As a gay agnostic liberal in one of the most fanatically [and hypocritically] religious and politically conservative (and impoverished and uneducated) states in the union, I’ve often toyed with the idea of cashing in what I can and following the North Star (or the west star, or the GPS) to a free state. The problem with so doing is that I’d leave behind almost all of the people I love, and I don’t know if it’s worth that.
For those who have done this, did changing your environs to a more tolerant and reasonable populace improve your happiness?
I’d say go for it. If it doesn’t work out, you can always move back. I say that not as a liberal who’s moved from a conservative to a liberal state, but as someone who has moved quite a bit and think everyone can benefit from a new environment a few times during their lifetime.
(Just don’t move to CA. We have enough people already. )
For many liberals I know, we ended up moving to the large cities but stayed in state. That is where the real cultural divide is, city vs rural. California is conservative in the rural parts while Georgia and South Carolina are liberal in the urban parts. The large cities are more interesting, diverse and less boring.
I’ve never moved to a state just because the state is blue, I don’t think it’d matter to me. However of NY, CA or some other state passes Medicare for all I could see myself moving there. But what appeal does a blue state have exactly? Not being a dick, just curious.
Universal health care, or something like it (California worked with the aca, while some other states undermine it. States like MA, VT, HI worked on uhc outside the aca).
Drug war is less cruel, maybe even legal marijuana.
State isn’t embarrassing.
I could see moving to a blue state for Healthcare, but living in a large city in a red state isn’t bad.
From Indiana/Illinois to Washington. We’re pleased with ourselves and our elected officials and glad we don’t have to worry about inane state laws regarding our reproductive rights, but on a person-to-person basis, there are still plenty of conservatives out here.
Slightly happier, but on a policy level more than an interpersonal one.
Moved from a blue state to a purple state (blue leaning cities with strong lowercase l libertarian undertones). Couldn’t be happier. IMHO when your ballot has only one party on it, whatever that party is, it’s not very free. Tolerance is better, too. The fact that any commute is exponentially faster is an added bonus.
OK, I was just peeking at Alabama for a second and this jumped out at me: “Alabama is a southeastern U.S. state that’s home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement.”
Well now, that’s a very diplomatic way to put it is what that is.
But again, you don’t have to move to Boston or Seattle. You could move to Atlanta or New Orleans. And if you moved to Yakima Washington you’d find it not that much different than than small town Alabama, red vs blue wise. Texas is famous as a red state, but Dallas and Houston and of course Austin are blue cities.
Consider what it is that actually bothers you about your state. States aren’t homogenous, and all but the smallest of communities aren’t homogenous, either. And internally they’re not always aligned with how they vote for president.
Look at a county-by-county map of the POTUS results, for example. And further consider that local politics have a lot more to do with your daily life than whatever douche or turd live in the White House.
Is Compton (Los Angeles) a better choice for you than Ferndale, Michigan? The first is in a blue state, and the second is in a state that swung red this time around, but I think a gay, agnostic liberal has a better chance in the latter.
I’m in a blue state, but this side of the state is mainly rural and is most definitely red. As soon as my house sells I’m heading to the west side. More populated, more diverse, and more opportunities (i.e. jobs, entertainment, better health care). Plus my family is scattered around over there. I’ve stayed where I’m at because of my job, but now that I’m retired I can leave. Hurray.
So I think moving could be helpful for you. But even moving a short distance, such as to a larger city, could be a benefit to you.
Moving from TN to NY was the best move I ever made. Trying to date was a nightmare in TN. It was hard in NY because I was 30 with almost no dating experience, but I never went more than a few months without a date after moving. After a couple of years I met my wife. I think I’d be a bitter old man if I hadn’t moved. Probably going to Nashville or Memhis would have worked, but there were no jobs there for me.
IMHO, it is still better to live in a red area of a blue state than vice versa. The reason is that in a red state, you still have to put up with the personal control laws dictated by a troglodyte legislature and governor. Imagine living the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, for example. They still prescribe what bathrooms you may use.
Hijack: What conservatives (including most libertarians) really seem to want is that government regulate personal life closely and leave businesses unregulated. Liberals mostly want the opposite.
Total hijack, but this always tickles me when I hear it. When I lived in Ferndale as a kid in the late 1970’s it was demographically lily-white, racist as fuck and not at all gay friendly. It’s nice to know places can change :).
I was reflecting the other day on the fact that, of all the queer people I know, I’m the only one who’s a native Californian. Everyone else moved here to get away from some place redder.
Don’t know any who would consider moving back, either.
Here in DC, a lot of our friends are refugees from red state America. They came here to escape persecution and I think a lot of them have found life more fulfilling away from all the bigotry and ignorance. A gay friend of ours has to really prepare himself for trips back home to rural Ohio at Christmas time, he just dreads them and says they are harder every year.
I consider myself a very progressive person but plan on moving out of California if my job needs me too as the gun laws are getting very restrictive and it’s making my inherited arsenal very expensive to maintain and I can’t just liquidate my collection since some of the guns I own I can’t actually sell to anyone in California due to state laws. I kind of hope opportunities arise in Oregon or Washington, blue states with much more relaxed gun laws. Since I like target shooting a few times a month it actually is impacting my happiness.
I’m not someone who has moved. I’m in a red state. When I’ve considered moving, I always realized that I’m not actually interested in living in an urban environment. I’ve enjoyed spending some time in bigger cities, but I’ve always been relieved to come back and get away from it all.
Is there any place that’s both liberal but sparsely populated? Are there any people who regretted being around so many people and would rather be back in the rural areas?
Maine isn’t quite Alabama, but it’s close (based on neck color). When I moved to California in the late 90’s, it was like a breath of fresh air. I love every second I lived on the west coast, even while going through a divorce. I regret moving back to Maine pretty much every day. Take into account, however, that I was basically in my golden age. I was in my early to mid 30’s while all this was going on so I was ripe for growth, change, whatever. A move like that later in life, say like now in my 50’s, … idunno, I think it would still be worth it.
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