He tweets and retweets their offensive hateful mean-spirited rhetoric. Now, some of those folks -- they are irredeemable, but thankfully they are not America." (Bold highlighted by me)

Racists, sexists, homophobic's, xenophobic's, and Islamophobic's, are deplorable. Trump gave them a platform to openly spew their hate and now he will be our next President.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. In this case the duck is the deplorable American who helped elect a racist strongman as our next President.

Schmidt

2016-12-31 04:46:48 PM

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Schmidt

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Colorado Springs, CO

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Much of our personality is driven by our genes. However, parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, faith leaders, friends and media in the community can reinforce innate positive personality traits, or on the other hand, act as "conscience" to overcome ones "dark side".

Exposure to the "other" in urban and university settings can have a positive effect on critical thinking. Alternatively, if your family and community comprises a bunch of "think a likes" then it is much harder to break away from the tribal norms. Many of those tribal views now are fed by far right websites and certain media figures where facts are absent and fear, rage and hate takes on a life of its own, spreading like a virus.

Life on the dark side consists of lots of bubbles, many of which are interconnected into a right wing blogosphere . We on the left get a taste of it when trolls enter into our domain and spew out their ignorance and biases. They scare the shit out me because their bigot-in-chief has now been elected president. They vote in large numbers. We liberals, on the other hand, apply purity tests to our candidates and then stay home on election day...so offended by some innocuous statement, half-truth or lies we choose to believe from the distant past.

Now many of these bigoted "deplorable" people are otherwise good Americans. We know them at work, school, in sports...or maybe even in ones church. But left alone or with their clans they live in their bubbles where emotions fester the anger, and critical thought is totally absent.

Diversity of worldviews would normally be perceived as a plus for our country as it stimulates thought and can be profitable to capitalism, corporations and government. Now you are only getting pockets of that more open minded thinking in such west coast states as California, Oregon and Washington and a few more on the east coast. Having said that liberals too must guard against polarization and bubble thinking. We are our own worst enemies by also succumbing to our emotions as in the last election...and most midterm elections including state and local.

Chet Ruminski

2017-01-01 01:29:49 PM

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Democrat

Pensacola, FL

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"are deplorable"

You are too anxious to contradict. I never said there are no deplorable people. I said verbalising it was wrong. Just like you jump to conclusions to challenge my observations so do people take text out of context to sensationalize arguments. Deplorable did nothing to advance Hillary in the race as name calling is seldom beneficial. All part of the losing campaign.

Chet Ruminski

2017-01-01 03:08:36 PM

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Democrat

Pensacola, FL

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"We liberals, on the other hand, apply purity tests to our candidates and then stay home on election day"

There is no comparison between modern liberal and conservative support. The modern liberal appeal is too widespread and diverse to coalesce a consensus. Contrarily the conservative self centered selfish agenda is narrow and focused supported with examples of attacks on personal wealth. A successful restart of the Democratic Party would be a drastic reduction of supported issues narrowing the focus to the working class. Anything that helps the working class will benefit every class.

Schmidt

2017-01-02 10:42:03 AM

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Schmidt

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Colorado Springs, CO

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Chet -- You suggest a drastic reduction of the supported issues of the Democratic Party, focusing only on what is good for the working class. Well such a party already exists in the United States, the World Workers Party. From their website:

The working class produces all the wealth, including technology, while the bosses produce nothing but poverty, suffering and inequality. The real power of the workers and the oppressed is in the streets, not in Washington, D.C., or Wall Street.

Their 10 Point Program probably has a lot that you would probably endorse, but is also more expansive than just "working class". Thoughts on their program?

Chet Ruminski

2017-01-02 12:10:04 PM

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