Being an outspoken liberal Democrat in a county which voted 3 to one AGAINST Obama---twice---

[Atticus]

sometimes makes me feel like the "Lone Ranger". And, then, I read a post here with which I want to either agree or disagree and find that there are a couple dozen DUers who have already written the response I had in mind.

You folks in blue areas have no idea how comforting that can be. Thanks.

[Alpeduez21]

1. Ditto

I feel alone in my county and come here and faith in humanity is restored

[Baitball Blogger]

2. +1

[Pachamama]

3. Right there with you Atticus!

[MontanaFarmer]

4. I'm with you my friend.

The community here and the one at kos have often been the folks keeping me sane the past 4 years. Living in red areas has never been less fun than it is now.

[Freedomofspeech]

5. Yep..

I know how you feel..SW PA here . It's a nightmare.

[Maraya1969]

6. Yup. I'm in red county in FL.

I come here and feel like I am with friends.



Although I have found some groups where I feel at home here, in general I am afraid to open my mouth in public.

[blueinredohio]

7. Same here. Any election is always 25/75. There's very few of us democrats here.

[Laelth]

8. I am currently living in "The Free State of Van Zandt" (East Texas).

This county seceded from Texas over the issue of slavery. It seceded from the Confederacy over the issue of slavery. It seceded from the United States over the issue of slavery. Being a "Free State" means ... don't let the dark-skinned people in. Slavery does that, so this county has been opposed to slavery since its inception.

Here are its current demographics:

The racial makeup of the county was 91.96% White, 2.94% Black or African American, 0.62% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.71% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 6.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Zandt_County%2C_Texas#Demographics

92% White. Only 3% African-American. This is extraordinary for any county in any formerly-slave state. A neighbor of mine who is in his thirties and who has lived here all his life remembers a sign from his youth (about 1998) outside one of the towns in the county that said, "If you're black, turn back." The sign is gone now, but the fact that it was still posted in 1998 is telling. Naturally, all my representatives are Republicans and all Van Zandt county offices are held by Republicans. My daughter and I really don't belong here.

So, I know how you feel.

-Laelth

[Atticus]

9. Keep on keepin' on. nt

[Laelth]

12. I can't help it.

I have already converted one of my fence-sitting neighbors. He intends to vote to Mayor Pete in the primary and is determined to vote for the Democratic candidate, whomever that may be, in November.

I can not stop being me.

Cheers!

-Laelth

[Sucha NastyWoman]

19. Is Louie Gohmert your Congressman?

[Laelth]

23. Nope. It's Lance Gooden. (R - Terrell)

The Free State of Van Zandt lies within Texas' 5th Congressional District.



-Laelth

[rickyhall]

10. Living in red state sucks.

So hard to get people to vote because, "What would be the point?" I hear. The biggest problem with the Electoral College is Blue don't count in Red states, Red don't in Blue. I think more votes would be cast if this problem could be solved.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. i live in a highly red area in the sierra nevada foothils of ca , i know of a few blues

in the area , but am surrounded by red or libertarians ( rs in disguise) . they voted for obama the first go round. its nice that i came to this board years ago and it saved my insanity.

[safeinOhio]

13. A while back when I moved to Ohio,

lived in a very red city. Joined the local Dem Party and went to a UU church. Got to know every cool person in that city with in a year.
Now back in Michigan in a blue county(State University in it) surrounded by red ones. Did the same thing with the same results.

[volstork]

14. I understand, Atticus.

Although I live in a deeply blue county, my state is as red as they come, and voted just as you describe. We've got to hang together and buoy each other up.

[seta1950]

15. Sorry

My sympathies, but as you said there’s always DU

[brutus smith]

16. Same thing in NW Ohio.

These trump supporters say they voted for Obama the 1st time which is pure bullshit. I call them out on it and ask them why they voted for Obama and they can't come up with an answer. So I asked them why they voted for trump since trump is totally opposite from Obama. Once again, no answer. So yeah, don't believe them when they say they voted for Obama.

[mrs_p]

17. I'm in a very red state

Where even the liberal areas are purple. I understand. I’ve always lived in blue states and DU has been a lifeline.

[Roy Rolling]

18. Same here

It’s the same for me. But you know what? My kids and all their friends aren’t buying the GOP snake oil. It’s a war of attrition, I hope I live to see the eventual victory.

Dictators and despots almost always are overthrown—by the people or a dictator with a stronger army.

Why? Because younger people see and hear the media for themselves, they don’t need a translator from Fox News explaining its importance.

What we have here isn’t a political party as much as it is a cult. It’s hero-worship of someone evil enough to do the horrible things ignorant people think are the simple solutions to complex problems.

[keithbvadu2]

20. "who have already written the response I had in mind. "

"who have already written the response I had in mind. "

Many times.

Sometimes I just give them an agreement post or a 'good one' reply.

[Yavin4]

21. California was once a reliably red state

Keep the faith.

[WanderingLiberal]

22. Liberal refugee

We left our rural red state, Arkansas, after the 2016 election and now spend most of our time in blue, rural progressive state, New Mexico. We are actually FT RVers. It was, literally, necessary for my mental health. Anytime I was out in public, I just wanted to slap people. Walking thru parking lots, I wanted to key all the cars covered in hateful rhetoric. I still wake up every day and before I’m even awake enough to know the day of the week the awfulness of our situation hits my stomach but not having to deal with tRumpists on a daily basis makes it bearable. Heck, they can string the barbed wire around my little multi cultural town & we’d be happy campers. Plus, we had about 100 folks out at the plaza for the Women’s March this year 😁.

[phylny]

24. Same here.

It’s Trumpistan where I live.