class or race?

[freepcrusher]

I've always wondered: are elections more of a function or racial or class divisions? The idea is you name your home state and say whether the electorate is racially driven or class driven. I'll start:

California is mostly class driven.

[後援会]

California driven by class? How does that work? The working poor vote Democrat? And the wealthy gentry liberals vote Democrat?

[Indy Texas]

In Texas, it's race. I see Romney-Ryan bumper stickers on 10 year-old pickups driven by white roughnecks who fix drilling equipment, and I see them on BMWs and Lincolns driven by white oilmen who own said equipment. The wealthy black attorney who lives across the street from my parents is a hardcore Democrat, and so is the Hispanic guy who remodeled his kitchen. 

[Zanas]

Can't wait to see opebo getting in here...

[© tweed]

[freepcrusher]

California driven by class? How does that work? The working poor vote Democrat? And the wealthy gentry liberals vote Democrat?

that's not entirely true though. There are still a lot of republican wealthy areas in the palos verdes peninsula, newport beach, yorba linda etc.

[Yelnoc]

Georgia is definitely race.

Race politics are the saddest thing.

[Associate Justice PiT]

California driven by class? How does that work? The working poor vote Democrat? And the wealthy gentry liberals vote Democrat?

that's not entirely true though. There are still a lot of republican wealthy areas in the palos verdes peninsula, newport beach, yorba linda etc.

     There's also some pretty redneck areas up near the border with Nevada and Oregon that are strongly Republican. I don't have the numbers on hand, but I doubt they're that rich. Suggesting that class is a significant factor in Californian elections ignores the deep cultural divide within the state.

[Torie]

I've always wondered: are elections more of a function or racial or class divisions? The idea is you name your home state and say whether the electorate is racially driven or class driven. I'll start:

California is mostly class driven.

These days, it is more a function of overall world view - and a sense of just who you are, and with whom you want to identify. Style has moved out of the fashion salon. That may change, as standards of living stagnate or decline.

[dead0man]

Mostly race I guess, but there is no way Obama would have won our electoral vote if rich, white liberals didn't vote for him last time.

[Beet]

It's not an either-or question. Of course, both play a role in explaining vote choice.

[The Mikado]

The two are interrelated, of course, but strictly regarding voting in the US, I'd argue that both race and gender are better indicators of political affiliation than class.  If Al were reading this thread he'd say "That's exactly what's wrong with the US."

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

The two are interrelated, of course, but strictly regarding voting in the US, I'd argue that both race and gender are better indicators of political affiliation than class.  If Al were reading this thread he'd say "That's exactly what's wrong with the US."

It's something that's wrong with the US, but it's certainly not the long and the short of it.

[後援会]

Why don't we use a nice term that encapsulates elements of both. Perhaps "culture". That seems much easier.

[LastVoter]

Why don't we use a nice term that encapsulates elements of both. Perhaps "culture". That seems much easier.

I prefer "resentment".

[DC Al Fine]

Where I live is pretty white bread, so it'd have to be class.

In the USA

1) Race
2) Gender
3) Religion
4) Class

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The two are interrelated, of course, but strictly regarding voting in the US, I'd argue that both race and gender are better indicators of political affiliation than class.  If Al were reading this thread he'd say "That's exactly what's wrong with the US."

More or less, yes.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Why don't we use a nice term that encapsulates elements of both. Perhaps "culture". That seems much easier.

Bit of a tautology, though. We experience everything through culture.

[Napoleon]

Neither (partisan divisions).

[patrick1]

Eh, variations in both, often very minor, have been  used to keep the middle/working classes fighting with each other, while others were robbing the register.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Ehhhh... Considering American history, how can you separate the two?

[All Along The Watchtower]

Depends on what you mean by "class." Income and wealth is generally positively correlated with voting Republican (and has been for a long time), but post-graduate educational attainment is increasingly correlated with voting Democratic. There's also the matter of religiosity (or lack thereof), regional divides, local divides between metropolitan and rural areas, etc.

Also, there's a general difference between the parties, even among those of the same social class, in the kind of work people do, and the industries they are involved in.

As far as race goes...the Democrats are more racially diverse than the Republicans, but IIRC, are also majority-white. Goes to show that the American political spectrum is still whiter (and wealthier!) than the population as a whole.

[freepcrusher]

not to sound like a jerk or anything but nobody here has done what i said on the top which is to say what the divide in your state is based on. Still waiting to hear what you all have to say about NH, Maryland, DC Massachusetts, Washington, and NY.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

not to sound like a jerk or anything but nobody here has done what i said on the top which is to say what the divide in your state is based on. Still waiting to hear what you all have to say about NH, Maryland, DC Massachusetts, Washington, and NY.

You aren't the boss of us

[memphis]

Republicans narrowly win whites of all incomes and Dems overwhlmingly win non-whites of all incomes. This one's a no brainer.