Why do people living in cities tend to be more liberal, and the country tend to be more conservative?

Question

Is there a good explanation for this? Example in LA where I live very few people support Bush, and the Republican party, there are a few people out there, in fact many people will think you are worthless and wont talk to you if you think anything good about GWB. But in the country, small towns, its completely different, alot of people love GWB, and have conservative values, and they seem to enjoy making jokes about liberals. I could go on about the differences, but I think you get my point. Why exactly is this the situation, I dont think its money, becuase I think people in the city have more money than people who live in the country.

Answer 1

In cities you see the benefits of social programs, public spaces, services, etc. and more of a sense of being part of a common good. People who live in the countryside don't see many of these things or receive services(and often don't get it), and aren't exposed to it. People are more willing to pay taxes if they see direct benefits from it - if you live out in the country, you don't want to pay as much taxes because you see not as much benefit (ex: building a sports stadium, highways, parks, venues), and typically want to keep to yourself and your close knit community whom you interact with. Cities are often mixes of peoples from all over the world. Urban areas typically have a more open world view, whereas countrysides typically have a more narrow, conservative view because of how little it changes and the homogeneous nature of the people and the little number of people you see. Urban areas have many congregational areas, whereas in rural countrysides the church can be the only congregational place for miles. Cities usually breed cultural movements, new ideas, etc., and often are effected by the populist ideals many immigrants bring to them from other parts of the world. Rural areas are typically families that have been in the US for several generations already, are used to their way of life, and don't want it to change. Hence, rural areas are typically more conservative, urban areas are more liberal. There are WAY many more factors which have been written about in books and books, but my hands are tired of typing.. I suggest searching online for some books concerning the urban/rural political and cultural divide. It's an ongoing area of research for geographers and social scientists.


AS FOR the argument that cities are full of people on welfare - it couldn't be further from the truth. Cities are already and increasingly far more expensive to live in than the countryside - people simply can't survive living off of welfare in a city today. The largest recipients of welfare are the rural poor - those living check to check in trailer parks, in dilapidated old homes, living off of welfare because it's more worthwhile than if they could get one of the few-and-far-between minimum wage service jobs in their areas. This is not my opinion, it's a measured fact. On average, red states and rural areas have a higher percentage of its population on welfare than blue states and urban areas.

Answer 2

I grew up and living in an urban area of NJ. Is heavily Democratic and they hate Bush. Some might say is because rural have "American values" and more family oriented. That is bull. In my town, the American flag is displayed openly and veterans live there. The people are very family oriented and hard-working. Churches in my town are always packed. Urban areas are more progressive hence, liberal in many ways while rural tend to be more cloistered so it makes them conservative. They are afraid of new things and moving ahead while urbanities always look for the next best thing. Why do you think the biggest achievements in history in finance and science are mostly done in urban areas? NYC is the center of urban sophistication, culture, and high finance intermingled to create a cohesive society that is not afraid to break out of the mold. Rural are the opposite of this, small towns and small families. I'm a libertarian but I can see how different the viewpoints are of each, urban areas are not crazy or always dangerous. They are as family oriented as rural or suburban places.

Answer 3

The people in city feel they are entitled to the good life while being disconnected from the work required enabling it. If another person in the city earns more than them they feel it should be taxed away from them & redistributed.

What are these city dwellers going to do when the energy crisis collides with the baby-boomers retirement bill? There wouldn't be the energy to preserve their food that enables city dwelling. The paper pushing individuals will have to create real wealth/substance. How much will they cry they are entitled to the "Good Life"? Will the poor realize how good they've had it compared to the 3rd world poor?

Answer 4

Liken it to living in an apartment complex VS owning your own home. In the city, your neighbor is only a cinderblock away. You have to rely on public transportation because parking spaces are next to impossible to get and in some cities, you need a permit which costs a small fortune. You have city water and sewage, all of which you have to pay for but never have to "fix" yourself should a pipe break. It's a lot more socialized -- the management does it all.
In the country, my nearest neighbor is over 1/4 mile away. I have a well for water and septic system for sewage. I have two vehicles, I grow my own crops and raise livestock -- no real need for a grocery store. If something breaks, it's on me to fix it. The folks in the city probably don't even know how to fix most things around their apartment. In the country, we are very much more oriented towards self sufficiency and don't rely so much on the government or the various utilities to maintain everything. We are more conservative. We don't just throw it away when it breaks nor do we call someone else to come fix it. Even in the suburbs, you have more government getting into your personal business. Homeowner's associations, telling you what color your house can be painted and the type of mailbox you are allowed. I've a friend up in Washington whose found it necessary from time to time to go outside with a pair of kitchen scissors and snip an offending blade of grass or two to avoid a $100 fine. Thanx, I'll pass.

So Expat, this explains the birth of Ebonics in Oakland ? Tell us, do you know how far off center a stud has to be in framing a wall? Do you know the laws governing the raising of hogs -- the lib.s just changed the law which now endangers the hog all for the sake of a perceived standard of living.
I'm deaf. When last I took my son to the city, I was explaing to him, the laws of cross walks VS jaywalking. We had the light, I stepped into the street and some knuckle head knocked me on my can trying to make a right on red (We looked before stepping off the curb, he was stopped. I turned, facing my son to talk and got hit). You need far less education to survive in the city than you do in the country. Know what a Brown Recluse looks like, what it will do to you and where you are most likely to encounter one? What's the difference between a Rat Snake and a Black Moccasin? Education comes in many forms my liberal friend and not all of it is academics but rather didactics. I lived in your world for 20 years, can you last a day in mine?

Answer 5

We see a melting pot of people and ideas.

Today's conservatives are not as exposed to a variety of people so they seem to want the world to live by their rules in which they are very familiar and comfortable with. To too many of today's "Conservatives" (I don't consider today's brand of conservatism to mirror True Conservatism), different is bad or evil. When you attend Broadway plays, museums, and form friendships with first gen LEGAL immigrants, your horizons are broadened. You do not view different people as something to fear. You have a better understanding of the history behind the thought processes of others via their willingness to open up and tell their side of an issue.

I have had friends and/or girlfriends who were Russian, Greek, Italian, Romanian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Egyptian, Tanzanian, and so forth. I mean close, personal relationships.

Answer 6

I think its because city life has a lot faster pace to it. Its dynamic, it; cities tend to have a lot more people, more diversity, so it must be open to more different values. Cities tend to be a hub for new ideas, and where people tend to go if they want to be heard. This tends to breed a desire to accept change, and indeed be a catalyst for it. This is in line with more liberal values.

By contrast, countrysides tend to be peaceful, quiet, and slower in pace, but otherwise not that different from city life. With less immigrants going to the rural regions of North America these days, and a slower pace of life, it is to be expected that people like things the way they are, and don't want change. So they, embrace conservatives.

I agree, money has nothing to do with it. City people get more services, (or so we in the city are told by those living in rural areas), but let us not forget that we subsidize agriculture.

Answer 7

No, it has more to do with values and issues. In the country and rural areas, they are more family oriented and more conservative in their beliefs, in the cities, like LA, they are more liberal and progressive.

Answer 8

I was a radical religiously brainwashed republican and voted Bush in 2000. Not just me but my whole family is now firmly democrat. We agree one rhetorical word got Bush back into office - Abortion. Many Churchgoers want to force their personal religious beliefs on all US Citizens. In Nicaragua this is killing women with tubal pregnancies and women that miscarry are afraid to go to the doctor for fear of prision.

People in the midwest have little social life other than church, and whatever the preacher says they are allowed to agree with a "Hallelujah," "Amen," and "That's Right brother." No kidding and I know it is brainwashing.

Time to wake up women or lose your right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Less than 100 years ago women became included in the constitution with the right to vote.

Answer 9

You need education to live in the city or you would be lauged out. And poor. In the country might is right. And by might I mean that certain families are entrenched and can get away with anything because of who they are. Brains aren't an issue.

Answer 10

Because people in small towns tend to live a life where they aren't exposed to various cultures and people, they're exposed to their relatives and friends, period. Living in a large city is more democratic because it's more of a melting pot.