Why people will vote against their own interests--

[Tunkamerica]

53. To your first point...

I am well beyond tired of people talking shit about the south. I see myself as liberal and generally open-minded, but some of these people with their south bashing have really turned me off. I used to try and argue, now I just see it as a character flaw that will, hopefully, die out some day. One thing I know for sure, we don't talk about Northerners the way they talk about Southerners.

(I will say that Boston is the least polite city I have been to out of 15 or so countries).

To your second point: Even as a liberal I kind of see the truth in this. I definitely think it's a real issue among some of my friends. General distrust of government exists where people feel that their best interests are not looked after by the people tasked with the responsibility. A lot of it is taught. My dad is a smart man, but his dad hated unions and so he does as well long after his dad's death. I worked for one of the few active unions down here and have a different view, but I understand his position. I have a friend who actively distrusts any and all things said or done by government. His dad was the same way. He picked it up and actually ran a little farther with it. I guess my point is that this sentiment takes multiple generations to build and will take multiple generations to dispel. Several generations of the south lived with the idea that the federal government was actively working against them, so it's only natural that several generations of trust would be required to end that feeling. I don't feel that trust has been felt often enough for that to happen. Of course, with the natural movement of people from one region to another the feelings get watered down and that may be the only real solution.