Liberals/progressives living in states where they are in the minority deserve punishment

[Fumesucker]

Let's face it, living in a red state with a majority who hate your guts isn't sufficient punishment for being in the minority in that sort of place, we really should work to ensure that liberals/progressives living in red states lose their jobs, their homes and eventually become destitute just like the conservative majority in those states would wish for them.

That will teach those awful liberals and progressives not to be in the minority, the only ~real~ liberals live in blue states.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Oh, this should be interesting...

[Fumesucker]

2. Always glad to entertain you my dear..

[CreekDog]

22. so you don't think the NFL should have threatened Arizona over their refusal to have an MLK holiday?

[Fumesucker]

24. I'm often conflicted about many things...

It comes from thinking on a level beyond the superficial.

[CreekDog]

31. well you aren't conflicted on the Indiana thing

and not everyone who disagrees with you is a superficial thinker.

[Fumesucker]

34. I'm impressed..

Most mind readers can't do it through the internet..

[CreekDog]

38. well you did or you didn't support the NFL actions to boycott Arizona

the state refused to have an MLK holiday.

apparently you don't want to say you didn't support the boycott.

but you also don't want to say you did.

because you apparently have a ton of courage on this issue that you will not even explain why you'd have any different take on that issue than this one.

[Fumesucker]

44. I boycott the NFL all the time anyway..

I found when I was posting at Discussionist that not being highly specific and choosing a "side" would drive the conservatives there nuts too..

http://www.discussionist.com/101533027

[Inkfreak]

62. I love that thread.

[Fumesucker]

66. My pleasure

[pintobean]

96. You should go back to posting there

I miss you over there.

[Fumesucker]

100. Got tired of having to play the blues to tone deaf country fans

[pintobean]

102. Oh well, you were fun. /nt

[hrmjustin]

5. I brought the beer.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. Cool!

[leftofcool]

10. I might need a bit of bourbon in the beer!

[hrmjustin]

11. Hey why not!

[NaturalHigh]

3. Damn straight!

I was engaged in a similar conversation a few days ago.

[Zorra]

4. Many good people are willing to make sacrifices for others in order to stop legalized hatred.

[Fumesucker]

6. Indeed, however making a sacrifice is generally more meaningful if it's a voluntary thing...

[Zorra]

23. Martin Luther King, Jr. thought about that, but decided to march anyway.

Good thing he didn't say, geez, I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

[dsc]

71. alot of innocent businesses were hurt by the boycots

that the civil rights movement promoted. Were those wrong too or only those aimed at laws that permit discrimination against gays?

[Fumesucker]

72. I happen to live in a state that's the focus of this sort of two minute hate fairly often

Not Indiana but another red one, if it was my own state I wouldn't have said anything because it sounds more like whining then.

It's easy to feel that no one realizes there are good people living in even the reddest of states and those people have to put up with living in those states already as it is. You end up feeling under attack both at home in real life because you are a liberal and then when you go online you get lambasted as a conservative for living among the Bible thumpers. There aren't too many people more weary of hearing religious blather and the sheer roiling hatred off those jackasses than I am but a substantial portion of DU acts like they are my fault just because I happen to live near them.

[B2G]

7. Lol. I see what you did there.

I've never understood the broad brush painting of states around here. It's pretty mind boggling considering you'll be devoured by a pack of angry wolves if you try to assigned generic characteristics based on race, religion (well, Islamic anyway), gender or sexual orientation.

This place can be pretty bi-polar at times.

[Fumesucker]

13. Your comment is bigoted toward us bi-polar Americans..

[djean111]

18. I always find that broad-brush spewing as helpfully indicative of a lack of critical thinking

skills. And am actually pretty fucking happy when someone grandiosely declares they will never visit my state.
Yeah, like we were looking forward to your judgmental visit. People who think I should move - looks to me like there is something fucked up politically or weather related or resource related or cost of living related in pretty much all of the states. And, can you help me out with selling my house, finding another job, moving, and buying a new house? Didn't think so.

[hrmjustin]

9. Red State Liberals are on the front line and I admire them.

[NaturalHigh]

14. You don't think they deserve to be blown away by tornados then?

Thanks! In a conversation the other day I was told that we deserve what we get.

[hrmjustin]

16. Here?

[NaturalHigh]

17. Yep. It got hidden, 5-2 I think.

[hrmjustin]

20. That is really screwed up.

Whoever posted that deserved a hide.

[NaturalHigh]

21. It's someone who's been here for one month and has three hides already.

She deserves the boot from this site.

[hrmjustin]

27. Pm the name to me.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

29. Thank you.

[hrmjustin]

30. My pleasure my friend!

[treestar]

68. Me too.

[leftofcool]

12. Well, I live in the red State of Kentucky. I like it here, Rand Paul and McTurtle excluded

We have a great Governor, lots of trees, lakes and mountains. I think I will just stay and piss off some Republicans.

[NaturalHigh]

15. Do you like Justified?

Just curious. It's my favorite show.

[leftofcool]

51. Absolutely! Never miss it!

[Fumesucker]

19. I live in a red state too...

Thankfully not the one the focus of the current two minute hate..

And yeah, we have a lot of trees and some mountains too..

[Bluenorthwest]

97. How about if instead of 'Red State' you said 'I live in one of the 29 States that allows legal

discrimination in employment toward LGBT people too' then go on about how it is you being subjected to hate?
Because it is important to highlight that the real injustice is not someone denied employment or fired for being gay, it's the criticism of that discrimination that is really offensive.

[Fumesucker]

99. Because it's faster to type "red state" and everyone knows what it means by this point..

I'm not a protected minority either as an atheist. Sure I can "pass" as a theist better than many real theists but because I can stay in the closet is that not reason for me to dislike this law?

My lack of religion has had me fired twice in my life before I realized how very uncomfortable it makes a lot of theists. As it is I get to listen to things like the Duck Dynasty dude fantasizing about a truly horrendous scenario aimed not at gays but at atheists. I hear that sort of thing more often than you might think, not to quite that level of barbarity most of the time Allah be praised.

I try to respond to your sharply toned posts in a measured and respectful manner, I would appreciate a little more reciprocation from you, I'm not your enemy even if we may differ somewhat in perspective.

[Jamastiene]

107. I live in one of the 29 States that allows legal discrimination in employment

toward LGBT people and I am gay. I was raped in the name of God here by these assholes because they thought it would "straighten" me out. I think I am being subjected to hate, even right here in my own hometown.

Just because someone is in a situation where they live in a red state and don't have the means to move nor do they have a clue WHERE they would move if they could doesn't mean we agree with that hatred and discrimination. There are gay people in the states that discriminate against GLBT people too. Personally, I would like to see the hatred toward the GLBT community end too. I agree with the boycotts of businesses that discriminate. I don't agree with lumping everyone in a state in with the bigots who discriminate though.

[PowerToThePeople]

25. i think there could be a modern form

of McCartyism taking place. All evidence is anecdotal, but I think many employers (corporate employers) shy away from hiring liberal minded people.

[RKP5637]

55. Yep, I've heard that from a few people now. n/t

[Takket]

26. so we should just put up with bigotry because a liberal might be harmed financially

as collateral damage of a boycott?

[Fumesucker]

28. You will take what you wish from my words

It would however be nice if people would realize that "red states" are not completely composed of conservatives and that the non-conservatives living in those places are already dealing with more aggravating conservative bullshit on average than those living in "blue states".

[Takket]

32. no, I'll take whatever you want me to take from your words...

Don't be cryptic, just say it, do you want "business as usual" in Indiana? Or are you getting at something else?

[Fumesucker]

40. What I would like is for this stupid regressive piece of legislation to be repealed..

It would be nice if some of us could acknowledge that getting there might cause even more pain for people on our side who are already having a difficult time.

[Takket]

45. i will acknowledge that...

one of two things are going to happen..........

1. the backlash will be so swift and overwhelming that the business community is going to demand a repeal BEFORE things get bad for them.

2. The GOP decides to just weather the storm, and this eventually fades in everyone memory.

I don't think on the individual level that you will see a lot of people being hurt badly be this, but no doubt some will. Angie's list has already pulled out of plans to expand there. Well, that sure sucks if you were going to put in your resume for a position there.

That is why I'm hoping for #1 to be the outcome of this, or at least that the people of Indiana will, when the next election comes around, strike back at the GOP. I wish there was another way to go about this other than trying to hit Indiana in the pocketbook, but we both know that is the only language they speak in this country. Will innocents be hurt? Yes. Are innocents already being hurt because of this law? Yup. Either way, innocents are and will be hurt.

[CreekDog]

33. so we aren't supposed to boycott to prevent the harming of the LGBT population

because we might harm the population of progressives?

[Fumesucker]

36. Like all of us you should do what your conscience tells you is the right thing to do...

But it's good to know that you realize you will also be hurting people on your side.

[CreekDog]

39. I'll be hurting LGBTers?

please explain how it will hurt them to try to stop a law designed to hurt them if it takes effect?

[Fumesucker]

47. Evidently then you don't consider non bigoted straights to be on your side

[CreekDog]

49. it's not that, it's that there are victims if you don't boycott

victims are any expected victims of this law.

[kcr]

59. They may not be completely composed of conservatives

But that doesn't make the policies enacted hurt any less. I'm sorry for any liberal who chooses to live in a red state, especiallly as I used to live in one myself, but nothing wrong with targeting red states.

[Cali_Democrat]

35. Unfortunately, politics is war

Pilots dropping bombs don't wait to determine if every person on the receiving end of those bombs support their cause or not.

During WW2, I'm sure there were many Germans and Japanese who were opposed to war and imperialism. However, when the bombs rained down on their cities, there was no distinction made.

[stone space]

41. Are you suggesting that we bomb Indiana into submission?

Should nuclear weapons be used, or just conventional weapons?

I ask this because you invoked WW2 as justification.

[Cali_Democrat]

46. LOL....no

It was an analogy.

I actually didn't even realize this post was about Indiana until I read through the replies.

Remember the bus boycott in the south during the civil rights movement? Or the various boycotts of South Africa during the anti-apartheid movement?

There were some good people hurt by those boycotts, but there were no distinctions made.

[NaturalHigh]

50. "It was an analogy."

Yes, an analogy used by several war criminals and terrorists that I can think of.

[Cali_Democrat]

57. Why are you following me around DU?

Crushing on me? LOL.

[NaturalHigh]

58. No, I was just reading this thread, and you've made several comments...

to which I felt compelled to reply.

I'm married to a redhead. If I'm going to crush on someone, I do it discreetly. Besides I don't even know if you're my type.

[Runningdawg]

37. I'm Native American

and live in OK, it doesn't get much redder than that! The white government gave my tribe land in this state and tried to kill us all moving us here. I'll be damned if I am moving again.

[edhopper]

42. They don't deserve it

but it's collateral damage for has to be done.

Maybe when the voters feel enough of the harm conservative politics does to them, they will wake up.

[lumberjack_jeff]

43. So... blue state taxes should be even more heavily distributed among red states?

Will this be sufficient mitigation for the suffering that red state liberals experience?

I get that it's a complicated issue, but I don't think that Indiana should be rewarded for their regressive ways, simply because there may be a nice and decent minority there.

[nomorenomore08]

48. How about trying to find out what businesses and corporations (inside or outside IN) donated

to the politicians who voted for the bill?

I don't disagree with the boycott, necessarily, I'm just thinking it should be more targeted.

[Jamastiene]

109. A targeted boycott would be more effective.

It makes more sense to boycott those who agree with the bill, will be using the bill to discriminate, and supported those who made the bill into law. Targeting the entire state will not be nearly as effective as targeting those who actually will use the law to discriminate. I am sure that at some point, someone on the internet will publish a list of the individual businesses are doing that. That is the best list to use for boycotting.

[ND-Dem]

52. Thanks Joe. Or Ted. or whoever you are.

[NuclearDem]

60. Everytime a Bell rings...

[ND-Dem]

69. ...an angel gets their wings.

[Fumesucker]

63. At least I'm not Rush...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002374653

[ND-Dem]

70. I assumed your post was sarcastic, and mine was in the same spirit. Hope you understood that.

[smirkymonkey]

76. Scary likeness!

We are regressing, I'm afraid.

[daleanime]

53. Huh?

[geek tragedy]

54. And the boycott of South Africa supposedly was bad for black South Africans nt

[Turbineguy]

56. Ahhh.... but.....

I work in a red state and live in a blue state. I remove money from a red state and spend it in a blue state. But yes, I do get punished for being in a red state by rude assholes driving cars. That and having to listen to ignorant teabaggers telling me how to do my job.

[RedCappedBandit]

61. Also, people have no right to vote with their money in a capitalist society,

because doing so will inevitably affect unintended victims. Everyone must patronize red businesses and states regardless of their regressive views, policies, and practices, because they might employ blue voters.

[Fumesucker]

65. I'm not averse to a boycott

But this fantasy that there are no liberals/progressives living in the red states gets a bit old for those of us who are liberals living in a red state.

Often it's a matter of just a very few percentage points as to which way a state goes and some of the states go back and forth, let's not forget that Reagan was Governor of California as was Ahhhnold somewhat more recently.

[RedCappedBandit]

98. I've seen nobody make that claim, ever.

[Jamastiene]

64. K&R

Bonus points if you edit to include the special rules for southern liberals. We are so damn backasswards that living amidst these flaky batshit conservatives automatically puts us in the same category as these flake batshit conservatives, even if we are gay and as liberal as they come, like I am. At least that is how it seems, according to many on DU. The outright hatred for southern liberals on DU is like a sport for many here. They see us as less than them and think we should have been born with magic wands and oodles of money, even though most of us were born in destitute poverty and Walmart is our major employer in the entire county were we live, like in my case. In my county, they actually are the only employer to offer optional benefits at all. Even thought they won't let you get a full 40 hour work week, they are still the closest that you will find to pay rent/utilities/groceries and be able to support yourself, kinda.

And they never have answered my question about how we are supposed to pick a better place to move so we can be still less than liberals with a southern accent and be a target for ridicule for the rest of our lives in that new place we are supposed to move to. First time I ever talked to anyone in NY and the first goddamn question they asked me was why southerners are so obsessed with the Civil War. Funny, I didn't bring it up. She did. I'm not one of the southerners who is obsessed with the Civil War and I rarely even talk about it except to say I'm glad the slavers lost that war. But, I'm supposed to answer for right wing lunatics that carry assault rifles on gun racks in the back windows of their trucks and a confederate flag in every spot they can find to put one? I can't explain them any more than anyone else can. I'm not into that shit. So, why the fuck ask me as if I am their official representative?

Do I put a map on a dartboard or what? I wish they would answer my question. How am I supposed to pick the place to move to if I win the lottery and can finally one day afford to move to a place that costs about 10 times as much to live so I can STILL be the butt of every joke and hated because I am from the south even though I am a liberal?

See, in the south, I am hated for being gay, but everywhere else, I am hated for being from the south. So, it's lose/lose for me and others in my position, all the way around. We can't win. We were born in shit and filth and even if we rise out of this horror story of a region and move to a civilized place, we will always be considered dumb rednecks and have to constantly explain that we would rather not spend the rest of our lives answering questions about why right wing lunatics in the south are obsessed with the goddamn Civil War.

I wish I could be more than a southerner, a valid person, but southerner is all I will ever be, no matter how gay and liberal I am. Hated here for being gay and hated everywhere else for being from the south. I'm just a hatred receptacle, a bucket to dump all the hatred into, from every conceivable direction, for my entire life, a bucket of hate. Don't be surprised if I have a shitty attitude toward the world. GET OFF MY LAWN!!!! And I'll be keeping that baseball to add to my collection.

[KingCharlemagne]

73. This is a really good post and deserves to be its own OP, imo. FWIW, I don't hate liberals

who have the misfortune to live in red states or conservative districts; I feel sorry for them. But I also remember a couple kids I went to high school with in rural Missouri whom I now think were gay (I've lost touch over the roughly half-century since we graduated) and feel really badly for what they must have had to go through on a daily basis, wanting what all of us want -- love -- but being forced by social mores to conceal their true identities or risk societal opprobrium. Each eventually escaped to more liberal climes of Kansas City and, IIRC, Chicago. So I'm hoping and thinking that each found a measure of post-HS happiness that was denied them during their formative years.

[guillaumeb]

104. what an incredible response

When you talk about being typecast and ridiculed for birthplace and accent. As if an accent or birthplace could be a sign of intelligence or political feelings.

This post should be required reading for everyone on this site.

And no, I am not a southerner, unless one counts being from the south part of Quebec as being a southerner.

Thanks for sharing.

[treestar]

67. This comes up every time

people talk of boycotts.

Here it may not be necessary because they are putting signs up to say they serve everybody. So you can know who not to boycott.

[JI7]

74. do you oppose the Israel Boycott also ?

[CBGLuthier]

77. Actually, no, this is not war. War is war. This is political upheaval

and second it takes a lot of nerve to tell people to uproot their lives and move because the wrong fucking party is in power passing bad laws. Sheesh the fucking arrogance of some people.

Yeah I support the boycott but your argument is garbage. Nothing but mean-spirited not gonna help a fucking thing garbage.

[anotojefiremnesuka]

78. Your attitude is exactly why Democrats LOSE Elections

This is war, plain and simple, politics require a warriors mentality else you LOSE.

Sorry you do not get it or understand it.

If people choose to stay that is there choice but they should also not complain when the place they choose to remain in sucks.

[Lars39]

79. You think people always choose to stay?

You sound like you're under 50 and economically well off. Yup, those jobs and moving money and safety nets are so plentiful.

[anotojefiremnesuka]

80. Bzzzzzz sorry you lose

Wanna try again?

[Lars39]

81. Ah, then you fall into a different category.

[anotojefiremnesuka]

83. MMMMM OK your choice, enjoy!

[Lars39]

85. Didn't say what kind of category.

[anotojefiremnesuka]

86. It is yours it belongs to you, I have no interest in how you categorize me or anyone/thing

It has no meaning or impact upon my life, if it brings you pleasure that is good!

[Lars39]

87. Yes, I see your compassion.

As can everyone.

[NaturalHigh]

91. "I have no interest in how you categorize me or anyone/thing"

Yet you categorize all people in red states, including DU members, as the enemy.

[anotojefiremnesuka]

94. Not individuals just states

it is not personal at all.

[Revanchist]

84. Actually, your attitude is why Democrats lose elections

A myopic view that once a state votes for a certain party there is no chance for the state to change is not the attitude to take. Those people that stay there are you are shitting on are the one in positions to affect change in those states. By your attitude we should have all moved to Minnesota after the 1984 presidential election. You keep thinking the way you do and we'll never change the way things are.



See this map? There's an awful lot of pale red, isn't there? Now imagine taking some of that hate of yours and focusing it on making some of that pale red to pale blue and get us a majority again in the House of Reps. Screaming war war will not help us get a legislature where we can get sensible laws introduced and passed. Or do you like the 50+ votes on repealing the ACA?

[anotojefiremnesuka]

90. You are incorrect with your assertion

The direction you espouse has been in place for over 25 years and is what has gotten the party and the nation into the situation we are presently in; hence it is a failure just like trickle-down economics.

Change is going to require a total change in mindset else we the people lose.

[Inkfreak]

88. You're viewpoint is absurd. (nt)

[NaturalHigh]

93. "This is war and in war there are causalities"...

What makes you qualified to determine who deserves to be collateral damage?

[B Calm]

82. It's hard enough now living behind the Hoosier Iron Curtain,

but my grandchildren live here and I don't want to move away from them.

[Ghost in the Machine]

89. I am guessing that this is satire/sarcasm, giving you the benefit of doubt...

but I live in red County in a red State, but have some surrounding blue Counties. I'm disabled, make less in a month than I used to make in a week, and live where I can afford. I was lucky enough to find a place with 4 mobile homes on 15 acres for less than $75,000. 2 of the homes already had renters, and they are still here 9 years later. I live in the main house and the renters pay the mortgage. All the homes are on well water, so all I have is my electric bill, cell phone & internet bill and property taxes. Can I find a deal like that where you live? I also have plenty of woods full of deer, turkey and wild ginseng, so I can save on food bills and make money from ginseng too. I have a beautiful view of woods and mountains everywhere I look, too! I'm in East Tennessee, halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville.

Again... why would I want to move, and why should I be punished? I'd rather work on making us more purple, then eventually blue. I've changed quite a few minds here and I prefer to keep trying to teach the ignorant about voting against their own best interests!

Peace,

Ghost

[NaturalHigh]

92. Yes it was sarcasm.

If you read through all the replies, you'll see the people who actually believe what the OP says in jest. One poster goes so far as to say "this is war." Apparently we are to be the collateral damage.

[Ghost in the Machine]

105. Thank you. I didn't read all the replies, I have my days and nights mixed up right now and was

fixing to go to sleep. I don't plan on being collateral damage though, I plan to keep fighting to change the ignorance and uneducated voter.

Peace,

Ghost

[Fumesucker]

101. Some people just have to have it spelled out for them..

I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about those who are all fired up over something like a boycott and never even notice that it's going to hurt innocent people on their side also.

I'm not unwilling to bear the pain of a boycott in my state but I damn sure resent it being assumed by those who won't share it that I deserve that pain.

[Ghost in the Machine]

106. Well I did say that I was giving you the benefit of doubt. I'm right there with you..

I was tired and didn't read all of the replies, just responded to the OP. Keep up the good fight, and know that others are doing the same in their own States.

Peace,

Ghost

[WhiteTara]

95. Ralph Nadir, is that you?

[still_one]

103. Blue states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Mass. Who gave us scott

Brown and Romney, or California who gave us Arnold, Pete Wison, and of course Reagan

The republican infestation is like the drug problem, they didn't think it was a problem as long as it stayed in the more disadvantaged populations, but once it moved into more areas it was suddenly recognized as a problem

[Blue_In_AK]

108. I don't have to worry about boycotting Indiana

because I haven't been east of the Mississippi in decades, but as a fellow red stater I sympathize.