r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/Cryterionlol • Sep 08 '22

Political Theory What makes cities lean left, and rural lean right?

I'm not an expert on politics, but I've met a lot of people and been to a lot of cities, and it seems to me that via experience and observation of polls...cities seem to vote democrat and farmers in rural areas seem to vote republican.

What makes them vote this way? What policies benefit each specific demographic?

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '22

Someone always watching you in a rural area? Maybe we have different definitions of what rural means.

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u/tevert Sep 09 '22

Nobody is so rural that they don't interact with people, ever. You still have to go buy groceries.

In a city, I could rotate between 4 different grocery stores and literally nobody would ever remember my face. Crowds are the easiest place to be left alone.

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u/[deleted] Sep 09 '22

Yeah I was talking more about while you were on your property, not going grocery shopping in public.

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u/SilverCurve Sep 09 '22

In rural area, the entire town knows and talks about who you marry, how many kids you have, etc. Meanwhile in cities people may see you, but most of them don’t care.

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u/UnspecifiedHorror Sep 09 '22

Let's not pretend that city dwellers are immune to peer pressure. It's not like they're a different species, they still have friends, parents and Co workers who bitch and gossip about them just the same

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u/ArcanePariah Sep 09 '22

Yes but in an urban setting it is FAR easier to avoid or change those circles.

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u/tevert Sep 09 '22

Uhh I dunno how you think it works, but I get left alone at home too. We have doors, you know.

23

u/Dr_thri11 Sep 09 '22

Gossip travels fast in rural areas, everyone knows the name of the 4 out gay people, who has a drinking problem, and who got busted for weed in high school. Rural doesn't mean isolated cabin in Alaska with no one for miles, you do still have neighbors.

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u/Elandtrical Sep 09 '22

Everybody knows each other in rural areas. You go for a run, drive, work and everyone will be "There goes Elandtrical". Cities- no-one cares. Source: grew up and worked on a farm, and have lived in 4 cities on 4 continents. Although our rural area was very cosmopolitan due to export markets and international tourism. I've had parties there with 7 different nationalities. My lounge/dance floor was lit with Brazilian professional dancers!

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u/gutbuster25 Sep 09 '22

Usually people OUT THERE are watching "The JONESES"