If you had a choice to live in only red states, which one would you select and why?

[Joel thakkar]

Just imagine that you can only select hard coded red states to live in (no swing states)...which one will you select and why?

[MadHound]

1. Missouri, the one I live in now,

Missouri is naturally beautiful, not to mention I was born and raised here. Deep roots and all that. Besides, the state has a few pockets of sanity, though you could pay me to live anywhere south of I-70 corridor.

[bluedigger]

2. Louisiana

New Orleans

[KamaAina]

158. Roger that!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

[Arctic Dave]

3. Alaska.

But I am here as an insurgent to destroy the red hordes of ignorance and bring this State back to it's Blue roots.

[Joel thakkar]

16. Best of luck! Hope alaska will be blue soon n/t

[newfie11]

4. Here in western Nebraska

Friendliest folks around in spite of being repugs.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Arizona

Most of my family lives there--the non-wingnuts. It's also a beautiful place, I love hot-and-dry, and I don't think it's hopelessly "red".

[bluestate10]

110. Same here. Arizona will be blue soon, so I wouldn't have to suffer for long. nt

[Iggo]

6. Not a fucking chance.

[Sheepshank]

7. Swimming against the tide can be exhilarating

as a liberal atheist in Utah, this achieves that exhilaration. The beauty, seasons, jobs, family and lifestyle doesn't hurt either.

[woo me with science]

8. With the takeover of the Democratic Party by corporatists,

we all are, or soon will be, Red States.

[Go Vols]

14. +1

[Fawke Em]

24. We already live in the prettiest red state.

Right, Vols?

[Go Vols]

38. I have lived all over the country

and I like it just fine here in the mountains.

[Sissyk]

40. I don't know about GoVols,

but I 100% agree with you!

[Sheepshank]

22. Because that worked out so well for Koch's and Rove in 2008 and 2012?

And given the current climate of idiocy from the Right, I'd bet on 1,000,000 voters with $10, rather than 10 voters with $1,000,000. But maybe that's just me

[Marr]

66. Well, if you buy both parties, the country might as well be solidly red.

The DLC/Third Way is 100% corporate, and they've been diligently working to push all traditional Democrats to the periphery for ages now. Look at what Obama did before he was even inaugurated. His appointments were basically a neon sign aimed at Wall Street and the Democratic Party in general that said, 'Corporate Toadies Only, Populists Need Not Apply'.

[Sheepshank]

68. so I presume you're betting on the 10 people with $1,000,000? n/t

[Marr]

73. The ten people with $1,000,000 will see their policies enacted, yes.

The million people with $10 will not. At least-- not when those policies conflict with the wishes of the ten people with $1,000,000.

So yes, as the political scene exists today, I think betting on those ten is an extremely safe bet. Whether their paid stooge has a D or an R after his name makes little difference to anyone besides those who follow politics as a sort of sport, and enjoy cheering for their "team".

[forestpath]

53. +1

[AndyTiedye]

76. Democrats Support Separation of Church and State

Republicans not so much.

[99Forever]

9. I'll take the suicide option instead.

Live with righties in control of everything? Not a chance.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. +1

Me too. Pass the arsenic!

[AndyTiedye]

84. I Wouldn't, But They'd Probably Kill Me

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Alaska. Only 1.2 assholes per square mile. n/t

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Probably Austin, Texas

Maybe NOLA.

I guess I could live in Atlanta, but I'd hate it like poison. Maybe coastal South Carolina, Charleston? I could live in Louisville, KY. Nice town, Kentucky notwithstanding. Could never live out west Mountain time or in the Southwest - no way on that. Outside of major liberal urban areas in the South would also be no good for me - I don't care for the culture, and I don't want my kids raised in it. Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma: no way, never. I don't even like to visit, truth be told. Couldn't handle it.

[mainer]

12. Wyoming's stunningly beautiful

and Jackson Hole is a nice purple dot in a red state.

[el_bryanto]

13. Utah

Have family there.

[Ian David]

15. I might survive in Austin, Texas. n/t

[Liberal_in_LA]

17. the one with the best weather - most like california

But it would be hard to transition from crazy lefty liberal Calif to somewhere else

[sadbear]

18. Most of the major cities in Texas are pretty blue.

All except Fort Worth.

[Honeycombe8]

99. I live in Dallas. Lots of reds here, but the city itself votes blue often...but the Dems don't

always vote, unfortunately.

Houston is blue, as well. Austin is.

The economy is pretty good in Texas, no state income tax, and the cost of living in most TX cities is below the nat'l avg a bit. So it's been good to me. But beautiful it isn't (to me).

[sadbear]

126. I would live in or near San Antonio in a heartbeat.

Yeah, most everything east of the Hill Country is not beautiful.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Northwest Arkansas - that's where my dad was from

and there still are family members living there. The scenery is pretty and the winters aren't that bad. I haven't seen it in many years though and I've heard a lot more people moved there since.

[Art_from_Ark]

128. Things have changed a lot in NWArk

Particularly along the I-540 corridor and the 71-Business corridor. Benton and Washington counties together have around 250,000 population, with most of that concentrated along the corridor from Fayetteville up through Bella Vista.

The closer you go to the Oklahoma border, or the Missouri border outside of the Bella Vista area, or the other side of Beaver Lake, the less things have changed.

[Douglas Carpenter]

20. probably Alaska - because politics aside, it sounds like something far out and different

as well as aesthetically pleasing and I have an appetite for the far out and different and aesthetically pleasing

[RC]

21. North Dakota

-40°F keeps out the riff raff. 44 years experience here.

(It is only the home grown variety that needs worrying about. And it is the home grown ones that cause the problems in the Bakken in the first place.)

[yesphan]

54. Damned right !

The coldest temperature I ever experienced was in Minot. People sure do love to snuggle there too.

[RC]

58. The coldest temperature I have ever experienced was -43° in Bismarck.

I had no way to plug my car in. It started, after sitting outside all night.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

74. Got to have Heet.

Now if I'd only thought of antifreeze wiper fluid when I drove through there in January.

[RC]

82. I'm used to buying windshield washer fluid good down to -20° or better.

Some of the sell stuff they sell down here good to +20. +20°, really? It got so cold it froze? In KCMO?
The stuff I bought in ND still worked at 20° below. It may froze on the windshield if the defrosters wasn't throwing out enough heat yet. But it still sprayed the windshield at well below zero.
From then on I look closer at the label.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

86. I was fine until I got to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

They had a ridiculous amount of salt on the freeway. I had to pull off at every exit to wipe it off. I almost rear-ended... a salt truck. I was not happy.

[Demoiselle]

117. I was born in Minot!

We moved to Philadelphia when I was five.
But I've always loved snow...and I don't get enough of it in Southeastern PA.
A family of North Dakota Democrats, too.

[Fawke Em]

23. If you only had a choice to not region-bash, why would you still do it?

[sinkingfeeling]

25. I chose NW Arkansas in 1992. Now, I'd probably go back to North Carolina.

Reason: Arkansas fell into the majority control of the GOP last November.

[subterranean]

78. So did North Carolina :-(

[sinkingfeeling]

85. I think NC will swing blue in the next few years. Not Arkansas.

[alarimer]

94. Not if the current crop of cretins has their way.

It is solidly in the hands of the Republicans. They are in the process of dismantling and destroying everything. Of course we can hope they overreach so much that it will swing the other way, but it will be years before that happens and the damage will be incalculable.

[mnhtnbb]

150. Yes. It is becoming more embarrassing every day to be a resident of NC.

The latest crap about the Constitution not applying--and NC can declare a state religion--
OMG what a bunch of idiots. Total fascist, theocratic, hateful, bigoted, a$$holes.
They are going to destroy the state.

[Jamastiene]

157. McCrory is the worst governor in NC in my lifetime.

I really wish his term was over already. I was already sick of him when he was still mayor of Charlotte. I certainly am beyond sick of him now. He's a crackpot, not fit to lead anything. He ran with that Jessie Helms crowd and it shows. Everything that passes across his desk that is extremist right wing idiocy, he will sign. I dread the rest of his term.

[mnhtnbb]

165. Living in Chapel Hill since 2000 we've been able to avoid NC red stuff.

Not since the 2010--and now 2102--elections.

With the gerrymandering, the election of McCrory...and NO
possibility of recall...things are looking very bad for the next 4 years.

And the problem is, that it takes very little time to destroy something
that took years to build.

Very sad.

[Zen Democrat]

26. Texas! Our cities are blue, diverse and liberal.

And there's always the People's Republic of Austin, as the Red-Dirt Rednecks from Deep East Texas call it!

[wryter2000]

80. Also love Austin

I'd have to have air conditioning everywhere, though. After 40 years in the SF Bay Area, I can't take heat and humidity. But I sure do love Austin.

[madrchsod]

27. wisconsin

[unblock]

28. austin, texas, without a doubt. we might even retire here.

though with any luck and strong immigration, it may well be a blue state by then!

[abelenkpe]

30. :P

I'd just leave the country.

[Blue_Tires]

31. I'd move to Kansas City in a heartbeat

Always loved the place, and have a lot of friends there...

I guess I could make do in Phoenix, as well if I had to...

[NBachers]

32. Florida- Is Florida a red state? I'm an ex-Miami resident; I wouldn't mind going back there.

But it sure would be hard to leave San Francisco.

[TheCowsCameHome]

34. Massachusetts

..........anything redder would probably do me in.

[DFW]

35. Probably stay in Texas

Familiar territory, relatively low cost of living, easy air transport to everywhere, and LOTS of D friends!!

On the other hand, if and when I'm ever done with my posting overseas, I'll probably settle in Massachusetts, since it's the part of the States my wife (who is German) feels most at home in.

[Honeycombe8]

100. I have the impression that Massachusetts is really expensive to live in. Is it? nt

[bluestate10]

115. Eastern and central Massachusetts are pricey, but salaries are also high and the UE rate

is around a point below the national average. Western Massachusetts is less expensive and pretty liberal.

[DFW]

125. Depends on where

Parts of Boston and suburbs are very pricey, but to the west, prices get a lot more reasonable, though probably not like Texas. I haven't really researched it in detail, as it hasn't been an imminently looming decision, but it's something that will have to be addressed if and when I ever really confront the decision. Still, how much more expensive than Germany can it be?

[Marrah_G]

155. It is, but I think they trade of is worth it

[4Q2u2]

160. Fairly

300,000 for 4 Bedroom House. Gas is 3.60 a gal right now. Annual Property taxes avg around 4,500 to 5,500. State income tax is 5.3%. No sales tax on food or clothing.

Western part of Ma, 2 hours outside Boston has a fair amount of reasonable priced homes. Interior SE like Carver, Plympton, Halifax, and Middleboro are pretty cheap. Plymouth is affordable. Once you go over the bridges to the Cape there is an invisible toll (inside joke) for the cost of everything.

Semi Urban Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth on the South Shore has some bargains to be had.
Peabody, Malden, Melrose are nice up North of the City.

Cohassett, Duxbury, Norwell, Hingham on the South Shore will be expensive
Weston, Wellesley, Dover, Sherborne, and Sharon will be expensive Metro-West
Nahant, Beverly, Rockport, Marblehead will be expensive in the North Shore.
Marthas Vinyard and Nantucket, Super Rich for the most part

City Rents are crazy 1 Bedroom in Brighton will run you 1,500/mo minimum.

[cordelia]

36. Another divisive region bashing thread. Why?

[longship]

45. I do not see too many bashing responses.

I see a lot of people praising a lot of areas many liberals would discount as Red States.

Quite frankly, I find the responses refreshing.

My take.
I think Utah is beautiful, the most national parks of any state. But, my choice would be AZ, probably near Tucson. It's a great place to set up an amateur astronomical observatory.

I lived in Wichita, KS for 18 years. That was okay, too, but Dems held the governorship back then.

[Honeycombe8]

102. It's not by regions. It's by political party. Wyoming, Utah, and other non-south red states are

mentioned.

[CTyankee]

37. I have lived in 2 and left them as soon as I could.

Couldn't wait to get out of TX as a kid and couldn't wait to get out of VA back in the 80s. I grieved when job circumstances moved me from NY to VA and rejoiced when I moved from VA to CT. I'm so happy here and my kids are in MA, NYC and CA. They are all confirmed blue staters...

[SteveG]

39. Savanah, Georgia

Blue county in a red state. Beautiful city.

But I already live at the Beach in DE, where my vote counts.

[Arugula Latte]

41. I love that town.

So pretty.

[TeamPooka]

71. ditto

lovely city and people

[XRubicon]

112. My pick too

[DollarBillHines]

131. I love Savannah

We spent a week there, last Summer.

Great food, music and bars.

Did I mention the architecture and history?

But I think I will stay in Sonoma.

[demwing]

145. My son is thinking about college in Savannah

Do you know anything about SCAD? (Savannah College of Art and Design)

[mnhtnbb]

151. SCAD has a fantastic reputation.

[zipplewrath]

42. None

Really, I thought about it and can't really come up with a "compromise" state. At the end of the day I'm less than thrilled by living in the border/purple/swing state in which I currently reside, Florida.

But the golfing is good.

P.S. I presume NVA doesn't count as a "red" state these days.

[JHB]

43. Czechoslovakia

If you have to live in a Warsaw Pact state, you might as well do it in Prague.

[bluestate10]

116. Prague is a beautiful city. nt

[Louisiana1976]

44. Louisiana

Because I'd want to live in New Orleans.

[mimi85]

139. Me too

Best vacation we ever had was in NOLA. And I don't even drink! Granted, vacations are a lot different from living somewhere, but we loved the diversity, the architecture, the food (of course), the art, the MUSIC (some of the best ever anywhere). (insert some killer sax).

Not sure how I would deal with some of the overt racism we witnessed (we stayed in the French Quarter, of course) and pretty much the only people of color we saw were working in the hotels, on Bourbon Street in the clubs, on street corners making music or in Jackson Square. Driving through some of the horribly poor neighborhoods was an eye opener - not used to that kind of segregation here. And the weather sucks unless it's March or October - I don't do well with humidity.

Though being a California native, the weather would no doubt be a factor just about anywhere. I'd give just about anything right now for a cup of java from the Cafe Du Monde and a beignet. Yum!! If MHP can make it there, so could I.

[HughBeaumont]

46. I live in a "Purple" state . . . .

. . . meaning, there are times where we come to our senses (Sherrod Brown, Marcy Kaptur, President Obama) . . . . aaaaaaaaand there are times where we put cockbags like Mike Dewine, Rob Portman, Bob Taft, John Kat$hit and the Failure Fuhrer in office.

So should I stay here and keep up the good fight or stay and possibly put my head in my palms in 2014 and 2016?

[LeftInTX]

47. Missouri or North Carolina

The weather is not too cold or not too hot. They also have adequate natural resources and rainfall. They aren't too red either.

I'm in San Antonio, Texas. Politically, the city is good, but the weather is too hot and we're always in a drought.

[OriginalGeek]

48. When I see a question like this I often

think "yeah, I'd move back to Dallas in a heartbeat"...

But sometimes I wonder if I'm just being nostalgic and thinking I can live there as I did in my youth with no worries and easy access to Dallas Cowboys games and the Rangers Ballpark. I left Dallas over 30 years ago and have been back only twice and thoroughly enjoyed both trips as much as I could given the circumstances (one a funeral and the other a week long training session for work) but I wonder if long-term living there would begin to wear on me.

I dunno but I bet it wouldn't be hard to convince me to give it a try.

[Honeycombe8]

104. I live in Dallas. I moved here for the economy. Dallas has been good to me, financially.

But it's pretty vanilla here...kind of blah, if you ask me. With exceptions: The Dallas Summer Musicals, an occasional interesting museum event, lots of movies. There are lots of restaurants, but there are lots of restaurants everywhere, and I'm not a food guru. Lots of sports events, but I hate sports. It's pretty clean, for a biggish city.

It now has a rail system, so that's good.

But teh pay is decent, the attractions mentioned above, cost of living is reasonable, getting around in traffic isn't bad, two great airports.

The soil is terrible (I'd like to garden, but can't, really. I'll have to move to do that.) Droughts...brown grass...water shortages...extreme heat (people die here every year from the heat).

Houston is better, IMO. More exciting. Horrible traffic, though. Great soil and weather (lots of rain).

[OriginalGeek]

121. Intangibles

One of them being all my friends from my teen years are there - plus one of my brothers (I never get to see any of my brothers).

On a whim I looked at some house listings in my old town and couldn't believe the size of the houses I could get for what my house here is worth - some triple the sq feet of my current house and in the nice neighborhoods I wasn't even allowed to visit back then. (lol, nobody barred me from visiting there - I just didn't know anyone there so there was no point in going). Not Highland Park nice but still nicer than the places I lived.

I love to go to metal shows and I know from the tour dates of the bands I keep track of that they often have Dallas gigs so I'd be good there. And I'd love to hit up some SXSW events some day. I'd probably go see some country, jazz and blues clubs if I was there too. Not much of that here.

Plus I LOOOOVE sports and the Cowboys and Rangers are my teams.

Seasons. I think I'd like to see some seasons again. Although I might miss golfing in shorts at Christmas.

Unfortunately my wife's family is all here and she'd be hard pressed to leave them. And I make pretty good money here because I have been at this company a long time and I doubt I'd be able to transfer that to a new place in Dallas. Maybe some day though.

Last year I experimented with gardening in 5 gallon buckets. I didn't get much yield but I learned a lot for my first time and expect to do much better this year. Time to start soon actually. I used a mixture of black kow and potting soil that seemed to work well until I screwed up the watering...that might be a solution for you. I was just after peppers and squash - if you mean to do flower and trees gardening that might not work.


eta~"Unfortunately" for my moving fantasy - not unfortunate that her people are close...that's generally pretty nice.

[slackmaster]

49. Nevada or Arizona

Low taxes, low cost of living, decent climate, jobs, close to California.

[AndyTiedye]

88. I'm Not Sure Nevada Counts

Nevada voted for Obama both times and Harry Reid lots of times.

If it did, I'd probably end up somewhere near Gerlach, which has pretty much been taken over by Burning Man people.

[slackmaster]

148. The Nevada state legislature meets for about six weeks every other year

The state isn't overburdened with ridiculous laws like California has been for decades.

When you drive from California into Nevada, you can tell by the condition of the road that the state is managed better.

[kiva]

123. Nevada isn't red.

[slackmaster]

149. It's about as reddish as I could put up with.

Economically the best place to be for someone like me is probably Texas, or Tennessee. But I couldn't take the culture.

[hack89]

50. Charleston SC. nt

[kestrel91316]

51. I'd kill myself. Or move to Canada.

[ZombieHorde]

52. Montana.

I live here now, in a town called Missoula, which is a very liberal college town. I love Missoula, but I will probably move back to Portland, Oregon in a few years.

[PearliePoo2]

156. I love Missoula!

I was born in Montana, moved to Washington State when I was five, but spent time each summer with Grandma and Grandpa on Higgins Street. There was a theater across the street, (maybe the Roxy?) Went with Grandpa to watch the Missoula Timberjacks right down the street on summer nights and he could do a cigar without Grandma scolding him! He took my brother and I fishing on the beautiful Bitterroot River by Hamilton
My other Grandpa taught me to trout fish on Spring Creek at Lewistown. We ate trout for dinner every other night. Loved it.
Love that BIG SKY and the Gallatin River area is breathtakingly beautiful!
But....too cold and long winters and too far from the Pacific Ocean, that has my heart now.
There are NO red states on the Left Coast!

[ZombieHorde]

159. Northern states have a saying:

Our four seasons are almost winter, winter, still winter, and construction.

[Purveyor]

55. Texas. eom

[irisblue]

56. i'm looking @ NOLA, Austin or Corpus Christi

I will NOT stay in Ohio. Weather is awful in the winter.

[ceile]

57. Texas is my home.

Cities are blue and the rest of state will be purple shortly. It's beautiful and the people (for the most part) are truly kind hearted. Only draw back is the summer. A Texas summer can kill someone who is not acclimated.

[Victor_c3]

59. I spent some time in Tennessee before. It wasn't that bad.

Nashville (i.e Nash-Vegas) wasn't too bad either. I could see myself being comfortable there.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

60. Oh joy

Another "let's belittle the red state folks" thread "those poor things".

[woodsprite]

61. North Carolina or Florida. Why? The beaches! n/t

[nolabear]

62. Just where I'm from. Louisiana or Gulf Coast Mississippi. It's beautiful, and incredibly diverse.

Someday I may go back, because it's also inexpensive and unlike the PNW, you can drive a very short distance and be in an entirely different culture. And you can fish and grow the world's best tomatoes while listening to some kick-ass local music and having the neighbors over for a crawfish boil.

[tammywammy]

63. I'll stay here in Texas. n/t

[Marr]

64. Utah.

I love Utah-- it's beautiful and the people seem friendly. Great mountain biking, camping, etc. Took a long kayak trip there a few years back that was just amazing.

[demwing]

107. Parts of Utah are liberal

Moab is awesome

[Common Sense Party]

138. It's actually great here.

I couldn't ask for nicer neighbors, or prettier mountain views.

[Zorra]

65. Arizona. California one one side, New Mexico on the other, and Mexico

below.

The weather is warmer than most of the country, and there is a lot of open space and amazing natural beauty.

Yeah, there are way too many neanderthals still roaming here, but they are on the way to becoming extinct.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

67. Coastal South Carolina or Georgia.

In other words, some place closest to the geography and climate of my very purple home state, Florida.

[neverforget]

69. Montana. My family is there and I lived there for 25 years.

I love Montana. The politics on the other hand....

[Tikki]

129. Ya,prob Montana...but rich enough to fly to CA often.

Tikki

[La Lioness Priyanka]

70. cities in red states are typically quite blue. my top one would be miami, i consider florida

quite red

texas is redder than arterial blood, but austin is a very blue city

[truebluegreen]

72. Couldn't do it.

For many years I lived in a bright blue dot in blood red Idaho and wouldn't go back for a million dollars.

I love my mountains and the seasons and if I had to, I'd pick western Montana, but on the whole I'd rather be in Canada.

[Arugula Latte]

75. If Florida is still considered red, I guess there. At least I'd have nice beaches.

I love the ocean.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

89. Everything except our legislature is deep purple.

Our legislature, thanks to the magic of gerrymandering, is bright red.

[talkingmime]

77. I'd pick death by mamba.

[bluestate10]

118. Ohhh. That would be a gruesome death. You must surely bleed bright, blue, blue.

If forced, I would choose Arizona or even a city in Texas over a mamba bite, any day.

[talkingmime]

146. Not the snake. I'll PM you.

[NCTraveler]

79. Alaska for the red state.

If you consider Florida to be red, then Florida is currently number one for me. That is where I live, and I love it. Nationally it is a swing state. Locally it has some of the reddest areas you will find in the country.

[murray hill farm]

81. Arkansas!

It is where I live now...in a very rural area. Wherever you live, you will always find like minded folks..and more than one would think.

[sinkingfeeling]

87. What part? I'm in Fayetteville.

[murray hill farm]

122. I live on my little goat farm.."Murray HIll Farm"

about 2 miles outside of the little town of Cove, Arkansas (population less than 400). Cove is about 15 miles south of Mena. I hear you guys have an active UU congregation up there in Fayetteville. I miss that, but love Arkansas and have been here for about 5 years.

[4_TN_TITANS]

83. The one I live in... Tennessee.

This is a nature lover's paradise. There is no where in the state where you aren't within 30 minutes of a state park. We live within 45 minutes of 3 amazing TVA lakes. I've learned to fit in quite well with the natives, while still being a Liberal.

[Honeycombe8]

106. I visited there once for a couple of months. An awesomely beautiful area. It was Chattanooga.

The economy was bad, though. High cost of living, low wages, not many jobs. But that was a looooong time ago, so maybe it's different now.

[IrishEyes]

90. Mississippi

[ileus]

91. SC....somewhat warm and beaches.

[RebelOne]

92. Where I live now in Georgia.

I live in a totally red county in North Georgia, but I love it here. The weather is perfect. Summer only lasts a few months with extreme heat, which is a hell of a lot better than the year-round heat when I lived in South Florida.

[smirkymonkey]

93. Sorry, couldn't do it.

I have always lived in the bluest cities in the bluest states and I could never handle living in a red state. I would go insane.

[bluestate10]

119. I love my blue state in my blue part of the country. There is a plethora of blue cities

to visit. But if I had no choice, I would like for a blue city or blue county in a red state.

[Arkansas Granny]

95. Arkansas, where I am now.

It just turned deep red in the last election and I hope it's a temporary condition.

[bluestate10]

120. New Hampshire went red in the legislature in 2010, then swung back blue in record fashion

during the 2012 election. So right-wing republican craziness has it's benefits. And right now, Arkansas is pretty damned crazy under a republican legislature.

[Zoeisright]

96. Denmark.

I'd emigrate before living in a red state.

[Raine1967]

97. What's a 'hard coded' Red State?

I think there are actually fewer than people might think.

Personally I like living in Virginia -- I'm originally From NY.

I ask this because I think a lot of people believe NYS is a seriously blue state, they would be surprised at the amount of red voters that live there.

NY, once you get out of the metro areas is an awful lot like Virginia once one gets out of the NOVA region.

Massachusetts elected Scott Brown -- and Mass is one of the bluest of the blue states.

Having lived in Atlanta, I would say the same about Georgia. I would venture to say that there are very few states that are hard coded as RED.

Peace,
Raine

[Honeycombe8]

98. Texas, I guess (where I live), because the economy is pretty good, cost of living lower than avg.

While earning a living, those things are very important, of course. But for later years, Virginia or the Carolinas or Georgia might be nice....very pretty there (at least the pics I've seen are).

Louisiana is beautiful (where I'm from), but the economy is awful. Baton Rouge and around there might be nice.

[freshwest]

101. Only in Galveston, Texas. The rest is too hot.

[BainsBane]

103. Texas, if I could live in Austin

because Austin is great, or at least it was while I was in grad school there.

[demwing]

105. Utah

without a doubt, one of the most beautiful places in America. Mountains, forests, rivers, lakes, deserts, and seasons.

Oh yeah, and the best Halloweens ever. Perfect weather, kids everywhere, "haunted" corn mazes, and lots of old ghost towns.

[UtahLib]

143. I'm so happy to see people express some love for Utah on this thread.

I grew up in the Air Force until my Dad retired and we settled in Utah. I've lived in many states and a couple of foreign countries but I love the diversity of the terrain in Utah and don't ever want to live where there are no mountains again. By the way, my parents were raised in a town nestled in a narrow canyon that is now a ghost town in Carbon County. I love the history associated with those little ghost towns.

[babylonsister]

108. I had a choice to move anywhere. I live in GA.

I lived in Houston, TX. So.... This choice at the time was made because of the economy and climate, not politics.

It's called survival; it's been okay, except when it's not. There are a lot of 'damned Yankees' down here, and a lot of really nice locals; politics don't matter, and you can't pick your friends that way. I consider it growing up for me, but I do make my politics known. Sheeet flies sometimes!

[steve2470]

109. Alaska, without a doubt, it's gorgeous nt

[fishwax]

111. there are several red states I'd be happy to live in

as long as I had some control over the circumstances, of course. Texas (for the cities); Wyoming and Montana (for the mountains); and Arizona (for family). Most of the other states have at least a few places I wouldn't mind living (Atlanta/Savannah in Georgia, New Orleans in Louisiana, and so on).

[Cali_Democrat]

113. North Carolina

Good parts there. Then maybe New Orleans Louisiana.

[paleotn]

114. North Carolina....

...red, but with pockets of deep blue scattered from the west to the east. Gotta love our beautiful, green mountains. But if old north is considered a swing state, I'd say my old home state of Tennessee.

[Jamaal510]

124. I suppose

I would live in Texas, considering that it is a red state on the verge of becoming purple. But I wouldn't mind visiting states like Idaho and Montana. I never hear much about either of them.

[politicat]

127. Wyoming.

1) I can tolerate libertarian cons better than theo-cons. Wyoming tends more towards the live and let live side.

2) Small population so there's a much better chance of getting into state politics than in the old-guard red states.

3) Other than oil and gas, Wyoming's major industry is the environment, so the lib-cons tend to be more willing to protect the land and can be convinced to do so if they think it's in their best interest.

4) Lots of middle of nowhere left, so putting up with the conservatives becomes more optional. If I have to live with them, I want a few square miles between me and them.

5) It's gorgeous.

6) There's room to start a punk/industrial/goth festival (on the lines of Burning Man, but without the heat or the alkaline dust.) Lib-cons tend to be better than theo-cons about accepting that freak money spends just fine.

7) Wind power. You know how Wyoming got settled? The pioneers were just waiting for the wind to stop blowing.

[donco]

130. I think that

I'll stay in the show-me and help turn it blue again instead of running with my tail between my legs.

[tularetom]

132. I lived in Tennessee until I was 9 or 10

I have a lot of good memories and a bunch of cousins living there and I visit every 3 or 4 years.

[duffyduff]

133. Arizona or Utah

Can't beat the Colorado Plateau.

I'd move from Oregon in a heartbeat if I could.

[TheKentuckian]

134. I'd stay in the Bluegrass. Chill in the Ville.

If I had to move to another place, I guess I'd look at Montana, possibly Alaska, MAYBE Tennessee, definitely North Carolina if it is considered red.

[Mz Pip]

135. South Carolina

I want to be on a coast so that eliminates many of the Red states. I would probably like the coast and the beaches.

[Cayenneman]

136. Red State

I pick Louisiana. Indigenous American Culture (Jazz, Cajun food, Zydeco).

[MrSlayer]

137. How do we determine the state color? Presidential or state elections?

I live in PA, we vote solidly Democratic in presidential elections but this state is blood red when it comes to state politics. Both houses and the governor are teabagging imbeciles. Is this a red state or a blue state? I'd argue that on the whole this is a red state and by quite a bit.

Idaho looks like a beautiful state though.

[SmileyRose]

140. I live in Georgia therefore Georgia is purple

[lonestarnot]

141. The one I'm in, I wouldn't have to move and I was here first. Besides, I hate moving.

[AverageJoe90]

142. Believe it or not, I'd rather stay in Texas.

Hey, it ain't all bad here; we've got chunks of the D/FW area(particularly Dallas itself), Houston, College Station/Bryan, El Paso, Laredo, San Antonio(where the Alamo is), and of course, Austin.(though I'll grant you that Wichita Falls, Tyler, and Abilene are probably as red as the devil himself.....Lubbock might be okay though, since it's home to Texas Tech)

[Sgent]

144. Austin, New Orleans, or somewhere in the mountains of Tennessee / Carolina's

Of course I live in New Orleans now, and grew up in Mississippi, so I'm a little more used to the southern eccentricities.

[LWolf]

147. I like it where I am.

I live in a red area in a blue state.

I don't carry a list of red and blue states in my head, so I'm not sure what "red" state I would choose. I like the Pacific NW. If I had to leave, I'd probably go to Canada.

[Marrah_G]

152. Alaska

Less population in general.

[Warpy]

153. I've been horribly spoiled by living in the desert

so I'd have to pick AZ, probably Tucson. It was second on my list but I liked NM better when I flew out from Boston to check it all out.

The heat would be tough to deal with. I'd probably do all my shopping online or at all night groceries. My electric bill would be astronomical.

However, I'd be working to kick that state to the left. As I've gotten old and grey and mellowed a bit, I've gotten better at it, so it wouldn't be a total loss.

[TygrBright]

161. If you don't actually need DESERT, Flagstaff is a very nice place.

Rather like the area round Tierra Amarilla/Chama. And it's "bluer" than Phoenix, though not as blue as Tucson. If I were condemned to live in AZ I'd have my regular home in Flagstaff and try to afford a vacation cottage in Bisbee, which is another extremely neat place but not during the summer.

helpfully,
Bright

[Warpy]

163. I'd like the altitude. I'd hate the snow.

I think I'd likely do best in Tucson.

[TygrBright]

164. Tucson is a great town. I'd melt in the summer, though.

If we could just root up & destroy every juniper north of Belen, El Norte would be practically perfect as far as climate and natural conditions go. And food. And music. And weirditudinousness of culture.

Politics... not so much.

wryly,
Bright

[Warpy]

166. To tell the truth, my cat is more allergic to juniper than I am

My problem is mulberry and I've got one of the damned things in my front yard.

[Cleita]

154. Idaho.

I love the wilderness and Idaho north of and including the Frank Church Wilderness has plenty of that. I'm partial to the panhandle and if you go out in the woods far enough, you don't have to spend that much time with people. The big problem is the lack of community services if you need them. You pretty much are at the mercy of the churches and the lack of regulations in businesses. Or attention to repairs, like if a bridge washes out, it takes years to repair it if at all. But the locals will keep voting for the mining and lumber interests in order to keep their guns and their freedom from govmint.

[TimberValley]

162. Texas or Alaska.