Which is the most socially liberal region of the US?

[greenforest32]

Using the 9 census regions just for convenience. I think it's a toss up between New England and the Pacific West. I'm leaning towards saying New England but as a West Coaster I just don't want it to be true D:




Discuss

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

In order:

1. Pacific
2. New England
3. Mid Atlantic
4. East North Central
5. Mountain
6. South Atlantic
7. West North Central
8. West South Central
9. East South Central

[tpfkaw]

The Mountain West, going by the traditional definition of "liberal."

[greenforest32]

The Mountain West, going by the traditional definition of "liberal."

I assume you're referring to classical liberalism. Well this poll was about social liberalism and there's really no difference between modern and classical liberalism on that.

Textbook definitions:

Classical liberal (think libertarian) = fiscal conservative, social liberal
Modern liberal = fiscal liberal, social liberal

[tpfkaw]

The Mountain West, going by the traditional definition of "liberal."

I assume you're referring to classical liberalism. Well this poll was about social liberalism and there's really no difference between modern and classical liberalism on that.

Textbook definitions:

Classical liberal (think libertarian) = fiscal conservative, social liberal
Modern liberal = fiscal liberal, social liberal

Nope.

To quote myself, once again:

Social conservatives and "social liberals" have far more in common than social libertarians do with either.

A social libertarian opposes:

Hate crime laws
"Hate speech" laws
Laws against prostitution
Drug prohibition (including "regulating and taxing" drugs)
Having the state involved in marriage at all
The draft
Employment discrimination laws
Anti-discrimination laws in general
Gun control laws
"Humanitarian intervention"
Foreign aid

etc. etc. etc.

All of those things are either supported by a clear majority of self-described "social liberals," or receive more support from "social liberals" than "social conservatives."

A much better way to look at it would be "social left-right" ("traditional values" vs. "cosmopolitan" worldview) combined with "social libertarian-authoritarian."

Social left-libertarian:

Mike Gravel, Gary Johnson, Barry Goldwater, Napoleon, reason magazine

Social left-authoritarian:

Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, Tipper Gore, Polnut, Time magazine

Social right-libertarian:

Ron Paul, Robert Taft, Calvin Coolidge, Ghost_white, LewRockwell.com

Social right-authoritarian:

Dubya, Woodrow Wilson, John McCain, realisticidealist, Fox News

[Napoleon]

I consider myself a social liberal while agreeing with wormyguy's assessment. The Pacific West is by far the most socially liberal, with only New England coming close.

[greenforest32]

The Mountain West, going by the traditional definition of "liberal."

I assume you're referring to classical liberalism. Well this poll was about social liberalism and there's really no difference between modern and classical liberalism on that.

Textbook definitions:

Classical liberal (think libertarian) = fiscal conservative, social liberal
Modern liberal = fiscal liberal, social liberal

Nope.

To quote myself, once again:

Social conservatives and "social liberals" have far more in common than social libertarians do with either.

A social libertarian opposes:

Hate crime laws
"Hate speech" laws
Laws against prostitution
Drug prohibition (including "regulating and taxing" drugs)
Having the state involved in marriage at all
The draft
Employment discrimination laws
Anti-discrimination laws in general
Gun control laws
"Humanitarian intervention"
Foreign aid

etc. etc. etc.

All of those things are either supported by a clear majority of self-described "social liberals," or receive more support from "social liberals" than "social conservatives."

A much better way to look at it would be "social left-right" ("traditional values" vs. "cosmopolitan" worldview) combined with "social libertarian-authoritarian."

Social left-libertarian:

Mike Gravel, Gary Johnson, Barry Goldwater, Napoleon, reason magazine

Social left-authoritarian:

Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, Tipper Gore, Polnut, Time magazine

Social right-libertarian:

Ron Paul, Robert Taft, Calvin Coolidge, Ghost_white, LewRockwell.com

Social right-authoritarian:

Dubya, Woodrow Wilson, John McCain, realisticidealist, Fox News

Interesting. I don't know I'd agree with those assumptions as I think any social liberal that supports hate speech laws, the draft, or keeping prostitution and drugs illegal is fooling them self if they think those are socially liberal positions but I will agree I don't go as far as the libertarians who argue against any type of government social policy like anti discrimination laws (civil rights act, etc).

[Antonio the Sixth]

New England. The Pacific region has some conservative areas.

[justW353]

New England isn't nearly as socially liberal as say, California.  There are many Catholics, many of whom are pro-life and in some cases oppose gay marriage.

[Mehmentum]

Look at a map of states that have legalized gay marraige, 4 of the 6 states that have legalized gay marriage are in New England.

[phk]

Pacific.

[Nichlemn]

I'd say that the top 10% most socially liberal voters in the Pacific West are more socially liberal than the top 10% most socially liberal voters in New England, but overall, the edge would probably go to New England. The Pacific West has very socially liberal areas balanced out by their socially conservative east. New England is more homogenously socially liberal.   

[All Along The Watchtower]

Going by region rather than by state, the Pacific Coast.

[The Ex-Factor]

I'd say that the top 10% most socially liberal voters in the Pacific West are more socially liberal than the top 10% most socially liberal voters in New England, but overall, the edge would probably go to New England. The Pacific West has very socially liberal areas balanced out by their socially conservative east. New England is more homogenously socially liberal.   

I've lived in both areas and I would agree with this. The Bay Area is a hotbed of left-wing counterculture, whereas New England is more establishment liberal. That might be conflating antiestablishmentarianism with social liberalism, but I think there's something to it. However inland California/Oregon/Washington is very socially conservative, so if you're going strictly by entire regions the edge goes to the New Englanders.

[John Doe]

I haven't spent much time in New England, though it does have a liberal reputation.  My vote, however, goes to for the Pacific.  I have a daughter who lives in the bay area who is very liberal.  I remember her standing as a Green Party candidate a few decades ago, when she was doing some kind of work for political campaigns, and actually received a few thousand votes.

Regards,
John Doe

[Nichlemn]

I haven't spent much time in New England, though it does have a liberal reputation.  My vote, however, goes to for the Pacific.  I have a daughter who lives in the bay area who is very liberal.  I remember her standing as a Green Party candidate a few decades ago, when she was doing some kind of work for political campaigns, and actually received a few thousand votes.

Regards,
John Doe

Oldest Atlas member?

[John Doe]

I haven't spent much time in New England, though it does have a liberal reputation.  My vote, however, goes to for the Pacific.  I have a daughter who lives in the bay area who is very liberal.  I remember her standing as a Green Party candidate a few decades ago, when she was doing some kind of work for political campaigns, and actually received a few thousand votes.

Regards,
John Doe

Oldest Atlas member?

I would not be surprised.

Regards,
John Doe

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Unless it's New Hampshire, Republicans hardly even get elected in New England unless they're pro-choice and support gay rights or civil unions.

[Lucius Quintus Cincinatus Lamar]

New England.  As having lived in the Bay Area, I was on the eastern edge of Hard Core Leftville.  To the west was San Fran, Berkeley and the anarchists getting ready for the next WTO meeting.  To the east was ranchlands, farmers and Republicans.  Looking at a map of New England's congressional delegation, all I see are Democrats, liberal Democrats (excluded NH). 

[All Along The Watchtower]

Unless it's New Hampshire, Republicans hardly even get elected in New England unless they're pro-choice and support gay rights or civil unions.

Most liberal =/= least conservative.

You can have really conservative and really liberal areas like California, Oregon, or Washington, or you can also have a uniformly liberal (but not quite as liberal as the West Coast) area like New England.

[nclib]

I'd say that the top 10% most socially liberal voters in the Pacific West are more socially liberal than the top 10% most socially liberal voters in New England, but overall, the edge would probably go to New England. The Pacific West has very socially liberal areas balanced out by their socially conservative east. New England is more homogenously socially liberal.   

I've lived in both areas and I would agree with this. The Bay Area is a hotbed of left-wing counterculture, whereas New England is more establishment liberal. That might be conflating antiestablishmentarianism with social liberalism, but I think there's something to it. However inland California/Oregon/Washington is very socially conservative, so if you're going strictly by entire regions the edge goes to the New Englanders.

I agree. Even if you only count the Pacific as the counties that border the ocean, that would still include several moderate-to-conservative counties south of the Bay Area, so New England would still win.

[cavalcade]

Depends on how much weight you put on gun control vs. gay marriage, but in general I'd say:

VT = HI
MA > CA
CT > WA
RI > OR
NH > AK

And Maine doesn't bring down the New England average by much.  So, New England.

[TeePee4Prez]

I went Pacific, even though NE is more Democratic.  Thing is the Pacific has some VERY liberal areas and VERY conservative areas.  New England still has a lot of pro-life, hard core law and order Catholics, but no Central Valleys or Orange Counties which are even more socially conservative than them.  It's a tough call.

The mid-Atlantic would be a hard #3.  I would say my social views are typical of the mid-Atlantic region being pro-gun control/choice/gay marriage, but pro-death penalty/law and order.