Just as not every single white person in, say Alabama, is a racist. Or everyone in Minnesota . . . well you get the idea.
I lived in Kansas for 18 years, moved away in 2008, so I know something about that state. The Kansas forum here is reasonably active. The biggest problem with Kansas is that many, many of those who vote Republican are (as so many voters are) low information voters, and they really haven't a clue that today's Republican party is not the one their parents or grandparents voted for. A close second is that, like so many parts of this country, the fundamentalist churches are highly influential. And the Phelps family has successfully terrorized the administration at Washburn University, especially the law school there.
Johnson County, Kansas, in the northwest part of the state, right next to Kansas City, MO, has plenty of Democrats and is relatively liberal, although the southern part of that county is much more conservative and has a number of the mega-churches.
Out in the vast farming areas, there are plenty of family farms that take subsidy money from the federal government, and of course rail against welfare for the "undeserving." Hypocrisy is one of the most reliable traits of such people.
Another problem is that people in the rural areas -- actually almost everyone outside of Johnson County -- aren't willing to pay taxes for good schools. There's a strong attitude of "We didn't have computers when I graduated from high school in 1950 so I don't see why kids today need them" and a very strong resentment of those who are willing to pay higher local taxes for good schools. The three public school districts in Johnson County (Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, and Olathe) are, or at least were, very good public schools. High graduation rates, good percentage of kids going to college, many starting out at the exceptionally good Johnson County Community College.
I will say I'm very glad I moved away.
= new reply since forum marked as read
