Liberal = Urban & Conservative = Rural?
I've been giving some more thought to this concept that urban & metropolitan areas tend to gravitate toward the religion of liberalism. A ridiculous story this past weekend about some baseball player kids reminded me that I needed to revisit this. Why? Well, folks know how superstitious ball players can be...the same socks, or even underwear...UNWASHED...could be used to continue the winning streak (no pun intended much.) But no, these kids, now suspended from baseball for the season, thought that snapping the head off a chick would be a good idea. For fifteen year-old's I'm sure this makes sense in some way. Probably not malicious. Probably not PETA-friendly. Probably not santaria or sanitary.
But it might be 'no big deal' to them. I don't know much about this story, I"ll admit. But if these kids come from a rural area where they're used to dealing with animals, hunting, fishing, etc. then killing a chicken is not so foreign. Wasteful? yeah maybe.
But urbanites are shocked at the potential murderous intentions of these youths. "Is it a sign of Bundyism in infancy?" they ask. City dwellers are far removed from their food. They don't think about what it takes to get something to table...and they are accustomed to being dependent on someone else to do all the preparation. They simply pay and go.
So, with this is mind, is it any wonder that this 'distance' from true grit also accompanies a disdain for low-class farmers? for rural America in general. But there is no less honor is mucking a stall well than there is entering data in a cubicle. In fact, I would submit there is an inherent sense of fear in urbanites...close proximity to others creates a need to retreat into oneself. Basic needs are provided by someone else, whether it is the bodega or ConEd. Most rural folks don't feel this persistent latching-on, I believe. We get exposed to the earth, how to till, how to hunt & fish, how to be self-sufficient.
Truth is we are interdependent. The monetary system has provided a means for goods to cycle into cities in exchange for cash which is used and recognized outside the cities to continue the economy. This flow is crucial for everyone to get what they need and most of what they want. Markets fluctuate with demand to decide fair prices for commodities, etc. But I would suggest that if the economic flow is interrupted, it is the urbanite that first finds himself without. Paper money (or electronic debits) are not food. They are not water. They are not shelter. Liberals demand the dismantling of our successful economy at their own peril.
Could the utter contempt of the mainstream media for Sarah Palin be linked to this anti-rural meme? Strong, independent mother, strong family values from an area untethered to big city America...away from the urban squalor and government stronghold. It doesn't fit the social mold of earthmother hemp, bra-burnt antiwar at all costs, free sex but barren.
And she scares the bejeezus out of Liberals (once the bastion of female candidates) because she makes sense. Independence! Self-reliance! Smart planning for efficiency! All these things threaten the social status quo of the liberal urbanite who is more likely to depend on others, and government, for their daily bread.
It appears that the religion of liberalism has its tenets, priests and gods...but our prayer recognizes that its by HIS hands we are fed. He gave hands and hearts to work and perform charity for others. Big Government is a graven image, a sacred golden calf...and it's time to melt her down before we spend too many years in this wilderness.
