Arthur has an essay over at his site about the myths and realities on the Left (and Right) about these two large areas of our country. Very insightful.
The South, California, and Cultural Equality
Orion's Cold Fire
All the Secrets of the Universe and Some Really Important Stuff Too!
It’s easier to pigeonhole entire cultural areas than to understand the basic differences in all people are usually not earth-shattering in nature. It contorts politics to fit the narrative, and the most basic right of liberty is removed in the process. Politics need wealth, and wealth requires participation. When participation follows the path wanted by politics, it’s easier to coerce people to follow policy, regardless if some people are trampled in the process.
There are endless trade-offs and rationalizations that happen in politics. I guess the important breakpoints occur when a formerly stable system descends into civil war. That’s what all the civil war talk comes down to. Are we still stable or have things degenerated so far that war is possible or worse, probable.