Why Go Blue?
I started out with the intent of asking this question exclusively of Troy Senik but decided to expand it to the whole ricochet universe. Also, I apologize if this question has been asked but I haven't been a member for very long and I might have missed it. Why are so many of the contributors and members living in either blue states or blue cities. I grew up in Covington, Ga. (the tv show In the Heat of the Night was filmed there to give you an idea) and have never left the south except when the Corps said so. So my question is what is it about NY or S.F. or L.A. or other hard left locals that seems to draw so many of the best of Ricochet? Believe me there is a great deal to be found in the urban areas of red states like Ga. or Tx. etc. Now for Troy. You left Nashville? Really? (Emory shakes head slowly) I live just outside of Franklin and you left this place? There are no tractors in LA Troy. Without a tractor in front of you what is life? Also in my defense I have visited NY SF and LA. and love them all but couldn't live in any. I'm just trying to understand the desire of living in the belly of the beast.
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Comments :
Mar '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
I'll not put on airs by saying that I'm among the best of Ricochet, but in my case, it's home. Besides, to live in the midst of the enemy and make his life miserable at every turn by my very existence is bracing.
Edited on Jan 3 at 11:46amJul '10
Re: Why Go Blue?
It's where the job is.
I'd move to Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, etc. tomorrow if I could get a job there.
May '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Those of us in blue states get to experience the madness first hand. Who better than us to comment on the left's folly ?
Feb '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
I grew up around here (New Paltz, NY) and, of my six siblings, am the only one remaining near to my parents who still live in the ancestral abode, 25 minutes away. Papa Toad's parents are also nearby, less than 2 hours away. In addition, both sets of in-laws have a summer house on a lake. Free vacations for the tadpoles may make up for higher taxes and a annoying regulatory state?
Apr '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
In my case, it was where the job was for Mr. Charlotte. But every time we go back to Milwaukee I realize how much I miss the Midwest. Like most DC-area residents, we'll probably stay here for ten years or so and then move back "home".
And it must be said, we love the restaurants and museums here!
Dec '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Some of us need a little more than high school football and Waffle House.
Dec '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Well I moved south, my dad and mom would if grandma and grandpa werent there and they didnt build their retirement house in the emptying out western part of NY.
Jul '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Culture I suppose. Personally, it is all about gun rights for me. Football is great but Reno missed the great wafflehouse migration, one can only hope.
Nov '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
That's some industrial-strength condescension there, buddy! No wonder you feel at home among the left.
Dec '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
That's some industrial-strength condescension there, buddy! No wonder you feel at home among the left.
This post is condescending. "How could you be a conservative and live somewhere other than the heartland?" That's nothing more than the mirror image of the elites' sneering at flyover country.
May '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Hey, Wait a dagum minute. We have more than high school football and Waffle House. We have College football and bourbon too. And birddogs, and um .....God if you could hear me laughing. I really get your point and it takes me back to a great memory I have of my last trip to NY. My wife and I were walking around near Battery Park and we saw all these kids in the park learning to ride a bike or running around just playing. Kim said, just think of all the experiences these kids will have that our children won't. The plays and museums etc. My response was yea but they won't wake up and see deer in their front yard, or wild turkey at their school etc. Both choices offer benefits and liabilities. No right answer. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my question. I was just a little curious.
Dec '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Emory, let's be pals.
The English author Evelyn Waugh once remarked, "New York is a city with a neurosis in the air that the inhabitants mistake for energy."
Perhaps those of us who choose San Francisco or New York are more neurotic than those who choose rural Georgia. As for Los Angeles, I haven't a clue.
Re: Why Go Blue?
Some of us don't.
May '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Nobody's Perfect: Emory, let's be pals.
The English author Evelyn Waugh once remarked, "New York is a city with a neurosis in the air that the inhabitants mistake for energy."
Perhaps those of us who choose San Francisco or New York are more neurotic than those who choose rural Georgia. As for Los Angeles, I haven't a clue. · Jan 3 at 1:19pm
Nobody's Perfect, We are pals, we are friends, we are fellow travelers. We are members of Ricochet and believers in freedom and the wealth that comes from allowing people to follow there own path. If you believe I stepped out of line please slap me up side the head. I can take it. This is why I'm here.
Re: Why Go Blue?
Emory, it's a wonderful question, and I have a few parts to my answer:
Mar '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
Except for the isolated peninsula on the Pacific, just like Nashville. Party at Troy's house!
Feb '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
I live in LA. Yesterday morning I went on a 26 mile bike ride with a good (liberal) buddy. We saw three coyotes, sundrenched hills peaking above the fog, and many houses I could never afford. Yes the politics are dreadful. But there is everything you can imagine here, including the most economically conservative resource of all -- enough successful people to create lots of opportunities.
Dec '10
Re: Why Go Blue?
Think about it, Emory. If you want to talk conservative politics and ideas, you probably can turn to a real person sitting next to you at the office or coffee shop. We who were born and raised in the blue states need to turn to Ricochet, Ace of Spades and other online communities to find conversationalists who won't start from the assumption that we're insane, heartless or piggishly selfish because we dare vote Republican. I'm not quite ready to get run out of my home state by the Democrats. I hold out hope that even Californians can regain their bearings - after all, I did.
Re: Why Go Blue?
Northern California is home for me. I grew up here, my family is all out here, and even though I can work from anywhere so long as I'm with Ricochet, it's where my fiance has a job. It's also incredibly beautiful. No place else I've ever seen can quite compare. And the food is pretty amazing too.
Last I checked, just about 2/3 of Ricochet Members are from deep blue areas. I think Ricochet appeals to blue area conservatives because we experience a pretty overwhelming sense of ideological isolation. And trying to engage in conversation with someone with a deeply entrenched leftist mindset typically proves to be an exercise in futility. Having an opportunity to connect and trade ideas with fellow conservatives here on Ricochet is as good an antidote to ideological isolation as you'll find.
Apr '11
Re: Why Go Blue?
I like Chicago, and I like Hyde Park to give you an example of my neighborhood my home is one block from the houses of Obama, Bill Ayers, and Louis Farakan. I don't think I'll live forever here in Hyde Park, but I don't think I would hate it if I did. It really is a nice place to live and people are really friendly. I don't think they suspect my Republican leanings but even if they do I don't think they would be any less nice to me. America is just a great place to live no matter where you choose to live (well not Detroit, but hey can't all be good). I think though we can all agree whether you live in Red America or Blue America we are all happy not to live in Europe.