Although I agree with the sentiment and goal of the author's thesis, I have two questions:
1. Does the red-blue label cause division? Or does it just represent existing division?
2. How does one abolish this? However unfortunate, these labels capture an existing divide in this country.
As a tribal species, we seem to be incapable of not fracturing into divisions of us and them. Threats -- real or created -- serve to exacerbate tribal behavior. Perhaps instead of trying to abolish the red state-blue state label, we might be more successful if the liberals of Morgantown sat down over beer and pizza with the conservatives of Mingo County. Reductive labels tend to lose their significance when one is confronted with a living, breathing human.
On the first point, I think the author’s argument is that the label itself definitely does cause its own division in addition to pre-existing division. The widespread belief that all West Virginians are Republican (descended from the gross oversimplification of the two party presidential election results on state lines) could cause liberals in Pittsburgh to miss out on important connection opportunities with liberals in Morgantown, and often causes people to assume the average West Virginian they encounter will vote red (with all the baggage that comes with) while the average Californian they encounter will vote blue (with all the baggage that comes with).
All said, I definitely agree beer and pizza across lines of difference is the remedy for most everything we’re experiencing.
Agree with this so hard. Especially since last year's election, I keep telling people that the red state/blue state binary is far too reductive, citing things like Pikeville (KY) Pride's almost 3000-person attendance last year, in addition to Gov Beshear's popularity in the state. No state is a monolith! Gerrymandering (in both directions, to be fair) has ruined the democratic process in most states, leaving good people unable to make much electoral change.
Yes. This. And here's a thought: if we can pry space in our brains to think of whole-ass states as being a bit more complex than "Red" or "Blue", maybe we could start thinking about individual people that way, too. Too radical?
Coming from “Oharro”, I get this. Ohio was historically Democratic, but has become more red over the past few years. But there are still a lot of us who aren’t. I’ve heard several people say, “let’s take all the blue states and start our own country” - but where does that leave people like me? We can’t all just up and move to a blue state - and honestly, I’d rather stay and work to change where I have lived all my life.
Thank you for shining some light on this. It is so exhausting to live in KY and have to explain to ppl out of state that we have a democrat Governor and we adore him, that I have more progressive friends here than I ever did in the northeast, etc etc. I also think someone needs to start talking about all the republicans (the traditional, non-MAGA kind) who no longer have a political party that truly represents them. The ones I know now vote blue, if we have to talk in color terms, but I'm with you. It's time to stop
The only thing I want to abolish is the electoral college. Sorry, but blue state culture is different. Yes, there is racism and backward thinking folks in blue and purple states, but there are also enough people who read and who look at more media outlets than Fox News to keep population from going totally nuts. My state in 1642, required parents to teach their kids to read. That law made big difference in the quality of states population. And I am sure it Insured the wealth of the state for years to come. Many people who are hung up on DEI do not realize that New England Ivies have from their inception, educated Native American and African people. Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck— Wampanoag Tribe - class of 1665- was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard. Richard Theodore Greener — African American— graduated from Harvard in 1870. People of color are not new to the Ives. After seeing how red states so readily have elected officials that have purged voter rolls under false pretenses to allow Trump and his kind to win, I am very comfortable with red and blue designations.
Although I agree with the sentiment and goal of the author's thesis, I have two questions:
1. Does the red-blue label cause division? Or does it just represent existing division?
2. How does one abolish this? However unfortunate, these labels capture an existing divide in this country.
As a tribal species, we seem to be incapable of not fracturing into divisions of us and them. Threats -- real or created -- serve to exacerbate tribal behavior. Perhaps instead of trying to abolish the red state-blue state label, we might be more successful if the liberals of Morgantown sat down over beer and pizza with the conservatives of Mingo County. Reductive labels tend to lose their significance when one is confronted with a living, breathing human.
Such siloed lives we lead.
On the first point, I think the author’s argument is that the label itself definitely does cause its own division in addition to pre-existing division. The widespread belief that all West Virginians are Republican (descended from the gross oversimplification of the two party presidential election results on state lines) could cause liberals in Pittsburgh to miss out on important connection opportunities with liberals in Morgantown, and often causes people to assume the average West Virginian they encounter will vote red (with all the baggage that comes with) while the average Californian they encounter will vote blue (with all the baggage that comes with).
All said, I definitely agree beer and pizza across lines of difference is the remedy for most everything we’re experiencing.
I like the beer and pizza analogy. We kinda need a political version of desegregation.
Agree with this so hard. Especially since last year's election, I keep telling people that the red state/blue state binary is far too reductive, citing things like Pikeville (KY) Pride's almost 3000-person attendance last year, in addition to Gov Beshear's popularity in the state. No state is a monolith! Gerrymandering (in both directions, to be fair) has ruined the democratic process in most states, leaving good people unable to make much electoral change.
Yes. This. And here's a thought: if we can pry space in our brains to think of whole-ass states as being a bit more complex than "Red" or "Blue", maybe we could start thinking about individual people that way, too. Too radical?
Coming from “Oharro”, I get this. Ohio was historically Democratic, but has become more red over the past few years. But there are still a lot of us who aren’t. I’ve heard several people say, “let’s take all the blue states and start our own country” - but where does that leave people like me? We can’t all just up and move to a blue state - and honestly, I’d rather stay and work to change where I have lived all my life.
You had me at the subtitle. Couldn't agree more.
They want you divided
This is not left v right
It’s rich v poor
Thank you for shining some light on this. It is so exhausting to live in KY and have to explain to ppl out of state that we have a democrat Governor and we adore him, that I have more progressive friends here than I ever did in the northeast, etc etc. I also think someone needs to start talking about all the republicans (the traditional, non-MAGA kind) who no longer have a political party that truly represents them. The ones I know now vote blue, if we have to talk in color terms, but I'm with you. It's time to stop
The only thing I want to abolish is the electoral college. Sorry, but blue state culture is different. Yes, there is racism and backward thinking folks in blue and purple states, but there are also enough people who read and who look at more media outlets than Fox News to keep population from going totally nuts. My state in 1642, required parents to teach their kids to read. That law made big difference in the quality of states population. And I am sure it Insured the wealth of the state for years to come. Many people who are hung up on DEI do not realize that New England Ivies have from their inception, educated Native American and African people. Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck— Wampanoag Tribe - class of 1665- was the first Native American to graduate from Harvard. Richard Theodore Greener — African American— graduated from Harvard in 1870. People of color are not new to the Ives. After seeing how red states so readily have elected officials that have purged voter rolls under false pretenses to allow Trump and his kind to win, I am very comfortable with red and blue designations.