http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2010/09/24/thoughts-from-a-country-mouse/I suppose what I’m doing is retracing on a personal level the Great Migration of Americans from the cities to the suburbs and exurbs after World War Two. A nation of subway and tram riders turned into a nation of motorists — and gradually lost its taste for Progressive era reforms. City dwellers know they need the state; there was no way I could commute by car to Manhattan and find parking at a reasonable time or cost. The government stepped in to help me with subsidized mass transit. Suburban and exurban people aren’t so sure about the government’s role. Out here, I want government to do its job and fix the roads, but otherwise stay out of my hair — and stop wasting my time and taking my money.
I found this blog post really captures how a change in location dramatically affects the perception of gov't. And in part, explains the pattern we (on this forum) always notice about large cities always leaning heavily social democrat.
Those of us in small cities, suburbs, ex-burbs, and rural homesteads have a very different experience with gov't then those in high rise condos next to the subway station.
When one thinks deeply about it, these observations are obvious. But the effect on mindset is always such a subtle thing that is can so easily be underestimated.
In the post, she only barely touches on the topic of demographics.
It seems that 1900 to 1960, the migration was from the farm toward city and heavy manufacturing life. At this time, popular political ideology was strongly for socialist principles. But the actual implementation was lagging far behind. In many ways, taxes and regulation was much lower.
Now from 1960-2010, the migration has been further and further away from cities. Empowered first by cars and freeways, now by telecommunications. Popular ideology continues to shift back toward individualism, less gov't tax and regulation. But we carry all this socialist baggage from years past. Actual implementation [of de-powering the gov't] is taking years to undo some of those old policies and ideologies. Even now, it feels like the tide is only slowly starting to turn.
