Bucking Stereotypes - Some Interesting Observations

[nonconformist]

I just posted a demographic breakdown of the current Bush approval numbers in Kentucky in the Kentucky forum, which are fantastic by the way, but I thought that some results were interesting enough to make note of them here as well.

Minority results are all over the map for the past year (see the original thread for more on that), but I'm willing to assume that is because of the small, albeit mostly accurate sample size used. But more thought-provoking are the results that go against a couple of typical stereotypes and assumptions.

Notably:

Stereotype #1 - Highly educated people are more likely to disapprove of Bush than uneducated people.
Currently, the approval poll numbers in Kentucky, broken down by Educational demographics, are as follows:
Grad School: 35%
College Grad: 36%
Some College: 35%
No College: 31%

I found this very interesting. Granted, the differences aren't statistically huge, but I thought they were ironic since it goes against the generally accepted (and probably overall accurate) assumption that the more educated you are, the more likely you are to disapprove of Bush. I would wager a guess that the lower approval numbers among people with no college education is indicative of the poor, working, and lower middle classes taking a severe and substantial beating in today's labor and economic environments. In any event, I'm glad to see it since I'm one of those uneducated boobs myself (I'd actually fall under some college, and I plan to go back this fall after 12 long years). I've always known that education doesn't automatically mean one is smarter or more informed - hell, Bush has degrees from Harvard and Yale and my cat can outwit him.

Moving on...

Stereotype #2 - Rural, southern, religious regions are more likely to approve of Bush. Larger cities and college towns are more likely to disapprove.
Currently, the approval poll numbers in Kentucky, broken down by Regional demographics, are as follows:
Western KY: 39%
Louisville Area: 32%
North Central KY: 34%
Eastern KY: 30%

The results are a little mixed, and most are practically statistically irrelevant, but are still meaningful - and thrilled me. Eastern KY is rural and predominately Protestant - with a significant number of fundamentalist, devout evangelical Christians and Southern Baptists. I know; I live here. We're not only the butt of jokes around the country, but within Kentucky itself. It's also a historically blue area, filled with blue collar old school yellow dog Democrats - yet they went for Bush in 2004. "Moral issues" :eyes: I found it fascinating and exciting that this supposedly "backwards, redneck, fundie, Nascar-lovin'" region had the lowest approval rating in the entire state. In contrast, the Louisville area - which is known for being mostly Democratic/Liberal, and the N Central region, home to Lexington and college towns, clocked in with slightly higher approval ratings. However, Western KY is mostly rural and home to two military bases and came in highest, so it didn't hold across the board. Still, being that I live in E KY, it thrilled me to no end to see these numbers... especially since I'm not originally from here (I'm from metro Detroit), it gave me a great deal of hope and also validation that the mood I've been witnessing is real.

Again, as with the education numbers above, I suspect that maybe it's a class issue and people are starting to see the very real effects Republican policies are having on their lives. Everyone hates our Republican Governor Fletcher too. Another thing about this region that I noticed - and could also attribute to the plummeting support - was Katrina really pushed a lot of people over the edge. This area is prone to flooding, and people who have lived here their whole lives have lived through some big ones. People were extremely sympathetic to what the people in the Gulf coast were going through, and vocally appalled at the lack of response. There are a lot of poor people without means in this area, so people were totally empathetic to the fact that some people simply couldn't, or wouldn't due to underestimation, leave the area before it hit. It angered them to hear the right-wing spin blaming the victims. Sometimes people need to have something occur that they can relate to on a very linear level before they really see, unfortunately, but Katrina certainly did it.

Anyway, these results, coupled with the entire demographic breakdown (like negative approval among regular church-goers and pro-life advocates), really validated what I already suspected - disapproval is widespread and deep across the board. It gives me real, honest-to-goodness hope, and I haven't had any of that in a long time. And as a nonconformist, it always pleases me to see something that bucks a trend or stereotype.

[ncgrits]

1. Thanks for posting this!

It IS interesting and rings so true. The stereotypes don't always work and we Democrats would do well to keep our minds open and our blinders off. I'm a dem living in a blue county in a purple state and I am sometimes disheartened at the blanket attitudes expressed regarding Southerners and Red-Staters. . . . The info you posted supports the proposition that most of us are living in purple states populated by complicated, non-stereotypical folks, don't it?!

Also interesting to me because I went to Berea College. I know these folks!

Cheers!
ncgrits

[nonconformist]

2. And thank you! nt

[moose65]

3. I agree!

I'm also tired of the herd mentality... i.e., since 56% of NC voted for Bush, that means that we ALL are ignorant redneck fundie asshats. That simply ain't true, and I am constantly trying to buck those stereotypes of the Southern states.

[nonconformist]

4. Kick for the afternoon crowd

:kick: