The 2004 Presidential voting map above shows that almost every urban metropolitan county is blue or Democrat. One of the major metropolitan counties that is not blue is Dallas, Texas (Cowboys Fans).
Over the past several decades, the GOP has not acted to kindly to cities. From Reaganomics which cut off significant funding to services which primarily served cities, to Federal drug laws which unfairly treat the poor, to the "pulling up oneself up by the bootstraps" mentality which fails to look at the inherent economic inequalities of the urban poor.
In almost every major metropolitan region the blue city is surrounded by the red suburban counties. Now we know that most city residents vote Democrat but is there any other reasons why it seems like Republicans have a rocky relationship with cities?
What is your opinion?
2 comments:
I say this at behest of sounding insensitive to the inherent inequalities of the urban poor relative to their suburban surroundings.
But, if one wants to make the assertion that political party preference somehow continues, enhances, or exacerbates the downward spiral of the urban decay is a fallacy.
In short, if democrats are better able to assist and improve the quality of life of the urban poor, then how come year after year, term after term, the quality of life seems to not improve for the same persons whom voted for the "blue" party?
There is no clear-cut answer and the issue of urban plight is more a historical one than a current political voting one. In fact, my question can be regarded as rhetorical simply due to the overwhelming complexities.
Nevertheless, the U.S. political voting and party preference has had very little to do with altering the persistent problems of inner city life.
The politicians themselves can have an affect on urban policy IF the constituency holds those same leaders accountable for their policy and/or campaign promises.
Besides the first assertion by the previous comment, I agree that a lot the plight of the urban underclass is historical. For examples, Democrats were involved in creating urban renewal programs which destroyed a lot of working class and minority neighborhoods that created today's isloted hyper-ghettos.
Also I agree that the urban underclass does have to hold their politicians accountable.
What I do not agree on is that the GOP has not been involved in the downward spiral of the urban poor. I'm not blaming them per se for creating the conditions of the urban but I certainly believed they have turned a blind eyes to a lof of city problems, and not just ones dealing with poverty.
I don't think it's a stretch to say that helping the urban poor has never been a top priority for the GOP. By their nature they are conservatives and often do not believe in neccissarily creating additional programs to help others despite the fact that our government and eceonmy systematically created the conditions of the urban poor.
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