Political Culture and Elections
The political ideologies in the United States of America have played an integral role in modeling the political direction of the country. Precisely, liberalism and conservatism have had the same agenda of promoting peace and prosperity in the United States (Kluegel & Smith, 2017). Nonetheless, the two ideologies have always had skirmishes in their strategic implementations. The following is the list of both liberalism and conservative cities in the country (Young, 2018).
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City serves as both the largest city and the capital of the state of Oklahoma in the United States of America. It has a metro population of slightly over 1.3 million. Oklahoma City is not only known for its cowboy culture but also its ideological path, which leads to conservatism (Desilver, 2014). Just like every other conservative city in the United States, Oklahoma City has the following attitudes and beliefs. To begin with, Oklahoma City believes in personal responsibility of its citizens (Malka et al., 2014). The citizens believe in individualism more than collectivism. Secondly, residents In Oklahoma city believe in free market systems (Student News Daily, 2010). Thirdly, the citizens of the United States of America who live in Oklahoma City believe in a limited government system (Baxter, 2018). According to the presidential election results, the Republicans garnered the highest percentage of votes at 51.68%, the Democrats were the second at 41.18%, and the libertarians stood at 7.14%. Given the political culture in the city, it was expected that the election results would have the republicans outdoing the other political parties.
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Mesa, Arizona
In the eastern side of the city of Phoenix lies the city of Mesa, which is located in the Maricopa County In the state of Arizona, the United States of America. Just like Oklahoma City, mesa is a conservative city (Desilver, 2014). The conservative citizens at Mesa believe in the free market system and competitive capitalism which advocates for high standards of living and numerous job opportunities. The conservatives also think that global warming is caused by natural reasons, according to Malka et al. (2014), which cannot be scientifically proven, unlike the liberals who attribute it to the human activities(Student News Daily, 2010). Conservatives believe that the second amendment allows citizens to keep guns for self-defense purposes (Baxter, 2018). In the 2012 presidential election, the Republicans had 54.30% of the votes. The Democrats garnered 43.61% of the total votes (Maricopa.gov, 2012). It was expected that the Republicans would be the highest voted by the residents of Mesa in the state of Arizona.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco in San Francisco County is a city in the northern part of the state of California, the United States of America. The population of San Francisco is slightly more than 884000. In the political spectrum, San Francisco is considered liberal (Desilver, 2014). Some of the political beliefs and attitudes associated with liberalism in San Francisco are as follows. Firstly, the liberals in San Francisco are for the idea that individuals do not need guns for protection (Freeden, 2015). They believe it is the work of the federal and the state governments to protect the citizens in the area (Student News Daily, 2010). Regarding the airport security, the liberals such as those in San Francisco believe that passenger profiling is inappropriate (Baxter, 2018). The Democrats had a landslide victory over the Republicans with the former having 83.4% of the total votes and the latter occupying 13.01% of the total votes in the city. The liberals in the United States of America advocated for the Democrats in the presidential election, with Barrack Obama as the presidential candidate. Therefore, it was expected that the Democrats would win the presidential elections.
Austin, Texas
Austin is a city located in Travis County in the Texan state of the United States of America. The population of Austin is over 947000 and is the headquarters of Travis County. The city is considered liberal in the political spectrum of the country (Desilver, 2014). Just like in the other liberal cities in the United States of America, the citizens living in Austin believe that the citizens are not allowed to own guns for self-defense (Freeden, 2015). They leave the role of providing security to the relevant authorities. They also support legal immigration into the United States of America unlike the conservatives (Student News Daily, 2010). The liberals also believe that marriage is between two people who love one another, regardless of their genders. Therefore, they acknowledge same-sex marriages (Baxter, 2018). In the 2012 presidential elections, the democrats beat the republicans in the city with a total percentage of 61.45% while the Republicans had 36.13% of the total votes (Travis County Clerk, 2012). That was expected since the city has a liberal ideology and the liberals support the Democrats in the United States.
Legislative Decisions
Tidewater: North Carolina
North Carolina is a state situated in the southeastern part of the United States of America. The tidewater nation is found in the coastal regions of the English colonies such as North Carolina the tidewater states believe in authority, and they highly value tradition. The westward expansion made the tidewater nation decline since it was one of the strings in influence at some point (Wilson, 2013).
Besides the state being known for being home to the Wright brothers who pioneered aviation, the state has no broad laws legalizing the use of marijuana. Primarily, the use of marijuana in North Carolina is banned by the law. Residents in North Carolina are narrowly allowed to carry marijuana only if it can be used medicinally (Governing, 2013).
Some states in the United States of America have legalized the private ownership of guns while the others have not. The Gun Control Act of 1968 in the US had recognized a private seller of firearms as an individual who did not sell more than four guns per year. Later on, the rule was changed to accommodate the definition of a private seller as a person who did not solely rely on gun selling for their livelihood. The state of North Carolina has instituted background checks for the gun transactions in the state. That is an indicator of North Carolina being a liberal state (Governing, 2013).
The Supreme Court in the United States of America has legalized same-sex marriage. Some of the states in the country have legalized same-sex marriage such as North Carolina. This indicates that North Carolina is a liberal state (Governing, 2013).
The Far West: Nevada
Nevada is a state located in the western part of the United States of America. Its capital is at Carson City. The far west is widely known for its harsh climatic conditions such as the desert climate, which dominates in the state of Nevada. People in the far west are usually libertarians that uphold liberty in most cases (Stacey, 2015; Wilson, 2013).
The legalization of marijuana across the US is an issue that has, by far, been different as one move to distinct states. In the state of Nevada, the use of marijuana has been legalized for recreational purposes. Therefore, it is not uncommon to spot people smoking marijuana for fun in the outskirts of Las Vegas, Nevada. That has a lot to do with the state advocating for liberty under the ideology of libertarianism (Governing, 2013).
Nevada is a loophole for gun shows. In the state, there is usually no background checks required when buying a gun. Gun transactions require no federal licenses unlike in the other states such as North Carolina. That conforms to the libertarianism ideologies that are widespread in the state (Governing, 2013).
Nevada has legalized the issue of same-sex marriages just like most of the states in the United States of America. The libertarians' ideas in the state are responsible for the freedom accorded to the marriage partners, regardless of their gender (Governing, 2013).
Deep South: Mississippi
Mississippi is a southern state in the United States of America. It is a 43% conservative state. The other ideologies such as moderate and liberal occupy 35% and 14% respectively (Gallup Inc., 2018). Therefore, the Mississippians are more inclined to the Republican Party in the United States of America. The Deep South was famous for their slavery levels in historic America (Wilson, 2013).
Regarding the legalization of marijuana, Mississippi has no broad laws that make the use of marijuana legal. Since the state is a conservative one, the use of marijuana for recreational purposes is prohibited unlike in the state of Nevada (Governing, 2013).
Gun ownership in Mississippi is allowed, just like in the state of Nevada and unlike North Carolina. During a transaction that involves the sale and purchase of a gun, a federal license for gun ownership is not an essential part of the deal. Therefore, there are no background checks that are required to own a gun in the state of Mississippi (Governing, 2013).
The conservatives believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, and not the same-sex marriage. Therefore, the constitutional provisions prohibit the practice of the same-sex marriage in Mississippi. That is contradictory to the increasingly changing world which accommodates same-sex marriage (Governing, 2013).
Greater Appalachia: Kentucky
Kentucky is a state located in the southeastern part of the United States of America (Wilson, 2013). Being in the greater Appalachia, the state is a conservative one at 39% while the moderate ideology in the state follows closely at 35 % (Gallup Inc., 2018). Just like in the other conservative states in the United States of America, Kentucky has prohibited the use of marijuana for recreational purposes (Governing, 2013).
As a state in the greater Appalachia, Kentucky has imposed background checks in the transactions that involve the sale of guns. That is to say that to own a private weapon in the state of Kentucky; one has to acquire the necessary federal licenses. That is because the conservatives believe that the work of providing security is for the relevant authorities rather than the individuals (Governing, 2013).
Conservatives in the United States of America hold the belief that marriages should be between a man and a woman. Therefore, the citizens in Kentucky are against the same-sex marriages. The same is prohibited in the state by the constitution (Governing, 2013).
Yankeedom: Massachusetts
Massachusetts is a state in the New England part of the United States of America. Mostly, the Yankeedom nation is generally comfortable with government regulation (Wilson, 2013). Being 37% moderate in political ideologies, the people in Massachusetts have been allowed to use marijuana for their recreational purposes (Governing, 2013). That is due to the freedom accorded to the people (Gallup Inc., 2018).
When it comes to owning a gun in Massachusetts, it may become a big deal since there are particular restrictions to the ownership. Some background checks are required to hold a weapon in Yankeedom. All purchases of guns in Massachusetts have to have federal licenses allowing the sales (Governing, 2013).
Being moderately ideological, the Yankeedom, such as in the state of Massachusetts, people are free to engage with whomever they wish concerning a marriage. Massachusetts has legalized same-sex marriage since the people have the freedom to live their lives without any restrictions on their interactions with one another (Governing, 2013).
New France: Louisiana
Louisiana is one of the states in the southern part of the United States of America. Most of the ideologies in New France came from the former colonizer of the area, which was France (Wilson, 2013). Being 40% conservative, the use of marijuana has been legalized (Gallup Inc., 2018). However, the legalization to the use of marijuana is restricted for medical purposes and cannot be smoked (Governing, 2013).
The possession of firearms in the state of Louisiana is allowed. Therefore, in the New France nation, the background checks required when conducting a firearms transaction are not required. Thus, an owner of a gun in any place in Louisiana is not necessarily required to have a federal license from the government to possess a firearm (Governing, 2013).
Just like in the other conservative states in the United States of America, Louisiana does not allow same-sex marriage. The constitution of the state does not provide for the practice of same-sex marriage in the nation. Thus, the majority of the Louisianans believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman (Governing, 2013).
References
Baxter, S. C. (2018). Liberals vs. Conservatives ? Will the United States be ripped apart? Retrieved from https://rcg.org/realtruth/articles/110718-001-americas.html
Desilver, D. (2014, August 8). Chart of the week: The most liberal and conservative big cities . Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/08/chart-of-the-week-the-most-liberal-and-conservative-big-cities/
Freeden, M. (2015). Liberalism: A very short introduction . OUP Oxford.
Governing. (2013, January 23). Gun show background checks State laws . Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-data/safety-justice/gun-show-firearms-bankground-checks-state-laws-map.html
Governing. (2013, August 2). State marijuana laws in 2018 map . Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html
Governing. (2013, March 25). State same-sex marriage state laws map . Retrieved from http://www.governing.com/gov-data/same-sex-marriage-civil-unions-doma-laws-by-state.html
Gallup Inc., (2018). State of the States . Retrieved from http://news.gallup.com/poll/125066/state-states.aspx
Kluegel, J. R., & Smith, E. R. (2017). Beliefs about inequality: Americans' views of what is and What ought to be . Routledge.
Malka, A., Soto, C. J., Inzlicht, M., & Lelkes, Y. (2014). Do needs for security and certainty Predict cultural and economic conservatism? A cross-national analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 106 (6), 1031.
Maricopa.gov. (2012, November 20). Final official results . Retrieved from https://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionarchives/2012/11-06-2012%20Final%20Summary%20Report.pdf
Stacey, W. (2015). The Theory and Ideas of Libertarianism. J. Peace Prosperity & Freedom , 3 , 103.
Student News Daily. (2010). Conservative vs. Liberal beliefs . Retrieved from https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/conservative-vs-liberal-beliefs/
Travis County Clerk. (2012, November 18). Travis County general election cumulative results (Presidential election) . Retrieved from http://www.traviscountyclerk.org/eclerk/content/images/election_results/2012.11.06/20121106tccume.pdf
Wilson, R. (2013, November 8). Which of the 11 American nations do you live in? The Washington Post . Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/11/08/which-of-the-11-american-nations-do-you-live-in/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.32f899d4f182
Young, J. (2018). Reconsidering American liberalism: The troubled odyssey of the liberal idea . Routledge.
