Challenging the notion that Vermont was always left wing

[Rockefeller GOP]

Did anyone think VT has always been liberal?  If they did, they're very ignorant of political history.

For God's sake, many VT natives and older VT residents are apart of the "take back Vermont" movement, LOL.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Exactly, go to page 15 of this study of historical ideologies of states (based on the policies of state government)
http://caughey.mit.edu/sites/default/files/documents/CaugheyWarshaw_Policy_Dynamics140728.pdf

Vermont used to be centrist/slightly right-leaning in the 1930's and was probably more conservative in the Early 20th century, and much to the chagrin of Oldies types, the Deep South was always deeply conservative in its governmental policies, even back in the 1930's during the periods of full Democratic control. 

These charts should counter many historical revisionist stances.

What would you say was so conservative about these deep Southern states?  I absolutely refuse the disturbing revisionist assumption that being racist/favoring segregation = conservative.

[Rockefeller GOP]

I posted this article on Vermont's voting pattern's a while back.  It's interesting, and I'd like to see people here think.  I'm not saying it's completely correct, but it suggests that Vermont has always had a libertarian streak on issues of personal liberty.

I don't think that Vermont has always been left-wing, and they're still conservative in some ways, but the state has a long record of supporting civil rights.  They even elected a black man to the state legislature during the 1830s.

Going along with this thread's earlier, slightly pointless argument, I think VT was a very conservative state that has always supported civil rights.  I think it's unfair to act like thinking everyone deserves the same rights is incompatible with conservatism.

[Rockefeller GOP]

I posted this article on Vermont's voting pattern's a while back.  It's interesting, and I'd like to see people here think.  I'm not saying it's completely correct, but it suggests that Vermont has always had a libertarian streak on issues of personal liberty.

I don't think that Vermont has always been left-wing, and they're still conservative in some ways, but the state has a long record of supporting civil rights.  They even elected a black man to the state legislature during the 1830s.

Going along with this thread's earlier, slightly pointless argument, I think VT was a very conservative state that has always supported civil rights.  I think it's unfair to act like thinking everyone deserves the same rights is incompatible with conservatism.

No, civil rights is not about left vs. right.  Vermont was more conservative than it is now.  I do find it interesting, though, that Vermont championed racial justice early in its history, and in modern times, it's a leading state in LGBT rights and has one of the highest percentages of women in its legislature. I think LGBT rights should not be a left/right issue, but another civil rights issue (but that's another topic that's been debated here frequently).

Of course a conservative can support fairness for everyone, sorry if it sounded like I suggested otherwise.  Maybe Vermont was conservative in the past and liberal now, but it's always been one of the better states for civil rights.

Agreed.  VT, and much of New England, has always had a very early adoption of most civil rights struggles.  Definitely proud of that.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Vermont has always been anti-Southern

Anti-Southern =/= left wing.  It has, throughout history, coincided with for people's basic rights.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Vermont has always been anti-Southern

Anti-Southern =/= left wing.  It has, throughout history, coincided with for people's basic rights.

It doesn't mean "right-wing" either, you can't put stuff like that in the context of modern American political terms like "right-wing" and "left-wing".

I completely agree.