Liberal Cities
Mar 9th, 2016, 07:23 AM
#61
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Well, thanks, Bitter, but I disagree with you, possibly in every way. No one in a Western democracy can "insulate themselves from different perspectives", so that's a straw man you've put up.
The OP's desire to live among people who seek the same lifestyle is not aberrant. An Amish person wouldn't wish to live on the Vegas Strip, after all.
The OP's desire to live among people who seek the same lifestyle is not aberrant. An Amish person wouldn't wish to live on the Vegas Strip, after all.
Mar 9th, 2016, 07:57 AM
#63
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But alas when it comes to discourse and idea, I don't think folks who characterize themselves as liberal are quite as liberal as they think.
LOL!! As one who does (identify, that is), I completely agree!!
LOL!! As one who does (identify, that is), I completely agree!!
Mar 9th, 2016, 09:55 AM
#64
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An Amish person wouldn't wish to live on the Vegas Strip, after all.
There are well over 100k Mormons in Las Vegas. Somehow, they manage to feel at home surrounded by booze, hookers, and gambling.
While I can understand the impulse to be around like-minded people, I think the idea that most people won't find a vibrant community in most major cities to be a little ridiculous. No, San Antonio is not likely to be as liberal as San Francisco, but that doesn't mean there are no liberals in San Antonio one might meet and find community with.
The OP has a challenge. They want a "liberal" city but don't want to spend a lot of money to live there, and they also can't handle the cold. Well, the obviously liberal cities are all expensive or cold or both. Something has to give and the OP has four choices: 1) move somewhere less obviously liberal, 2) try to cope with the cold, 3) move somewhere that isn't really a city (e.g. Eugene), or 4) bite the bullet and pay to live in the liberal, West Coast cities. Only the OP can decide where they want to compromise (you couldn't pay me enough to live in Eugene now that I am an adult).
No place is perfect and, frankly, one will be as happy in Birmingham (or Atlanta or Houston or San Francisco) as they allow themselves to be. My sister lives in Salt Lake City. Now, you are unlikely to meet two people as liberal as my sister and her husband, but you know what? They have good friends. They have good jobs. They go to good restaurants. They have a nice apartment. If you put a gun to their heads, they might even admit that they are relatively happy. They may grumble about the lousy liquor selection at the store, they find some of the Mormon influence a little funny, and they don't like the politics, but they are pretty happy.
There are well over 100k Mormons in Las Vegas. Somehow, they manage to feel at home surrounded by booze, hookers, and gambling.
While I can understand the impulse to be around like-minded people, I think the idea that most people won't find a vibrant community in most major cities to be a little ridiculous. No, San Antonio is not likely to be as liberal as San Francisco, but that doesn't mean there are no liberals in San Antonio one might meet and find community with.
The OP has a challenge. They want a "liberal" city but don't want to spend a lot of money to live there, and they also can't handle the cold. Well, the obviously liberal cities are all expensive or cold or both. Something has to give and the OP has four choices: 1) move somewhere less obviously liberal, 2) try to cope with the cold, 3) move somewhere that isn't really a city (e.g. Eugene), or 4) bite the bullet and pay to live in the liberal, West Coast cities. Only the OP can decide where they want to compromise (you couldn't pay me enough to live in Eugene now that I am an adult).
No place is perfect and, frankly, one will be as happy in Birmingham (or Atlanta or Houston or San Francisco) as they allow themselves to be. My sister lives in Salt Lake City. Now, you are unlikely to meet two people as liberal as my sister and her husband, but you know what? They have good friends. They have good jobs. They go to good restaurants. They have a nice apartment. If you put a gun to their heads, they might even admit that they are relatively happy. They may grumble about the lousy liquor selection at the store, they find some of the Mormon influence a little funny, and they don't like the politics, but they are pretty happy.
Mar 9th, 2016, 10:11 AM
#65
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<I think the idea that most people won't find a vibrant community in most major cities to be a little ridiculous.>
But no one said that. As a leftie who has lived all over this great land, I agree that one can be happy anywhere, and find like minded people anywhere.
But the OP wants a home city that leans left as a whole, and not just a few pockets of leftie culture here and there. That's not for us to judge as it's just her preference.
But no one said that. As a leftie who has lived all over this great land, I agree that one can be happy anywhere, and find like minded people anywhere.
But the OP wants a home city that leans left as a whole, and not just a few pockets of leftie culture here and there. That's not for us to judge as it's just her preference.
Mar 9th, 2016, 11:41 AM
#66
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But the OP wants a home city that leans left as a whole, and not just a few pockets of leftie culture here and there. That's not for us to judge as it's just her preference.
It isn't for us to judge, but she did come here for advice.
Frankly, the OP has a host of requirements beyond "liberalness". At some point she needs to decide which are deal-breakers and which are not. Because there is no city, save maybe Austin (and even then, I think the "liberal" part is overplayed) that will fit all of her criteria.
DC, NYC, Boston, SF/Bay Area, LA, Seattle, Boulder, Honolulu, DC, and Denver all have housing prices higher than Portland, where she is put off by the cost. Heck, even Sacramento and Austin are as close (or closer) to Portland housing prices as they are to Minneapolis. I mean, Sacramento's median house price is only around $25k lower than Portland's. Personally, I wouldn't even consider choosing Sacramento over Portland to save $25k.
If liberalness is the primary criterion, then our OP will have to accept high housing prices or the cold. She is not going to find a better mix of affordability and liberalness than Minneapolis, full stop.
It isn't for us to judge, but she did come here for advice.
Frankly, the OP has a host of requirements beyond "liberalness". At some point she needs to decide which are deal-breakers and which are not. Because there is no city, save maybe Austin (and even then, I think the "liberal" part is overplayed) that will fit all of her criteria.
DC, NYC, Boston, SF/Bay Area, LA, Seattle, Boulder, Honolulu, DC, and Denver all have housing prices higher than Portland, where she is put off by the cost. Heck, even Sacramento and Austin are as close (or closer) to Portland housing prices as they are to Minneapolis. I mean, Sacramento's median house price is only around $25k lower than Portland's. Personally, I wouldn't even consider choosing Sacramento over Portland to save $25k.
If liberalness is the primary criterion, then our OP will have to accept high housing prices or the cold. She is not going to find a better mix of affordability and liberalness than Minneapolis, full stop.
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