What’s the most conservative state in the nation? Why?
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BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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Depends what type of conservatism you’re talking about. Overall I would say Utah, because even though states like Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama are all pretty far to the right on social issues of race, abortion, sex, homosexuality, etc, they were once supporters of the welfare state. Only when it came to white people having to give up their money in taxes to help the “others” did the switch commence. Utah has always been shit on every front.
I would argue against Utah, simply because of Salt Lake City. True, Utah is overwhelmingly Republican and Mormon. It also has a very liberal capital city, prominent liberal politicians, and, unlike some other states, elected LGBT officials. In all honesty, I find neighboring Wyoming, for example, to be more conservative.
I thought about Wyoming or Idaho, but I opted for Utah because of the self-identification factor, BYU, and Mormon prominence.
Plus, it’s important to define conservative, as Tarheel noted.
To me, it is between Utah, Oklahoma, and Mississippi.
I agree re Utah. And I tell you – they have so many beautiful parks – socialist places, LOL – I’d be hard pressed to paint them ‘most conservative.’
I think Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, and a few states in the South are better suited for that title.
And don’t forget .. Utah gave us perhaps the most Progressive Fed Chair ever .. and the guy came to Washington as a Republican!!
August 18, 2009 Gallup poll of self-identified “conservatives”
Most “conservative”
Least “conservative”
District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Vermont, Oregon, Washington, New York, New Jersey, California, Hawaii, and Connecticut in that order (no percentages in article).
Interestingly, the least “conservative” were considered to be the most “liberal”. I’m not sure that is a correct inference based on the way the poll was done.
What is striking to me about this poll is that self-identified “conservatives” do not make up more than 50% in any state. And Texas is absent from the “conservative” states list.
Your question is a difficult one. It depends on how you define “conservative”. In a state like Alabama, there is a culture of self-identification as “conservative” independent of consideration of actual policies. People feel obligated by social pressure to self-identify as conservative regardless of the details of their views. Other “conservative” states lack that social pressure.
And then there is the difference between conservative and “conservative”. I am conservative about the habeas corpus amendment in the Bill of Rights, which makes me not have the “conservative” position that it doesn’t apply to foreigners.
And I think am safe in saying that probably less than 1% of the “conservatives” in the most “conservative” states would recognize the name Edmund Burke, whom intellectual conservatives like William Buckley see as the counterpoint to Thomas Paine’s radicalism. And most would name the litany of Republican party policies as “conservative principles” — free market, small government, Christian nation, anti-socialism, etc.
LOL!!!!
I can see fatherhood’s gonna do wonders for your “wonderful” blog, LOL!!!
Nice.
Heh – aren’t you glad that proximity is back with all his (?) wonderful insights?
Defining “conservative” along the lines of voting against non-Republicans at all costs, I’m gonna nominate my home state of Oklahoma. We’re so messed up there that nobody even bothers mentioning us anymore. The irony is that, last I knew, actual party registration was still highly if not overwhelmingly Democratic; it’s just that Democrats don’t win elections there, unless they’re against banning cock-fighting (Brad Henry) or might as well be republican anyway (Dan Boren).
Oklahoma also has two of, if not the, worst Senators.
I can’t think of any worse, and these days, even among those just as bad, I can’t think of any that are nearly as prolific. Those dudes should be required to wear clown makeup.
Yeah, that was my first thought on reading the question. I don’t think polls really get to the heart of the question. I’d judge more by what the population is willing to support — in OK’s case that’s two of the most psychopathic liars and general crazies in the US Senate — which is quite a twofer for one state. Its House members offer only one pretty dim light in the person of Boren. Unlike most states, OK doesn’t even seem to have a sorta liberal/interesting city in all its vast territory.
OK only has, I would argue, two real cities: Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Everything else is pretty much a town. Norman is a decent place, or was last I knew as of about 5 years ago (college towns tend to be a little better).
Oklahoma because it was the only state in the nation where Republicans picked up voters during the 2008 general. I give way to droogie6655321’s diary following the election What’s the Matter with Oklahoma
You could make a diary about what’s the matter with Kanasas because there are an abundance of conservative whack Jobs like the former Attorney General Phil Kline but he has been ousted and now a Dem holds that position. I don’t think you can label Kansas as the most conservative state since they produced Kathleen Sebelius and George Tiller among others.
Oklahoma gets my vote.
Vermont.
The rest of the nation is not conservative, it is is batshit loopy right wing and fanatical.
heh
I gotta go with Oklahoma. Not only do they have two crazy senators, but they are on the forefront of creationism. I’m not sure why they are so conservative, but they are in the heart of the Bible belt, so maybe that’s why.
It’s incredible to read the Grapes of Wrath and think the characters in that book could have anything to do with the current political mindset. Oy, and Woody Guthrie.
I think about that too sometimes. Oklahomans are descendants of the Dust Bowl folks, who were rescued on many levels by Democratic social policies.
I too have often wondered why they are so conservative.
I have an idea — it’s probably way too simplistic, but — do you know anything about the history of Oklahoma? The combination of sheer rapaciousness, greed, lawlessness and instability that went on in Okla from the 1890s through the 1920s — and at the same time was basically “business as usual” — was a bit much even for the USA. And a lot of those encroachers were confederate army veterans. Then came the dustbowl days. I don’t know if they’ve ever really come to terms with all that.
Maybe somebody from oklahoma can comment?
To answer the question, I think we would first have to have a definition of what “conservatism” actually is. I have no idea…
My take is that the point is to provide your definition of conservative when answering the question “why?”
no sales tax, no income tax. very small government, very pro gun, very libertarian, incrementalist approach to change (ie, John Lynch).
Your question raises an important point: modern conservatives are reactionaries. They wish to deconstruct the institutions currently in place and replace them with those more akin to those of the 19th century.
I vote for Kansas because of:
Westboro Baptist Church, Phil Kline and Sam Brownback