Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Denise Moss ·
Jan 20, 2011 at 11:07am
Ursula asked what place Riccos would like to go before the final destination to the great beyond. I was surprised to see how many of us disliked travel, or had not traveled a lot. I put this question out there for debate.
- Comment (44)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (2)
Comments :
Jan '11
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Some of my more leftish friends, who are tremendously concerned about the environment, have no difficulty hopping in jets bound for faraway places. I must admit I feel pangs of guilt travelling, since fuel is a precious resource - but perhaps guilt and leftwards thinking don't go together.
Aug '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
It wouldn't surprise me if conservatives are less traveled than liberals -- we're more likely to be "cheapskates", for one thing, and travel is expensive.
Me, I've always dreamed of trotting the globe. But haven't, because I had boring things like medical bills and college loans to pay instead.
And when I have traveled by plane lately, the inconvenience of airline security has been enough to, ah, discourage future airline travel.
Dec '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Purely anecdotal - based on conversations I've had on airplanes while logging approximately 2 million miles in the past 15 years, I would have to say that the majority of the people I've talked to tend to lean to the right. By no means all, and often the topics don't come anywhere near politics, but in many cases you can get a feel for people's perspective just by talking about current events.
The other thing you have to take into consideration on my view is that I've been upgraded for probably 75-80% of those 2 million miles, so most of the people I've talked with are in first or business class. But then you could also say that the sampling is relatively representative of the "road warrior" since that's who makes up the vast majority of first class on domestic flights.
May '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
My business puts me on an airplane so much the idea of doing it for fun loses a good deal of appeal. Work took me to Honolulu right before Christmas three years ago and the 14 hour flight was a miserable experience.
Aug '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Yes. I also wonder about that sometimes.
A left-leaning relative decided to fly her portion of the family to Hawai'i for Christmas rather than gather with the family... considered giving her "carbon offsets" as a gag gift... was informed she would not find it funny.
Edited on Jan 20, 2011 at 11:28amJun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Having travelled a lot, both for business and pleasure, I hate to travel but love the arrival. I was always big on entrances. I do, however, have one iron rule by which I pick a destination: Never travel to a country where you cannot legally have a drink before, during, or after dinner. Even though I'm a scotch lover, I am by no means a heavy drinker, so my rule is based solely on the the terror that nations that don't allow this basic freedom instill in me. And yes, aside from Israel, I would never travel to the Middle East. I mean, what's the point?
Sep '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Growing up my family vacations involved camping, camping, and more camping. I had a pretty large family (by contemporary American standards) and we weren't very wealthy so buying round trip airfare for 7 was not usually an option. The only two flights I took before college were for one family vacation to Disney, and the other to Washington DC.
Now that I am a single dude with few expenses, I am able to treat myself a little. I took my first trip to California just recently for the Rose Bowl (still not over that game..). Next fall I am going to Mexico, which will be my first trip outside the country (never even been to Canada, unless you count Minnesota LOL). So I guess I would absolutely fit the stereotype of this thread. Or maybe it has more to do with being a Midwestern Cheapskate, as opposed to a Conservative Cheapskate.
Jun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
I've traveled all over the world and whenever I come across a group of fellow travelers, it usually consists of a blend of Brits, Australians, and lefties. I have no statistics to back me up, but my experience tells me that conservatives travel less. If they do travel, it's frequently as rich retirees going on first-class bus tours. I prefer not to travel that way, so perhaps that's why I don't run into conservatives beating the hard path that I usually take.
I think liberals tend to wander more than conservatives. A lot of those I have met have been away for months going on full-scale walkabouts. Conservatives often cram an adventure into their allotted vacation times while working at a well-paying job, as I did.
Americans across the political spectrum, I think, travel less (internationally at least) because we are geographically farther away from everything else than Europeans, for example. We also have lots to see right here in our own vast country,
I would like to see more Americans, and of course, conservatives travel the world. I think it's important. For me, it only reinforced the greatness of our country.
Dec '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
I want to explore the US before I go see others.
Jul '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
The more you do it, the more you hate it! I traveled for years (US and Europe) and dreaded each trip even though it rarely was coach when it was business. Since retiring, I've spent alternate winters in NZ, and with each trip there, I hated it more. A few years ago after not being on a plane is a few years, I was shocked how much worse it had gotten: no room, inedible food, and rude stewies. I swore off flying and except for a family required trip, I've managed to avoid flights. I just find life more pleasant staying home.
Edited on Jan 20, 2011 at 11:51amNov '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Liberals like to travel to exotic places and then pontificate on how experiencing other cultures makes them smarter politically. One fellow arrogantly told me "Bush had never been outside the US before he became president, you do know that, right?" Of course that is a: untrue, and b: irrelevant. Travelling the world does help build a perspective, but it doesn't make you more politically astute, necessarily. But I do think liberals travel more than conservatives. I am working on being the exception.
May '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
My family made many trips to parks around the U.S. when I was young. The emphasis was always on landscapes and history.
I expect what others have said is near the mark, if any difference exists. Many conservatives travel for business, but liberals are more likely to travel for fun. Conservatives tend to have more family ties, I think, and more obligations or plans that keep them rooted.
Jun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
In my experience the conservatives absolutely travel overseas more than liberals.
I love to travel and do as much as I can afford or fit in between family schedules. Ireland remains my favorite spot, and I've been there dozens of times. Still want to hit Italy and Australia and Nova Scotia and Alaska and Iceland and Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon and......................
Jun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Mark Belling Fan, you being a mid-westerner and cheap, I would recommend, should you take a hankering to travel to Canada, that you drive one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Start in Jasper, Alberta, and travel the mountain highway south to Banff, Alberta (the road takes you to the Columbia ice fields) then on to Calgary. From Calgary go south to Waterton Lakes National Park, which straddles the Canada US border. From Waterton, drive around Glacier National Park in Montana. From there work you way to Seattle or to Yellowstone National Park or home. Although I've not driven to Yellowstone, I've done Jasper to Banff many times and spent much time driving around Glacier National Park photographing in my landscape period. The Jasper to Yellowstone drive is a National Geographic world class tour, and not to be missed. Last point, plenty of campgrounds on the route.
May '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
What about conservatives who travel the world as part of missionary work and as members of our armed forces?
I would venture most lefties who travel do it because its part of the status culture. Sure you went to some prestigious college, but better to regale the ladies at the bar with stories of how you spent that semester biking in the outback, rafting in south america or [insert exotic asian country here]
In a world of constantly one-upping each other for female attention, the man with the coolest exotic vacation with an emotional existential experience wins.
Jul '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
How are we defining traveled? I find that many liberals I encounter, while having traveled internationally or between major cities in the US, have spent very little time traveling within the US. The opposite holds true for conservatives. I travel quite often across the US, but rarely have I had reason to travel overseas aside from work.
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
I have no idea how to answer the question. I have traveled a great deal -- though never to Australia, New Zealand, the Far East, or Latin America -- and I have generally enjoyed it. Off and on, I have lived abroad, and I have always enjoyed that.
May '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Forget the Continent, I propose a North American Grand Tour required for any young american before they enter college. How plebeian of me.
Jun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Best travel experience I ever had was on a long lay over (2 to 3 hours) in Seattle (a goofy airport) waiting for a connecting flight to Honolulu. I sat down beside a guy with a thick Scottish accent and casually ask if my lounge buddy flew directly from Scotland. He volunteered that he lived in Hawaii. It was obvious from his accent that he was a man on whom Don Ho had no impact whatsoever. Jealous of his status, I ask, how's a guy get from Scotland to Hawaii? He volunteers that he's a post-doc in astrophysics and that he's working at one of the observatories. That was it. The time flew by as we spent the layover hours talking about the physics of black holes, dark matter, light bending, the age of the universe, the shape of the universe, and how his wife was ticked off because he wasn't doing his share of minding the kids because he was talking to me. It was an out of this world experience that I shall never forget.
Jun '10
Re: Are Conservatives More or Less Traveled than Liberals?
Agreed with the traveling of our own country first. Though I traveled to Europe twice during and right after college, I set out in my twenties to see the U.S. I drove across the country via three different routes, two of the routes camping the whole way. Those trips have been true wonders of my life. After that, I felt ready to take on the rest of the world.
As for Canada, Cas, you describe one of my dream trips. I've always wanted to go up in those parts. I'd especially love to take a train from Vancouver to somewhere in Eastern Canada. Your country is absolutely spectacular.