I don't care if red-staters hate me

I spent the first years after my illness driving around the country, stopping in some places for a year or two, then moving on. In that time I drove across the United States four times, and across Canada once. I mostly lived in places where people like myself, politically, live, but on most of my trips, except for the trip across Canada, the politics were the red state kind. Me, I'm a coastal guy, a blue stater, through and through.

I'm the kind of guy the red stater's hate.

I have an excellent education, and I didn't stop after I finished school. I worked hard, and struggled, and made a success of myself. I didn't borrow money, I don't have much in my Social Security account, but I do have good retirement savings and health insurance. I have a well-used passport. I read voraciously, and on some subjects, systematically, and communicate with people on the Internet from all over the world.

Because of my education both formal and continuing, I have a perspective on the world that people in the flyover states not only don't have, but that they openly express hatred of. I know that's an extreme statement, but listen -- in the east and the west you don't hear ignorant people boasting of their ignorance the way Sarah Palin did in her acceptance speech at the RNC. But in the middle of the country, esp the South, you do hear that. A lot. So much so that you can pretty much win a national election by appealing to that character flaw.

Now I'm not a Democrat, and I'm quite conservative on a number of issues, but they still call me "The Left" when dismissing me. I follow the example of my maternal uncle who said he was a Party Of One, he thought for himself, and made up his own mind. So I am totally Pro Choice, anti-death penalty, and I practice no religion. That's another reason people in the flyover states hate me.

But I've decided I don't care if they hate me or not. After all, they say that we as Americans shouldn't care whether people outside the United States hate us. So why should I care if they hate me?

Another reason they probably hate me, though few have the guts to say it openly, is that I'm Jewish. Many of them don't like immigrants. I was born in the US, but my parents weren't. I'm as much an American as any of them are, but I'll never agree with their paranoia about immigration.

They act as if they're the only ones who die in our wars or pay taxes or do hard or meaningful work. They feel pretty sorry for themselves. They didn't care a bit for NY until it provided them with an excuse to hate other people. Shit, you would think they would applaud the act of terrorism that destroyed the twin towers and all those New Yorkers! I've never figured that one out. I thought they hated liberals who live in NY?

And by the way, I do care if people outside the United States hate us, if they're right. If they're wrong, fuck em. But I'm willing to listen.

And all my religious brothers and sisters in the flyover states, aren't you supposed to in some way attone for your sins? If you fuck up, and break one of the Commandments, aren't you supposed to ask god to forgive you? I may not be religious but I do believe in greater beings. I do believe if you screw someone, it'll come back to you, so if I find out I'm doing something wrong, I stop doing it as soon as I can. Now does it say in the Bible that the Commandments don't apply to Muslims or Liberals? Heh.

In the debate on Friday, you could tell that Obama cared if people in the flyover states hate him, that's why when he listed the costs of the senseless war in Iraq, he didn't include the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who died or whose lives were ruined in the war. The displacement, the devastation caused by the war is something people in Flyover-Land don't want to hear about. But why shouldn't we talk about it anyway, even if they don't want to hear about it? That's been our mistake, us bluestaters, we worry too much about what they think, we coddle them, and encourage their ignorance and naivete, to the point where their leader, McCain, says we're naive. No sir, that's not accurate. He's trying to keep the people in the middle of the country from knowing the awful truth. We've done some horrible things, the United States of America. And we should have stopped a long time ago. Not because of the money it cost us, or the allies who doubt us, or the relatively small number of American lives that have been lost or ruined. We've grieved plenty for ourselves. We haven't begun grieving for the people who we have aggrieved.

We excuse a lot in the name of ignorance, but we are not actually ignorant. That's the disconnect, our hypocrisy. Just because you blindly and forcefully assert that you did nothing wrong doesn't mean you actually did nothing wrong.

Here's what we did that was wrong: After being attacked by people who live in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, we took it out on people who live in Iraq, who had nothing to do with the attack. We killed many of them and destroyed their country.

We say it's not our fault because we didn't vote for Bush, but if you're an adult, you know that's not how it works. You and I, because we are Americans, are responsible for what America does. Once you realize that, you can't not talk about it.

Now for the good news. You can see the awakening beginning to happen, and its the looming financial collapse that's making it possible. On This Week, you could see George Will, Robert Reich and Newt Gingrich agreeing that the US needs to invest (key word there) in education, health care and infrastructure. Bing! Exactly right. At least 20 years too late, but better late than never.

People in Flyover Land, when you lose your manufacturing jobs and are reduced to government handouts, think about how we can work together, not who Did This To You -- for that we all need to look in the mirror. Boy were we blessed, we could have been really smart and worked together, but we didn't. Some of that is the bluestaters' fault because we cared too much about your hatred of us. So be it. That's the past. I believe we still have many blessings, and we're no worse off than anyone else on this planet. But we're also no better than they are either. It's our hubris, our arrogance and ignorance that led us to believe that we were.

More than any other country, the United States is a product of and part of every other country on the planet. That's our legacy, and our strength, because to get here, our ancestors had to be smart, hard-working and brave. That's the advantage of America.

Comments

[jamoms]

If you weren't paying attention, conservatives are the ones always backing Israel. Have you ever even met anyone from the "flyover-states" who does not like Jews? You are just babbling about people you do not understand, and projecting onto them something that would not even be on their radar. I think I would not be bragging so much about how well traveled you are if I were you, because you could benefit from some traveling within the US. I have lived in small towns and big cities, and thanks to people like you, I see more bigotry, hatred, and even racism in the big cities than the small towns. I think part of what you are seeing in people in the "fly-over" zone is not even so much bigotry, but a reaction to bigotry and condescension from the so-called intellectuals you would be comfortable with.

[LeftRight]

"We say it's not our fault because we didn't vote for Bush, but if you're an adult, you know that's not how it works. You and I, because we are Americans, are responsible for what America does. Once you realize that, you can't not talk about it."

And THAT'S why I'm pissed that he's breaking US and international laws regarding torture! That's why I'm pissed that he broke US and international law by illegally going to "war" based on aggression.

The fact of the matter is that bushco has slandered us ALL!! He took EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, and dragged us through the mud!

[danielmcvicar]

Thanks Dave. I hope I can stop apologizing for what our country has done in the past seven years.

[scroobius]

Dave,

There's also the big, snorting, wallowing republican elephant the room of tax distribution. Isn't it the case that the vast majority of federal tax revenues are raised in those blue states and spent in those red states? (A 2007 study by the Tax Foundation found just that, and I believe Newt Gingrich's district used to be top of the heap.)

What would those red states do without the blue state creative classes providing the tax base that sustains them? There's a joke in there about letting them sing the blues, but it's too easy.

[Eksith]

In a sea of chaos, an island of tranquility would stand out.
Likewise, in a group of intelligent people a handful of idiots will be the loudest.

Let's not group all people within these regions together. You haven't met them all.

Lest your uncle's proclamation of being a Party of One; where every foolish, average, and intelligent human being, in the end, is at his or her own command, was for naught.

[Snowball]

Yes, yes, yes! I'm so sick and tired of having to patronize red staters who so arrogantly flaunt their ignorance demanding that their navel gazing provincialism, anti-intel­lectualism a petty bigotry be treated on par with those who have bothered to educate themselves about the world they live in.

The Obama haters loudly proclaiming that they aren't comfortable with him because they don't know enough about him. The guy has written two books (written by himself not a ghost writer like McCain's) but they simply can't be bothered to take the time to read them. No, their minds are closed, they know what makes them feel comfortable and they'll stick with the Republican party even after it's been discredited by 8 years of Bush.

The nonsensical claim, repeated ad nauseum at the RNC about McCain and Palin that "You know them" even though nobody outside of Alaska had even heard of Palin before then, was meant to place Palin and McCain in those red stater's comfort zones because they're white, Christian, inarticulate and unthoughtful. Obama, by implication, represents none of these qualities to them. Red staters don't want a president who is thoughtful, educated and has the wisdom to guide the country through difficult times. Rather, they want someone they can have a beer with who thinks from the gut that is willing to patronize them with comforting lies and flag waving jingoism who won't make them feel uncomfortable by talking over their heads and telling them the hard truth.

[onlinesavant]

Follow the money. Politicians who would align themselves with a "blue state ideal" are afraid to truly and fully publicly embrace those ideals because of one reason and on alone. MONEY. One of the little recognized, though one of the several negative consequences of the Reagan ERA was that Democratic politicians started taking more and more corporate money to fund their campaigns. The direct effect of this was the creation of the concept of "centrism" on the Democratic side championed by politicians like Bill Clinton and Al Gore, and embodied by the DLC. The only way that the progressive ideal can be reborn, championed, and embraced by the American public to once again be the only political and social concept that does truly move America and Americans forward, is to create a public financing system to fund House, Senate, and Presidential races.

[iluvsam]

You're so right. This sort of cultural war ridiculousness started with Reagan---when the Republicans realized they'd only been in power for about 10 years out of 40. Reagan successfully changed the game by abolishing The Fairness Doctrine. As a result, conservatives used the media to convince these poor people to vote against their best interest under the guise that they are actually doing themselves a favor. In addition, these people in these states need to wake up out of their "God trance" and get back to what matters.

Sam Harris talks about the problem with America's inclination toward mediocre politicians in Newsweek. It is a great article.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080/page/1

[concern4civility]

One of your finer posts-- what a shame the title and some of the language had to be so incendiary. Still, I appreciate the content. I found it oddly unifying that I was in agreement with Gingrich. Go figure.

[fairwitness]

"...we're no worse off than anyone else on this planet. But we're also no better than they are either. It's our hubris, our arrogance and ignorance that led us to believe that we were."

That wins my award for the best, most necessary-to-hear, sentences written on HP. Period.

If we can't bring ourselves to identify with the rest of humanity, we are lost and, ultimately, doomed.

[dwatkins9]

I've seen it suggested - and I think it a good suggestion - that one can well wonder whether it is ever unjust to depose a tyrant, irrespective of whether or not it is "necessary" in the Realpolitik sense.

[loril]

HuffPost's Pick

I'm in a small blue dot in Ohio. Ohio...at least the NE Rustbelt used to be a strong New Deal, blue-collar Democrat area. In my lifetime, I have seen the "southernization" of the state...all the growth and emphasis on Columbus and points south. The manufacturing jobs have vanished in droves. The old steel towns are left beaten down along with their populations. I have seen more and more of the 'angry redneck" posturing...even in the urban areas.

The chicanery and double dealing our recent elections has been yet another kick in the teeth. Although far too many Buckeyes vote against themselves over and over again while lost in a mania of resentment or caught up in one set of "moral" issues, while totally losing sight of other morals...I must say that we are not all like that.

Sometimes I have 'blue state envy". I wonder how I ended up staying here. How lovely to be in Seattle or New England with all the amenities and intellectualism. But some of us have to stay. And I am proud that I did, if only to represent for reason and fair shake. I'd love to introduce someone like you to my town...a place that is tolerant of difference, open to arts, culture and the protection of the environment and, largely, voting for Obama.. also the homebase of Congressman Kucinich -- a fly over dweller who has been courageously against the Iraq war and the BushCo from day one.

[tbone99]

As a person stuck in Texas I am so jealous that you have someone like Kucinich representing you . At least your state is "up for grabs" so political involvement is actually an investment worth making..
here in Texas our votes are basically throw aways..

[LeftRight]

Unless you're voting republican.....

[SheldonM]

Not all of flyover land is red. The last time Minnesota voted for a Republican president was Nixon (but we came really close to carrying it for McGovern). I would also suggest that states like Iowa are much more liberal than may parts of coastal America (e.g. northern Florida, rural Georgia)--where did Obama get his first win? Iowa. Even NE Minnesota (Very low population density) just about always votes Democrat (Here we call the party DFL--Democratic Farmer Labor).

We do screw up sometimes--one of our current Senators, our Governor, and our past governor (California--I am sorry our former governor gave Arnold the idea of running).

[speeddeeps]

So true and thank you for your post


According to the map redstaters outnumbers us, quite disturbing

[research]

no,

They out area us.

[semiAdult]

Here's a strong agreement with 'research', who got it right in a very neat phrase... 'they out-area us'.

Have a look at this (unfortunately not current) site, which presents a substantially different look at the "red vs. blue" nonsense that we get from the low-information media.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/

If we could convince the authors to do it, a current version of this sort of presentation might go a long way towards ending the chatterhead blather about how we are 'divided'.

[marytny]

They may have more land, but we have more people.
Actually, there's more people at the mall than in all
of Alaska...