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HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)

147. Well, make a straw-man, it's your liberty...I was talking about THE REGION

Wed Oct 16, 2013, 04:58 PM

Oct 2013

and about recognizable regional identity AND influence in American culture and politics?

I'm really not sure that there is a region more prominent than the south.

I'll admit to finding that stressful, but there it is. My home town was a center of precision manufacturing and famous for watch and aeronautical instrument making...until it was raided by a Carolina town offering free land, no taxes and cheap labor---and that was back in the early '60s.

Sure there are greater individual states than Alabama in terms of economy, political influence and culture. Certainly there are cities (New York, Hollywood) that aren't southern but are giants in culture. What cities push American politics more than San Francisco?

But, consider it as I posed it..."The South" is as "big" as any region in terms of identity, cultural influence and influence on politics and American business practices. I wouldn't say that the Southern/Right to work/WalMart model (part-time, anti-union, no benefits, etc.) is good for America, but it's damned successful and it has spread into all corners of the national economy.

When one considers the country...what region beats "The South" in terms of Identity and influence in culture and politics?

New England? no
The Mid-Atlantic States? no
Eastern North Central (midwestern 'old foundry states&quot no
Western North Central (aka that grassland "desert" in James Fennimore Cooper's The Prairie)? no
The Mountain States? no
The Southwest? no
The West Coast? Well, especially with respect to California, it probably IS the most equal competitor to the south.

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The South bashing is getting really old. [View all] NuclearDem Oct 2013 OP

Hear, Hear! NYC_SKP Oct 2013 #1

The south is such a easy target. texanwitch Oct 2013 #2

Indeed. It's an old meme. NuclearDem Oct 2013 #6

The facts support your post. bvar22 Oct 2013 #132

They make themselves an easy target. Baitball Blogger Oct 2013 #9

Oh... like the Boston accent is so accurate. Fawke Em Oct 2013 #105

We deal with what we have. Baitball Blogger Oct 2013 #123

I think that "neo-confederate" area went for Obama. Can you explain Boston's 70s busing problems? Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #149

Actually Texas has the most Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 2013 #3

yeah, and Ted Cruz is from Canada NightWatcher Oct 2013 #8

AND George W Bush is from Connecticut (nt) Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #37

mike lee from utah hopemountain Oct 2013 #59

And Bill Clinton is from Arkansas, and Al Gore is from Tennessee.. pipoman Oct 2013 #68

Yeah BIG DOG... The Icon, The Man Who Does Demand Respect... ChiciB1 Oct 2013 #97

No doubt...the Democratic party has abandoned labor.. pipoman Oct 2013 #124

And LBJ, the last Liberal Democratic President, was from TEXAS! bvar22 Oct 2013 #131

And I Grew Up In Texas! Not Born There, But ChiciB1 Oct 2013 #137

BTW, Is That You?? Forgot To Ask! ChiciB1 Oct 2013 #138

No, that is not me. bvar22 Oct 2013 #140

LOL pipoman Oct 2013 #175

Not Sure I This Is Sarcasm Or Not... ChiciB1 Oct 2013 #181

r u sure you responded to the right post? pipoman Oct 2013 #191

The guy who funds Freedom Works is from Barrington IL (NT) PBass Oct 2013 #130

Well I live in a southern state and I will continue to BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #4

By all means, fight the culture and the mentality. NuclearDem Oct 2013 #10

I'm saying that it won't be changed. BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #14

Racism is regionalism's kissing cousin if not twin, it's the same mentality of "they" Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #28

And the little white churches wipe the humanity BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #32

Another simple answer to a complex question, you would castigate anyone going to a church, I Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #36

Uncle Joe, thank you ChazII Oct 2013 #58

Nailed it. You would think the only folks living in the South were pot-bellied NASCAR whites. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #150

I am former liberal Californian who now lives in Asheville, NC young_at_heart Oct 2013 #5

You are in an oasis DAMANgoldberg Oct 2013 #74

Asheville is a BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL place .. I vacationed there once srican69 Oct 2013 #148

It doesn't really matter, some people just want attention. To even it out... snooper2 Oct 2013 #7

Now New York bashing I can get behind NuclearDem Oct 2013 #13

Some forget NY owns Wall Street and Park Ave houses the biggest criminals influencing politics. nt adirondacker Oct 2013 #63

Texans are learning "shortage" BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #15

we are doing okay...it's been raining for three days snooper2 Oct 2013 #19

Actually, I was thinking about Barnhart BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #25

I don't know where that is, but I dated a girl with that as a last name for a bit snooper2 Oct 2013 #42

Jesus, Austin got swamped! More on the way, and the temp dropped to the 50s today. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #151

If you would stop electing batshit crazy vile idiots in huge numbers to the house, Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #11

I'm actually from Indiana. NuclearDem Oct 2013 #17

The nation is divided largely along the same regional boundaries as the confederacy. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #21

Exactly! The racist energy fueling the Teabaggers is strongest and most prolific in the South. LonePirate Oct 2013 #43

We still suffer from Tom Delay Redistricting Syndrome! That man is more responsible for this Dustlawyer Oct 2013 #53

The Midwest is redder than the South. GreenStormCloud Oct 2013 #18

No actually it isn't. And it is less populous. But if you find comfort in that theory, go for it. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #33

Take a look. GreenStormCloud Oct 2013 #40

That projection doesn't include population jeff47 Oct 2013 #129

26 of 47 members of the house teaparty caucus are from the confederacy. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #171

That map is totally misleading cpwm17 Oct 2013 #188

California sent out Darryl Issa, don't forget. Michelle Bachmann is not from the Old South... Hekate Oct 2013 #77

The facts disagree with your opinion: bvar22 Oct 2013 #133

they are fully responsible for the politics and beliefs they have down there quinnox Oct 2013 #12

The cities in Texas are blue. texanwitch Oct 2013 #20

I tend to agree, and have lived in the south all my life. I think we deserve bashing. Hoyt Oct 2013 #23

I note their racism to their faces BlueToTheBone Oct 2013 #27

No need to treat the cretins with respect, is my view. Hoyt Oct 2013 #45

Try pointing that out and they complain about being bashed. Warpy Oct 2013 #31

Exactly. The south ought to be ashamed and want to make amends. Hoyt Oct 2013 #47

This message was self-deleted by its author carolinayellowdog Oct 2013 #166

Who are "they"? Wow, I just lost all respect for you, a long time coming carolinayellowdog Oct 2013 #165

The "South" is doing a pretty good job of that all by themselves. nt madinmaryland Oct 2013 #16

Did you know that Jimmy Carter comes from South Georgia? Fumesucker Oct 2013 #26

Did you know my mother came from the South? madinmaryland Oct 2013 #30

Carter was no saint back then. Like/respect him a lot nowadays. Hoyt Oct 2013 #55

I get it but... Egnever Oct 2013 #22

Seen more overt racial bias in NYC than Charleston, SC. Tribalism dies hard. tillikum Oct 2013 #24

And yet SC is one of the 29 States that still have legalized discrimination against Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #107

well the beauty of the internet and it's chat rooms are that its anecdotal tillikum Oct 2013 #122

Some people just need a villain Boom Sound 416 Oct 2013 #163

NY State also has Wall Street YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #177

You think that mitigates the discrimintory laws and culture of Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #185

Truth! Boom Sound 416 Oct 2013 #161

Can we blame Nixon and Karl Rove for making the South a conservative stronghold? starroute Oct 2013 #29

This message was self-deleted by its author LumosMaxima Oct 2013 #34

My question is, what does it accomplish here? Shaming fellow DUers? Swell. nolabear Oct 2013 #35

Some people here may just be filled with hate, rage and ignorance but I have no doubt others are Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #38

I agree Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #96

I have to agree with you. cordelia Oct 2013 #101

I personally boycott all the States that have legal discrimination against my people Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #110

Why are you excusing your own bigotry? cordelia Oct 2013 #119

So your contention is that I am a bigot because I object to discrimination Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #186

Because emotion overrules reason or logic, it had to be that way for our species to survive. Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #173

+1 1000words Oct 2013 #39

Some people on DU want to legitimize their hatred by pointing to "facts" about the hated "Other." Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #141

Yes, Florida is south and we gave Obama the vote last election. Incitatus Oct 2013 #41

Florida has a larger population of retired folks from the NE. eilen Oct 2013 #88

Yeah. Like Northeast Puerto Rico. The "native" population includes blacks and Hispanics. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #152

I know of a couple wealthy Republicans who maintain primary residence here for tax reasons. Incitatus Oct 2013 #193

I live in kansas and refuse to defend the state and it's GOP idiots, so... Logical Oct 2013 #44

I'm a northerner, and I couldn't agree more. cristianmarie533 Oct 2013 #46

It should also be noted that 3 of the last 4 Democratic Presidents Art_from_Ark Oct 2013 #70

LBJ, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton -- all good Democrats, all from the South Hekate Oct 2013 #78

Tennessee Williams was from the South, a great litearary genius of the South Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #114

Let's not forget the female writers, Kate Chopin, Zora Neale Hurston, Carson McCullers... Hekate Oct 2013 #134

Paraphrasing, Hurston said generations ago the future of America can be seen in South Florida. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #143

I agree, but when you have loudmouth Republicans especially in Texas davidpdx Oct 2013 #48

Yes, Texas has leaders now that are so bad like Perry and Cruz mc51tc Oct 2013 #56

Don't forget that here in Texas we have the Castro brothers, Wendy Davis, and ... Tx4obama Oct 2013 #82

To be fair, the US, yes the US, is a collection of balkanized states nadinbrzezinski Oct 2013 #49

The South? Hell,that is a liberal stronghold compared to the I-35 corridor in OK and KS. Rain Mcloud Oct 2013 #50

I get the sense that many southern states are nearing a tipping point paulkienitz Oct 2013 #51

I agree. The SOUTH is ripe for a Democratic Party picking, bvar22 Oct 2013 #156

Then stop sending these assholes to DC. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #52

What I found out is ohheckyeah Oct 2013 #57

That's good advice. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #62

My brother has gone from being a fire breathing ohheckyeah Oct 2013 #72

You are doing a fantastic job being an ambassador to your own family Hekate Oct 2013 #79

Thank you.... ohheckyeah Oct 2013 #136

thanks for this truth noiretextatique Oct 2013 #139

Your map is good for those stuck in the Binary mode of Thinking. bvar22 Oct 2013 #153

Thank you, i was looking for that one, actually. Warren DeMontague Oct 2013 #154

Thank You "bvar22" This Map Shows the EMBEDS...It's Everywhere...and KoKo Oct 2013 #160

Good Map... I Saw A Couple That Showed A Lot ChiciB1 Oct 2013 #182

Agreed. AnotherMcIntosh Oct 2013 #54

"Hate" to say it, but... RosettaStoned77 Oct 2013 #60

"Indiana is a Klan stronghold" Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2013 #61

California has more everything everywhere, but ... melody Oct 2013 #64

When they stop electing scumbags like Gohmert, Gingrey, Kingston, Rubio, Vitter, Nanjing to Seoul Oct 2013 #65

So then you'll also bash Minnesota - Bachmann, cordelia Oct 2013 #98

Um there is a difference between Minnesota electing one or two bat shit Puglover Oct 2013 #109

Bachmann is from a single district of insane people Minnesota also sends to DC Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #112

What is this? "Be sensitive to bigots week?" When the South loses its well earned Rep of being Nanjing to Seoul Oct 2013 #172

eh, I have lived in Texas a long time Skittles Oct 2013 #66

Explain this. longship Oct 2013 #67

Shameful. And the Teabaggers who salute that thing pretend to be the "real" Americans. Dark n Stormy Knight Oct 2013 #75

It was removed in 2000. Behind the Aegis Oct 2013 #76

What took them so long? nt longship Oct 2013 #80

Google and read for yourself. Behind the Aegis Oct 2013 #83

This issue was resolved in 1865. longship Oct 2013 #84

Except that the picture you provided was from almost 14 years ago. Behind the Aegis Oct 2013 #85

Okay. Explain this. longship Oct 2013 #86

They, like many bigots, are stuck in the past. Behind the Aegis Oct 2013 #87

Do you know which states those people are from? bvar22 Oct 2013 #189

See? It will never be enough, no matter what we do, cordelia Oct 2013 #94

I thought only Southerners wanted to re-fight the Civil War. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #155

The South bashing the rest of the country? upi402 Oct 2013 #69

K&R Jamastiene Oct 2013 #71

Not it's not. n/t miyazaki Oct 2013 #73

Yes it is. cordelia Oct 2013 #89

Bashing the South doesn't mean we think it's beyond saving. It means we think it sucks... Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #81

I can't criticize the South... I live in Michigan. 'Nuff said. GreenEyedLefty Oct 2013 #90

I think a lot of it has to do with the bible belt. B Calm Oct 2013 #91

Get used to it....the only thing worse than living in the South ileus Oct 2013 #92

Let "The South" secede. Give the states from AZ to FL one year... stlsaxman Oct 2013 #93

What have you got against New Mexico? CBGLuthier Oct 2013 #95

Snort! Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #100

But don't you see? Sissyk Oct 2013 #128

I find posts like this rather interesting. kentauros Oct 2013 #102

Yeah, all those African Americans and Native Americans in the south JoeyT Oct 2013 #108

Excellent. cordelia Oct 2013 #118

Anyone wishing to uproot a black N. Florida land-owner should approach the porch with caution. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #144

Virginians feel just as American as anyone; more so in longevity (except the Indians) carolinayellowdog Oct 2013 #167

Attitudes about "The South" may be because "The South" is 'bowdacious*' HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #99

Nice analysis! kentauros Oct 2013 #104

The poorest States in the Union are 'Kings of the Hill'? Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #111

Well, make a straw-man, it's your liberty...I was talking about THE REGION HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #147

The entire region depends on tax dollars from Blue States Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #184

Non Sequitur? What has income to do with identity, and cultural/political influence? HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #187

CA has 3 Tea Baggers out of 53 Reps. Texas? 11 out of 36. Bluenorthwest Oct 2013 #103

Frankly the day I see a Southern state go from red to blue Puglover Oct 2013 #106

As a southerner, I appreciate... Whiskeytide Oct 2013 #113

After being relentlessly abused as a Virginian, someone like you FINALLY carolinayellowdog Oct 2013 #168

You've seen it MFrohike Oct 2013 #176

I don't actually mind the bashing. JoeyT Oct 2013 #115

well said! Phentex Oct 2013 #145

I understand why people are so disgusted with southern politicians; LuvNewcastle Oct 2013 #116

For those who think sulphurdunn Oct 2013 #117

Of course there are progressives in the South treestar Oct 2013 #120

so DO something about it instead of tolerating it and making excuses. As long as there is a problem librechik Oct 2013 #121

One of the reasons I like Wendy Davis Patiod Oct 2013 #125

well, of course i adore certain liberal Southerners, and all of them, politically. librechik Oct 2013 #127

You are part of the problem. Quit singling out a whole region of whites, blacks, Hispanics... Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #146

so are you. librechik Oct 2013 #183

Wrong. You want an "approved" target for your frustrations Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #192

lol--since you know what I want librechik Oct 2013 #194

Sounds like your getting plenty of what you want now. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #195

now you are psychoanalyzing the imaginary person you think you know. librechik Oct 2013 #196

Toying with the mentally unstable" probably is why many view the condition as stigma. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #197

Yes. WHERE is this idea coming from?Why do people think the American south is politically backwards? PassingFair Oct 2013 #126

Precinct Map of the 2008 election: bvar22 Oct 2013 #135

Cool in theory but not a practical example of public opinion. Each precinct does not have the same Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #142

I like Duval Co./Jax in N.E. Fla ("Redneck capital of the World") +/- one million. Now blue. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #157

Yes, but what kind of blue? A traditional Democrat is not progressive on social issues. Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #158

It's getting better. The Sheriff was arrested/beaten during the 1960 race riots. Progress. Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #159

13/18 U.S. House seats in PA are teabaggers. The governor is a stupid teabagger. One U.S. Senator AlinPA Oct 2013 #162

Southerners are Easy Bashing for Dems in Power Circles...as if we are Tea Partiers... KoKo Oct 2013 #164

Don't hold your breath wating for Southern-bashing to stop. ladyVet Oct 2013 #169

long past time for us all to leave carolinayellowdog Oct 2013 #170

You're only doomed if you own a gun (to round it out)! Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #198

I lived in the south for several years and hated it ... etherealtruth Oct 2013 #174

Good try. But I imagine the bigots who bash the South renie408 Oct 2013 #178

This^^ pecwae Oct 2013 #190

Lot of Yankee transplants in those gerrymandered districts in the South pstokely Oct 2013 #179

Bash Arizona instead JonLP24 Oct 2013 #180