The Conservative "South" of Today

[tory_loyalist]

Question:

How can the Conservative South of Today lose its Confederate Rebel Image and become United States
Citizens again, in full, while not losing their "history"?

Which party should they vote in the upcoming election?

How can the Left Wing South bring them into their fold?

What should they do to be accepted? Lose the evangelicals? The anarchy of Libertarianism?

IS there something - anything - they could do to unite and help themselves?

Tory

[Scribe]

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

Question:

How can the Conservative South of Today lose its Confederate Rebel Image and become United States
Citizens again, in full, while not losing their "history"?

Southerners today are "full"... whatever that means... U.S. citizens and have been for all but the few years when they experimented in rebellion.

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

Which party should they vote in the upcoming election?

The presidential vote has no impact on southerners status as "full" U.S. citizens.

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

How can the Left Wing South bring them into their fold?

There is no Left Wing south. There's a moderate-conservative south and a really conservative south.<g> By the way, there's also no left wing north.

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

What should they do to be accepted? Lose the evangelicals? The anarchy of Libertarianism?

Accepted by who? Evangelicals and Libertarians are not unique to the south. They afflict us everywhere.

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

IS there something - anything - they could do to unite and help themselves?

Who in your view are "they?" And why do you think "they" need help?

[M E Wolf]

Dear Tory_Loyalist,

I am of the opinion sir, that you can never 'loose' history. You can destroy books, documents, monuments, destroy all things physical. But, I am of the personal opinion, that as long as we (in general) are aware of history, and in reality--we are living to which upon our death becomes 'history'--or yesterday, can be considered 'history.'

How the "Conservative South" has been diluted; is rather clear. Ever since the ability to travel freely became economical and practical; ever since communication connected all around the nation as well as the globe; the population has swirled so, as there is a massive dispersal of individuals, regardless if Southerner or Northerner--or anything in between and East to West as well.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[TheGallantPelham17]

I'm not really sure what you mean by the initial post, but maybe I can provide a some feedback from one, tiny Southern perspective.

I'm a native Southerner. I was born in Selma, Alabama, in the heart of what is referred to as the Black Belt (the area of the great cotton plantations of the antebellum years). Black Belt refers to the rich, dark color of the soil and not in reference to a particular race of people. I grew up and graduated high school in Mississippi. I come from a very conservative, traditional Southern family. The vast majority of my relatives today are Protestants; primarily Methodists, Baptists, and Episcopalians (I'm not aware of any Catholics in my family). I'm 33 years of age with a college degree and a law degree. Both of my parents and three of my grandparents earned college degrees. The majority of my close cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. hold college degrees or higher.

Politically, I'm fiercely independent in nature. However, from 2002-2004, I served as the state president of the Alabama Young Democrats. I also was employed for two years as an appointed staff member for the democratic Alabama secretary of state during those years. I was never one to tow the party line 100% and was oftentimes at odds with my fellow AYD officers because they were more liberal than I was, by and large. I became a democrat at the time because of my support of middle-class economic issues and my support for organized labor and pro-consumer issues. I'm pro-choice, but I favor certain restrictions on abortion such as the ban on what are called partial-birth abortions. I'm firmly against affirmative action for the purpose of academic admissions and hiring practices. I'm pro-military and I favor pre-emptive military action when it's justified. I'm fiscally conservative, but I do very much support Social Security and medicare programs. I could go on and on.

So as you can see from the above paragraph, I'm all over the board on various issues. I would say that I lean center-right, but just barely.

The last two presidential elections, I voted for Gore and Kerry. This time around, I'll be voting for McCain. Obama is far too liberal for my taste and his tax policies would be brutally detrimental during this troubling economy. I'm also very concerned on how Obama would handle foreign policy and as our Commander-in-Chief. Looking back, Kerry would have been far too liberal for my taste, but I primarily casted my vote for Kerry because of my extreme displeasure with Bush.

Contrary to what folks might believe, there are plenty of liberals in the South and it's growing daily. They are mainly comprised of folks living in urban areas. Most blacks (regardless of where they reside) are liberal and they obviously overwhelmingly support democratic elected officials. However, because the South is still a solid majority white and conservative population, it will be hard for a democrat to win southern states in a presidential race. Bill Clinton won a few southern states because he ran on a fiscally conservative message (among other issues) and was able to win over support from a sizeable amount of Evangelicals. Obama, on the other hand, has not convinced voters that he will be that kind of president. In fact, he is proposing a $4Trillion tax increase! That won't win very much support in the South! The typical Southerner is fiscally conservative, religiously conservative, and small government minded. Obama is perceived by many as Big Government and a Socialist.

The South isn't stupid. In fact, in most modern day elections, the South has almost always voted for the winner in any given presidential election. The South is usually a great judge of character. In other words, as the South goes, so goes the presidency.

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by tory_loyalist

Question:

How can the Conservative South of Today lose its Confederate Rebel Image and become United States
Citizens again, in full, while not losing their "history"?

Which party should they vote in the upcoming election?

How can the Left Wing South bring them into their fold?

What should they do to be accepted? Lose the evangelicals? The anarchy of Libertarianism?

IS there something - anything - they could do to unite and help themselves?

Tory

Tory;

What you ask is really quite impossible, sir. The Confederate Image is the so-called Conservative 'Repressed' South.

Some are Libertarian-minded. Some are Hard Shell Fundamentalists. Some are in between.

But what makes them 'Conservative' is also what makes them 'Southern'. You may as well ask an eagle to give up its wings and the skies above. It would be just another
ostrich, without benefit of the evolved neck and legs.

Nice idea, though.

Uriel Franklin Below

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by TheGallantPelham17

I'm not really sure what you mean by the initial post, but maybe I can provide a some feedback from one, tiny Southern perspective.

I'm a native Southerner. I was born in Selma, Alabama, in the heart of what is referred to as the Black Belt (the area of the great cotton plantations of the antebellum years). Black Belt refers to the rich, dark color of the soil and not in reference to a particular race of people. I grew up and graduated high school in Mississippi. I come from a very conservative, traditional Southern family. The vast majority of my relatives today are Protestants; primarily Methodists, Baptists, and Episcopalians (I'm not aware of any Catholics in my family). I'm 33 years of age with a college degree and a law degree. Both of my parents and three of my grandparents earned college degrees. The majority of my close cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. hold college degrees or higher.

Politically, I'm fiercely independent in nature. However, from 2002-2004, I served as the state president of the Alabama Young Democrats. I also was employed for two years as an appointed staff member for the democratic Alabama secretary of state during those years. I was never one to tow the party line 100% and was oftentimes at odds with my fellow AYD officers because they were more liberal than I was, by and large. I became a democrat at the time because of my support of middle-class economic issues and my support for organized labor and pro-consumer issues. I'm pro-choice, but I favor certain restrictions on abortion such as the ban on what are called partial-birth abortions. I'm firmly against affirmative action for the purpose of academic admissions and hiring practices. I'm pro-military and I favor pre-emptive military action when it's justified. I'm fiscally conservative, but I do very much support Social Security and medicare programs. I could go on and on.

So as you can see from the above paragraph, I'm all over the board on various issues. I would say that I lean center-right, but just barely.

The last two presidential elections, I voted for Gore and Kerry. This time around, I'll be voting for McCain. Obama is far too liberal for my taste and his tax policies would be brutally detrimental during this troubling economy. I'm also very concerned on how Obama would handle foreign policy and as our Commander-in-Chief. Looking back, Kerry would have been far too liberal for my taste, but I primarily casted my vote for Kerry because of my extreme displeasure with Bush.

Contrary to what folks might believe, there are plenty of liberals in the South and it's growing daily. They are mainly comprised of folks living in urban areas. Most blacks (regardless of where they reside) are liberal and they obviously overwhelmingly support democratic elected officials. However, because the South is still a solid majority white and conservative population, it will be hard for a democrat to win southern states in a presidential race. Bill Clinton won a few southern states because he ran on a fiscally conservative message (among other issues) and was able to win over support from a sizeable amount of Evangelicals. Obama, on the other hand, has not convinced voters that he will be that kind of president. In fact, he is proposing a $4Trillion tax increase! That won't win very much support in the South! The typical Southerner is fiscally conservative, religiously conservative, and small government minded. Obama is perceived by many as Big Government and a Socialist.

The South isn't stupid. In fact, in most modern day elections, the South has almost always voted for the winner in any given presidential election. The South is usually a great judge of character. In other words, as the South goes, so goes the presidency.

I like your post, sir, and your ideas.

How do you see the South 'going' this time?

Uriel Franklin Below

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by M E Wolf

Dear Tory_Loyalist,

I am of the opinion sir, that you can never 'loose' history. You can destroy books, documents, monuments, destroy all things physical. But, I am of the personal opinion, that as long as we (in general) are aware of history, and in reality--we are living to which upon our death becomes 'history'--or yesterday, can be considered 'history.'

How the "Conservative South" has been diluted; is rather clear. Ever since the ability to travel freely became economical and practical; ever since communication connected all around the nation as well as the globe; the population has swirled so, as there is a massive dispersal of individuals, regardless if Southerner or Northerner--or anything in between and East to West as well.

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

Wolf;

Do you really think the Conservative South has been diluted? I was in the Deep South very recently, and
I am hard pressed to find any real changes in Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee... in the remote areas.

The cities of course are another matter. But then, most people there don't speak of such things in mixed company!

Uriel Franklin Below

[fl_below]

Originally Posted by Scribe

Southerners today are "full"... whatever that means... U.S. citizens and have been for all but the few years when they experimented in rebellion.






There is no Left Wing south. There's a moderate-conservative south and a really conservative south.<g> By the way, there's also no left wing north.

'Experimented with Rebellion' - Judging by Tory's 'Loyalist' views of the situation, this would be the South's second such experiment!



No Left Wing North?

That has me puzzled, sir!

Uriel Franklin Below

[Elennsar]

I cannot speak for the Northeast, but as a Californian, I can speak for my state and I can speak of what I know of the Democratic Party.

California is (at the moment, other than our governor) a Democratic state. But its not particularly radically left wing by any stretch.

The Democratic party in general is more afraid of being accused of being too liberal than offending and ignoring those who actually are greatly to the left of the mainstream.

So...if there is a "Left wing" in the North, in terms of the politicians elected, it is more shadow than substance.

[M E Wolf]

Dear FL_Below,

Yes, the cities in the South have been diluted --all those nice Northern folks moving to "Southern Heaven."

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf