is the difference re: interpretating the Constitution a North/South thing?

Question

The northern states seem more willing to put freedom higher than security. There is absolutely no cowardice in standing behind an ideal. I am from a Northern State and I have always thought that freedom could have a price and that any government intrusion into any citizen's life is a loss of freedom. I understand that there are southern Liberals, but the southern states almost without exception give their electoral college votes to Conservatives who seem to want a Republic rather than a democracy. Why is there so much difference between the way people think of the "pursuit of liberty". Think of security, laws against gays, abortion, and other such things. I have lived in Oregon, the Midwest and the North and it seems the same issues in one place educe a different repsonse in another. For example, when I was in Oregon, the Methodist Church was behind the anti-gay laws and when I was in Minnesota the Methodist church was against them--both purely on moral grounds

Answer 1

you are watching too much TV pal.

Answer 2

Wow! No, I think you have it exactly backwards. In my experience, the Northeast has typically been willing to sell out the constitution on a moments notice, whenever it seemed expedient. Normally, the South (and West) has been what has kept us from becoming an authoritarian state. People in these areas are not comfortable with collectivism. And, sadly, I'm not convinced that so-called "liberals" have any respect for the constitution anymore either. They are willing to sell it out for any kind of emotional appeal. The South has been more willing to tolerate wiretaps these days, that's true; but for the most part, they recognize that the government should not become "Big Brother", something I have yet to see in the Northeast.

So, yes there are clearly regional differences. However, I'm afraid most of the differences are emotional responses rather than carefully thought out constitutional theories. And, the constitution is clearly in favor of freedom over security, and clearly established a republic, not a democracy. Abortion is a tricky issue, no matter how you approach it, but it isn't really a constitutional one, despite the Supreme Court's activism.

It is an interesting question, though.