Strongest swings, by county

[Engineer]

As far as Jackson County Kentucky swinging towards Kerry, it didn't.  You can't just look at the % and make a blanket statement.  In 2000, it was Bush 4,079, Gore 701.  In 2004 it was Bush 4,369, Kerry 769.  That's a pickup of Bush 290, Kerry 60.  The only thing that changed is the % which change from 85% Bush to 84% Bush.  I don't think the democrats think that a net additional 230 votes for Bush is a gain for them.  The same probably applies to other Kentucky counties.

[Engineer]

Jackson County, wouldn't you know.

[Engineer]

Actually voter registration in Jackson County is about 83% republican.  The county was carved out of four existing counties and given to followers of Andrew Jackson, if my local history is correct.  This formed the basis of its republican roots.  The reason that it still is so republican is that the people here still care about morality.  We care about family values.  We think abortion is wrong.  The views of the republican party resonants here.  The democratic party cares about creating a state where was are all dependant upon the government for everything, and people here are used to taking care of themselves.  Which is somewhat ironic, since most people here receive government subsidies in one form or another.

A lot of it has to with the location of the county.  It is not really accessible.  The nearest WalMart is about a 45 minute drive.  They are slowly improving the highways into the county.  If you want TV reception, you have to have cable or satelite.  This has kept the external influence of the media and hollywood out for some time.  We haven't been polluted with the immorality of the outside world as much.  I know some liberals think that prostitution and drugs are just great, but we get to see firsthand how they destroy peoples lives here, because nobody is a stranger.  It isn't just some nebulous person who is affected, it's your friend or neighbor.

I've lived in the city, the suburbs and now rural America.  I never knew my neighbors in the city, and only knew a few in the suburbs, but I knew more of my neighbors in the first month I was here than the previous 20+ years elsewhere.  When I talk about knowing my neighbors, I mean knowing who they are, what they do, how they live, what they think, etc.  Our lives are truly a community.