Rhody Pride

Gallup has published a the first of a four-part survey on political allegiance in the 50 states. It details percentages of citizens who identify themselves as one of either major party, using that to determine the most democratic and most republican states in the nation. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Hawaii are the most democratic states as well as the District of Columbia. Utah and Wyoming rank number 1 and 2 on the elephant side. In addition to obviously being seriously proud of my little home state, the implications of the study are huge.

There are only 5 states that have large pluralities of people who identify themselves as Republicans. The two mentioned previously plus Nebraska, Alaska, and Idaho. Tell me again what happens in those states. I don't mean to be rude--honestly--but the major industries or economic activity in those five states seems to be potato farming and snowmobiling. Throw in fundraising to defeat civil rights legislation in neighboring California and you have yourself a hell of a trifecta. Let's look at the Donkey-loving states. We have Rhode Island, home of Roger Williams, America's first pioneer for religious freedom; and there is Massachusetts--where the shot heard round the world was fired and where Paul Revere led his men by the light of the Old North Church. Hawaii just happens to be tropical and the home of President Barack Obama (never. gets. old.).

So I ask you, would you rather follow a party whose base resides in a world where Joseph Smith and his golden tablets run the show, or where Paul Revere and Roger Williams--America's early patriots--are remembered and loved? All this talk about patriotism and Americana has me remembering what it was like to grow up in the fertile crescent of America's democracy. Inspiring.