Is Bavaria the german Texas?

[buritobr]

Is it possible to make a comparison between Bavaria and Texas?

Both have large population and large GDP. They are southern states that are much more conservative than the average of their countries. Many progressives on the northern parts of their countries don't have a very positive image of these states. Many people outside USA and Germany see the texan as an stereotype of the American (cowboy hat and boots) and the bavarian as an stereotype of the German (lederhose and the cup of beer).

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

Is it possible to make a comparison between Bavaria and Texas?

Both have large population and large GDP. They are southern states that are much more conservative than the average of their countries. Many progressives on the northern parts of their countries don't have a very positive image of these states. Many people outside USA and Germany see the texan as an stereotype of the American (cowboy hat and boots) and the bavarian as an stereotype of the German (lederhose and the cup of beer).

Yes, both Texas and Bavaria have made a sharp leftward turn in recent years.
Würzburg is the German equivalent of Dallas, btw, just in case anybody gets that joke.

North Rhine-Westphalia is equivalent to New Jersey, while some areas such as Münster or Aachen are similar to Massachusetts.

[Tender Branson]

Yes, and there are even a lot of illegal immigrants coming in from the border to Austria (= Mexico).

[buritobr]

Austria and Mexico have ties https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilian_I_of_Mexico

[CumbrianLefty]

Is it possible to make a comparison between Bavaria and Texas?

Both have large population and large GDP. They are southern states that are much more conservative than the average of their countries. Many progressives on the northern parts of their countries don't have a very positive image of these states. Many people outside USA and Germany see the texan as an stereotype of the American (cowboy hat and boots) and the bavarian as an stereotype of the German (lederhose and the cup of beer).

Yes, both Texas and Bavaria have made a sharp leftward turn in recent years.
Würzburg is the German equivalent of Dallas, btw, just in case anybody gets that joke.

North Rhine-Westphalia is equivalent to New Jersey, while some areas such as Münster or Aachen are similar to Massachusetts.

Well up to a point, m'lud.

[jaymichaud]

KOM HOL DAS LASSO RAUS

WIR SPIELEN COWBOY UND INDIANER

OOH AAH

[Samof94]

Is it possible to make a comparison between Bavaria and Texas?

Both have large population and large GDP. They are southern states that are much more conservative than the average of their countries. Many progressives on the northern parts of their countries don't have a very positive image of these states. Many people outside USA and Germany see the texan as an stereotype of the American (cowboy hat and boots) and the bavarian as an stereotype of the German (lederhose and the cup of beer).

It’d be a better analogy if Texas was bordered by another English speaking country more like it than the rest of the country  that leaned to the right(Mexico always has the mountains).

[Santander]

Yes, and France is the giant Midwest. Chicago is Paris. And Bernie's mansion on the lake is the Swedish Embassy.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

Chicago is Paris.

Chicago is very comparable with Frankfurt.

[CumbrianLefty]

Frankfurt also has massive municipal corruption?

[buritobr]

Chicago is Paris.

Chicago is very comparable with Frankfurt.

The Frankfurt School is better than the Chicago School

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Speaking as a Texan, I can see the resemblance.

[Zinneke]

Just to attempt to answer this bizarre question semi-seriously...the roots of their conservatism are incredibly different, and their conservatism is different too.

[Anzeigenhauptmeister]

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Chicago is Paris.

Please never insult the great city of Chicago like this ever again.

[Samof94]

Just to attempt to answer this bizarre question semi-seriously...the roots of their conservatism are incredibly different, and their conservatism is different too.

It was more Catholic.

[mileslunn]

I would say better comparison is Bavaria is to Germany what Alberta is to Canada.  Both richer than most of the country and both generally more conservative but seeing some weakening of recent.  Texas even before recent shift has not been the reddest state for quite some time.  It wasn't it even when George W. Bush was president; didn't make the top 10 for best GOP showing in states.  Texas may be more conservative than most of US, but there are plenty of states even more conservative than Texas like Utah, Alabama, heck even its neighbor Oklahoma is more reliably Republican. 

At same time its more a relative comparison as in absolute sense Texas is way more conservative than Bavaria.  Like most of Western Europe it has a fairly generous welfare state.  No university tuition which would be considered socialist in Texas and a universal health care although not single payer like UK but more like Obamacare with public option being default but one can choose private insurance if their income is high enough but cannot go back on public plan once they leave.  Obamacare even though far less government involvement was very controversial in Texas. 

Likewise most in Bavaria take climate change seriously and want action on it while many in Texas think it is a hoax and oppose any efforts to deal with it.  And off course there is guns.  You cannot walk around with a loaded gun on your hip like you can in Texas, buying a gun in Germany is very difficult with rigorous vetting and lots of rules.  Whereas in Texas you can walk into a gun shop, do a quick background check and away you go with the gun and if a private seller no background check required.  You can also conceal carry which is illegal in Bavaria.  In Bavaria you need a licence and that takes several months I believe.  More importantly, many in Texas see gun ownership as a fundamental right whereas in Germany asides for maybe a few fringe types, I don't think there is much opposition to making buying one difficult and limiting it to legitimate things like hunting and sports shooting, not for self protection or some paranoia that you need to be armed to prevent tyranny like in Texas. 

Alberta by contrast is fairly conservative, but while more conservative on climate change than Bavaria, on role of government quite similar.  Have pockets that are quite religious, but not crazy religious like Deep South.  Generally tend to favor smaller government but not rabid libertarian types and still support a proper social safety net (Canada has universal health care and our system similar to NHS in UK, not private like US).  True social safety net not quite as generous as Germany is, but the difference there has more or less been consistent over time.  True on taxes, Alberta prides itself in having lower taxes than rest of country while in Germany all taxes are federal or at least income and VAT are so Bavaria doesn't have option of being lower than rest of country like Texas and Alberta do.

Not sure on COVID restrictions what views were.  In Alberta and Texas, you have lots of anti-lockdown and anti-mask types, but not sure in Germany if they are more prevalent in Bavaria than elsewhere.  I thought for some reason they were strongest in former East German parts but could be wrong.

[Samof94]

I would say better comparison is Bavaria is to Germany what Alberta is to Canada.  Both richer than most of the country and both generally more conservative but seeing some weakening of recent.  Texas even before recent shift has not been the reddest state for quite some time.  It wasn't it even when George W. Bush was president; didn't make the top 10 for best GOP showing in states.  Texas may be more conservative than most of US, but there are plenty of states even more conservative than Texas like Utah, Alabama, heck even its neighbor Oklahoma is more reliably Republican. 

At same time its more a relative comparison as in absolute sense Texas is way more conservative than Bavaria.  Like most of Western Europe it has a fairly generous welfare state.  No university tuition which would be considered socialist in Texas and a universal health care although not single payer like UK but more like Obamacare with public option being default but one can choose private insurance if their income is high enough but cannot go back on public plan once they leave.  Obamacare even though far less government involvement was very controversial in Texas. 

Likewise most in Bavaria take climate change seriously and want action on it while many in Texas think it is a hoax and oppose any efforts to deal with it.  And off course there is guns.  You cannot walk around with a loaded gun on your hip like you can in Texas, buying a gun in Germany is very difficult with rigorous vetting and lots of rules.  Whereas in Texas you can walk into a gun shop, do a quick background check and away you go with the gun and if a private seller no background check required.  You can also conceal carry which is illegal in Bavaria.  In Bavaria you need a licence and that takes several months I believe.  More importantly, many in Texas see gun ownership as a fundamental right whereas in Germany asides for maybe a few fringe types, I don't think there is much opposition to making buying one difficult and limiting it to legitimate things like hunting and sports shooting, not for self protection or some paranoia that you need to be armed to prevent tyranny like in Texas. 

Alberta by contrast is fairly conservative, but while more conservative on climate change than Bavaria, on role of government quite similar.  Have pockets that are quite religious, but not crazy religious like Deep South.  Generally tend to favor smaller government but not rabid libertarian types and still support a proper social safety net (Canada has universal health care and our system similar to NHS in UK, not private like US).  True social safety net not quite as generous as Germany is, but the difference there has more or less been consistent over time.  True on taxes, Alberta prides itself in having lower taxes than rest of country while in Germany all taxes are federal or at least income and VAT are so Bavaria doesn't have option of being lower than rest of country like Texas and Alberta do.

Not sure on COVID restrictions what views were.  In Alberta and Texas, you have lots of anti-lockdown and anti-mask types, but not sure in Germany if they are more prevalent in Bavaria than elsewhere.  I thought for some reason they were strongest in former East German parts but could be wrong.

Alberta does make a great parallel. It also borders Montana.

[Lechasseur]

Just to attempt to answer this bizarre question semi-seriously...the roots of their conservatism are incredibly different, and their conservatism is different too.

Yep

[Samof94]

Just to attempt to answer this bizarre question semi-seriously...the roots of their conservatism are incredibly different, and their conservatism is different too.

Yep

Their conservativism had little to do with racial slavery.

[LabourJersey]

Texas's politics are primarily based on the legacy of it being a frontier state and then a state that attracted many migrants, and attracting the kinds of people who left for the frontier/the Sunbelt. I don't think there's a European area that even remotely like that so I don't think this comparison is useful.

[Flyersfan232]

I would say better comparison is Bavaria is to Germany what Alberta is to Canada.  Both richer than most of the country and both generally more conservative but seeing some weakening of recent.  Texas even before recent shift has not been the reddest state for quite some time.  It wasn't it even when George W. Bush was president; didn't make the top 10 for best GOP showing in states.  Texas may be more conservative than most of US, but there are plenty of states even more conservative than Texas like Utah, Alabama, heck even its neighbor Oklahoma is more reliably Republican. 

At same time its more a relative comparison as in absolute sense Texas is way more conservative than Bavaria.  Like most of Western Europe it has a fairly generous welfare state.  No university tuition which would be considered socialist in Texas and a universal health care although not single payer like UK but more like Obamacare with public option being default but one can choose private insurance if their income is high enough but cannot go back on public plan once they leave.  Obamacare even though far less government involvement was very controversial in Texas. 

Likewise most in Bavaria take climate change seriously and want action on it while many in Texas think it is a hoax and oppose any efforts to deal with it.  And off course there is guns.  You cannot walk around with a loaded gun on your hip like you can in Texas, buying a gun in Germany is very difficult with rigorous vetting and lots of rules.  Whereas in Texas you can walk into a gun shop, do a quick background check and away you go with the gun and if a private seller no background check required.  You can also conceal carry which is illegal in Bavaria.  In Bavaria you need a licence and that takes several months I believe.  More importantly, many in Texas see gun ownership as a fundamental right whereas in Germany asides for maybe a few fringe types, I don't think there is much opposition to making buying one difficult and limiting it to legitimate things like hunting and sports shooting, not for self protection or some paranoia that you need to be armed to prevent tyranny like in Texas. 

Alberta by contrast is fairly conservative, but while more conservative on climate change than Bavaria, on role of government quite similar.  Have pockets that are quite religious, but not crazy religious like Deep South.  Generally tend to favor smaller government but not rabid libertarian types and still support a proper social safety net (Canada has universal health care and our system similar to NHS in UK, not private like US).  True social safety net not quite as generous as Germany is, but the difference there has more or less been consistent over time.  True on taxes, Alberta prides itself in having lower taxes than rest of country while in Germany all taxes are federal or at least income and VAT are so Bavaria doesn't have option of being lower than rest of country like Texas and Alberta do.

Not sure on COVID restrictions what views were.  In Alberta and Texas, you have lots of anti-lockdown and anti-mask types, but not sure in Germany if they are more prevalent in Bavaria than elsewhere.  I thought for some reason they were strongest in former East German parts but could be wrong.

Isn’t Alberta leftward shift just because of a poorly ran right wing government?

[mileslunn]

I would say better comparison is Bavaria is to Germany what Alberta is to Canada.  Both richer than most of the country and both generally more conservative but seeing some weakening of recent.  Texas even before recent shift has not been the reddest state for quite some time.  It wasn't it even when George W. Bush was president; didn't make the top 10 for best GOP showing in states.  Texas may be more conservative than most of US, but there are plenty of states even more conservative than Texas like Utah, Alabama, heck even its neighbor Oklahoma is more reliably Republican. 

At same time its more a relative comparison as in absolute sense Texas is way more conservative than Bavaria.  Like most of Western Europe it has a fairly generous welfare state.  No university tuition which would be considered socialist in Texas and a universal health care although not single payer like UK but more like Obamacare with public option being default but one can choose private insurance if their income is high enough but cannot go back on public plan once they leave.  Obamacare even though far less government involvement was very controversial in Texas. 

Likewise most in Bavaria take climate change seriously and want action on it while many in Texas think it is a hoax and oppose any efforts to deal with it.  And off course there is guns.  You cannot walk around with a loaded gun on your hip like you can in Texas, buying a gun in Germany is very difficult with rigorous vetting and lots of rules.  Whereas in Texas you can walk into a gun shop, do a quick background check and away you go with the gun and if a private seller no background check required.  You can also conceal carry which is illegal in Bavaria.  In Bavaria you need a licence and that takes several months I believe.  More importantly, many in Texas see gun ownership as a fundamental right whereas in Germany asides for maybe a few fringe types, I don't think there is much opposition to making buying one difficult and limiting it to legitimate things like hunting and sports shooting, not for self protection or some paranoia that you need to be armed to prevent tyranny like in Texas. 

Alberta by contrast is fairly conservative, but while more conservative on climate change than Bavaria, on role of government quite similar.  Have pockets that are quite religious, but not crazy religious like Deep South.  Generally tend to favor smaller government but not rabid libertarian types and still support a proper social safety net (Canada has universal health care and our system similar to NHS in UK, not private like US).  True social safety net not quite as generous as Germany is, but the difference there has more or less been consistent over time.  True on taxes, Alberta prides itself in having lower taxes than rest of country while in Germany all taxes are federal or at least income and VAT are so Bavaria doesn't have option of being lower than rest of country like Texas and Alberta do.

Not sure on COVID restrictions what views were.  In Alberta and Texas, you have lots of anti-lockdown and anti-mask types, but not sure in Germany if they are more prevalent in Bavaria than elsewhere.  I thought for some reason they were strongest in former East German parts but could be wrong.

Isn’t Alberta leftward shift just because of a poorly ran right wing government?

Partly, but also has a very young population too.  Texas shifting left due it becoming less white and more educated, never mind a high number of California transplants too.  Alberta is shifting left due to a strong generational divide and millennials and Gen Z tend to lean left while Gen X, Boomers, and Silent Generation lean right. 

[Samof94]

I would say better comparison is Bavaria is to Germany what Alberta is to Canada.  Both richer than most of the country and both generally more conservative but seeing some weakening of recent.  Texas even before recent shift has not been the reddest state for quite some time.  It wasn't it even when George W. Bush was president; didn't make the top 10 for best GOP showing in states.  Texas may be more conservative than most of US, but there are plenty of states even more conservative than Texas like Utah, Alabama, heck even its neighbor Oklahoma is more reliably Republican. 

At same time its more a relative comparison as in absolute sense Texas is way more conservative than Bavaria.  Like most of Western Europe it has a fairly generous welfare state.  No university tuition which would be considered socialist in Texas and a universal health care although not single payer like UK but more like Obamacare with public option being default but one can choose private insurance if their income is high enough but cannot go back on public plan once they leave.  Obamacare even though far less government involvement was very controversial in Texas. 

Likewise most in Bavaria take climate change seriously and want action on it while many in Texas think it is a hoax and oppose any efforts to deal with it.  And off course there is guns.  You cannot walk around with a loaded gun on your hip like you can in Texas, buying a gun in Germany is very difficult with rigorous vetting and lots of rules.  Whereas in Texas you can walk into a gun shop, do a quick background check and away you go with the gun and if a private seller no background check required.  You can also conceal carry which is illegal in Bavaria.  In Bavaria you need a licence and that takes several months I believe.  More importantly, many in Texas see gun ownership as a fundamental right whereas in Germany asides for maybe a few fringe types, I don't think there is much opposition to making buying one difficult and limiting it to legitimate things like hunting and sports shooting, not for self protection or some paranoia that you need to be armed to prevent tyranny like in Texas. 

Alberta by contrast is fairly conservative, but while more conservative on climate change than Bavaria, on role of government quite similar.  Have pockets that are quite religious, but not crazy religious like Deep South.  Generally tend to favor smaller government but not rabid libertarian types and still support a proper social safety net (Canada has universal health care and our system similar to NHS in UK, not private like US).  True social safety net not quite as generous as Germany is, but the difference there has more or less been consistent over time.  True on taxes, Alberta prides itself in having lower taxes than rest of country while in Germany all taxes are federal or at least income and VAT are so Bavaria doesn't have option of being lower than rest of country like Texas and Alberta do.

Not sure on COVID restrictions what views were.  In Alberta and Texas, you have lots of anti-lockdown and anti-mask types, but not sure in Germany if they are more prevalent in Bavaria than elsewhere.  I thought for some reason they were strongest in former East German parts but could be wrong.

Isn’t Alberta leftward shift just because of a poorly ran right wing government?

Partly, but also has a very young population too.  Texas shifting left due it becoming less white and more educated, never mind a high number of California transplants too.  Alberta is shifting left due to a strong generational divide and millennials and Gen Z tend to lean left while Gen X, Boomers, and Silent Generation lean right. 

That is something true about both Texas and Alberta but not Bavaria.  They also have a “frontier history” although Alberta’s settlement had little to do with slavery.

[Yeahsayyeah]

It is in some ways to the traditional Texas cliché of a big economically important conservative state that holds its exceptionalism dearly.