Government Employees in the South.

[Hosnon]

I think it goes without saying that there is some a fundamental difference in the understanding of "labor" between the "South" and the "North". (And before I get pilloried, I was born and raised in Georgia, and still live there/here.)

My current neighbors, who have been my neighbors of my family for 20+ years, are: (1) a teacher and (2) an employee of SRS (the Savannah River Site). In other words, they are both government employees.

And they are staunch Republicans, with the "common" characteristics, e.g., they're "not sure" if the President is an American. Why? What is the difference? I assume (correct me if I'm wrong), that most such governments employees up "North" are much more pro-Union, pro-Democrat.

They are good people. I am gay, and they know as much. They - as things always go - are okay with homosexuality (perhaps and probably because it is now personal for them).

Bottom line, why is there such a difference? These folks should be Ed fans, but they're miles from that. And no, it's not some educational difference. I just don't get it...

[OHdem10]

1. In your neighbors' cases, naturally I have not a clue.

Are you old enough to remember the times under
Nixon??? The Republican party had been wandering
in the desert(was not organized as they now are).
However, they had won the Presidency (Nixon)
and the Party Apparatus along with Nixon got
the bright idea of what is referred to as the
Southern Strategy-- developed a plan to bring White
People into the ranks as Republicans. Yes, there
was an under the radar racist appeal. It seems
en mass South becamse Republican. There were still
Democrats there but large numbers of all economic
status whites became Republicans. It almost
became status symbol. Have you ever noticed how
they will put billboards--Bush Country? Today
all these Republicans are not racists but that history
is there and if you notice where are the people
who have the most problems with Obama as President.
When Civil Rights Laws were enacted, and all the
struggles most of the Converts to Republican Party
were solidly rock-ribbed Republican

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. There are true cultural differences

And they go to the early days of the colonies. It goes back to the systems of labor that were adopted. Yes, the S word has something to do with it, as well as massive propaganda and the maintenance of a caste society. I will leave it at that before I get pillored.

Though it is worth noting that caste just took different forms and it really has been shaped by immigrant populations.

[LuvNewcastle]

3. The South has a lot of people who more

easily fit into the Libertarian category rather than mainstream Republicans. They put a lot of emphasis on personal responsibility and dislike rules of any sort. They might donate to charities or to family members, but it just galls them that they have to pay taxes to support people who are less fortunate. Many of them don't really have a problem with gay people and I've known several of them who are gay. If these people were better acquainted with Ron Paul's beliefs, I think he would have a lot of support down here.

[XemaSab]

4. I also think it's easier

to wrap your head around things like environmental regs if you're living in a place where there isn't a native plant or fish within 50 miles than it is if you're living in a place with lots of trees and critters.

[BirminghamExaminer]

5. I live in Birmingham so I know what you mean....

A lot of my friends are Republicans who just vote Republican automatically. I don't get it. Most of the people I know personally around here aren't "into politics" at all and they are the ones who vote Republican. But I think some of it has to do with what they have learned from their parents and they just never question it.

The only teacher I know, however, is a liberal democrat and pro-union.

I wish I had the answers because maybe if I did, I could convince some of my otherwise nice friends, that they are voting against their own best interests.

One friend is a professor at a Baptist college and everytime we discuss an issue, she talks about it like a liberal but then she tells me she's a conservative. But she also tells me she's not a "deep thinker." SIGH.