A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Having lived in Southern California for decades, I'm not only


Posted: Nov 20, 2012

but I miss it and find the more insular, mostly white Christian town I live in now sadly lacking in important ways.

My society in L.A. was mostly white, mostly born and raised there, but with plenty of variety, like our Japanese-American neighbors, the black guy in the next office with a passion for French antiques, a Turkish friend whose wistful descripions of the farm she grew up on sound like a little paradise, the accountant who's probably gay, a Yemeni-American manager with a terrific sense of humor, glancing out the window and seeing a woman swaying gracefully down a street lined with highrise office buildings with a basket of laundry on her head, etc., etc., etc. Most of those raised overseas conversant in several languages, not just two.

Normal, nice, part of daily life. Enriching. In L.A. I was part of a big wide and mostly unscary world of fascinating people.

I live in a smallish southern town now. There's a lot to like, of course, but the fact is that conversations are constricted from too few viewpoints, too much agreement (too much is definitely a problem, I've found), the lack of understanding of many things that are well known in less insular environments, too many subjects that turn unexpectedly too delicate to pursue and have to be shut down. Did I say a very few acceptable viewpoints circulating around and around and around until it's as if they were carved in stone? The world is "out there," weird and potentially dangerous, and usually figures in conversations only to discuss what is wrong with it and "them" or what we need to do to protect ourselves from its threats.

Below is an article reflecting some of the angst of some people in mostly Anglo-white communities who are seeing the continuation what has always been our multicultural nation as evidence that our country is being destroyed. Just like Americans a century and two centuries ago when the (insert name of immigrant group here, English, Bengian, Chinese, German, whatever) moved in, or just too close.

I just wish I could give them some of the experience of just living among people who are different in a variety of good ways. The comfort of  knowing for themselves that the others are just regular people too, and the satisfaction of being able to value the differences as assets to all of us.

In Wyoming, Conservatives Feeling Left Behind

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — By now, voters here are over the initial shock. The ranchers, businessmen and farmers across this deep-red state who knew, just knew that Americans would never re-elect a liberal tax-and-spender president have grudgingly accepted the reality that voters did just that.

But since the election, a blanket of baffled worry has descended on conservatives here like early snow across the plains, deepening a sense that traditional, rural and overwhelmingly white states in the center of the country are losing touch with an increasingly diverse and urban American electorate.

“It’s a fundamental shift,” said Khale Lenhart, 27, a lawyer here. “It’s a mind-set change — that government is here to take care of me.”

(Now, see--if they had friends with other viewpoints to talk to, instead of sharing the same opinions back and forth, they'd still be conservative and might still disapprove, but at least they'd be forced to remember that its government is actually one of the more effective tools a citizenry can use to take care of itself--if it chooses. Again, with a more informed  and thus less negative viewpoint, they'd be less worried and anxious.)

;

If the Conservative party wants to thrive - they have to change

[ In Reply To ..]
and be less extreme regarding issues like immigration, women, etc. This year was a circus...legitimate rape? It was almost as if the Conservative party was purposely trying to be extreme as a reaction to our President, and in the process it lost it's appeal to undecided voters.

The GOP became dominated by a small percentage of authoritarian - reactionary, hard right, mostly fundamentalist

[ In Reply To ..]
authoritarian followers who submerged the values of ordinary, salt-of-the-earth type conservatives under negativism toward new ideas, bigotry toward other races, meanness toward and intolerance of anyone or any way that was different, and rejection of science.

What is happening is that these people have mostly run their course. The 70-80% of the populace they can't stand has finally identified them for what they are, mean little suckers who'll accept no way but their own, and for what they are not: They appropriated and hid successfully among others for a long time behind such labels as "values-oriented," "family-oriented," and "true" Christians.

But this post isn't about the worst of us, it's about normal conservatives. They do bear great responsibility for joining and empowering reactionary authoritarians, and thus their leaders, and it's way past time for them to finish rejecting the smallness and meanness of attitudes that simply are not only terribly wrong and immoral but unworkable for people who have to share their world with others. They'll not only be better for it, but a lot happier.

It has to be much more comfortable to target as threats a few tens of thousands of potentially violent Islamists scattered around the planet, say, than over a billion (peaceful) Muslims who don't like them any more than we do. At least I assume that's what's going on when I read the rather hysterical warnings some post here and their inability to see the practical benefits to us in working with other peoples and treating them decently and with respect.

If the Republican party wants to survive - shadow

[ In Reply To ..]
Why is it when the democrats lose, they don't have to change their ideology. They aren't told they need to be less Pro Choice or less Big Government or less environmentally obsessed. It's the Conservatives who are expected to change and compromise. Conservatism is a set of beliefs. It cannot be watered down. If it is, then the Democrats will always win because they never water down their ideology!
Then I guess - they can just keep losing.
[ In Reply To ..]
and stay exactly the same.
I think that it goes in cycles - lmn
[ In Reply To ..]
After several years of the coming worsened economy, people will be more than ready to give conservatism a try again.
The cycles are typically longer. Last lib era started with Roosevelt - last conservative with Reagan in 1980. SM
[ In Reply To ..]
That was 32 years ago. Of course, the GOP or whatever conservative parties there are will always be powerful, but conservative progressivism will be more dominant, as in the New and Fair Deal eras, and this last type of hard right negative conservatism a lot weaker, a minority voice again.

People who stumble over the term might practice saying conservative progressive until it rolls out smoothly. :)
That is quite true - bootstraps
[ In Reply To ..]
They already changed. They let the Tea Party take over and drag them on a suicide mission to the right.

The world is changing. The Republicans seem(ed) to want to go backward instead of trying to accept and initiate policies that keep up.

Conservatism is a set of beliefs, but I don't believe included in that set of beliefs is categorizing rape, or calling hardworking people takers, and there are more things that even Republican leaders are now walking back.

I don't think anyone wants to water them down, they just want to extract the poison.
I think you have it kind of sideways - sm
[ In Reply To ..]
No one is telling anyone they have to do anything. What the GOP has learned is that its message does not speak to the majority of the people.

It's not, as you say, "the Conservatives who are expected to change and compromise" - rather, it is the party itself who realizes it has been going in the wrong direction. Perhaps you liked that direction. That's fine. But it's not one the GOP can embrace if they expect to win friends and influence people. (You might want to reconsider, too.)
Shadow. Conservatism is NOT a specific set of beliefs. That's its problem. - It's a gut feeling that too often
[ In Reply To ..]
totally fails to run itself through the brain to make sure it's okay. Don't like change? Okay, resist change. A serious problem is that conservatism in today's form seems literally to NEED resistance to liberalism to exist. What kind of ruling philosophy is that?

Liberals have the Declaration of Independence (We hold these truths to be self evident..) and the Bill of Rights. Conservatives want smaller government. Why? Smaller than what--what liberals want? In all centuries in all situations?

Why don't you do a little reading on what conservatism in America is? And what it SHOULD be? The fact that (unlike liberalism) it can't be well defined is its weakness, leaving it at the mercy of any charismatic leader or national whim that comes along, but it is, of course, very real and has real value--when it's held to its own high principles, whatever those are.

You must be the Georgia Gal, Why don't - You move back to California?

[ In Reply To ..]
X

Similar Messages:


If I Lived In CaliforniaAug 20, 2012
What a crazy political climate in that state. I feel for ya'. Banks were mandated to make these risky loans, then were asked to absorb the financial loss. California decided to use taxpayer money to pay those mortgages. Unbelievable. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/20/us-taxpayers-bailout-california-homeowners-as-banks-fail-to-pay-their-share/ ...

California Prop 187 In 1994 LOST California For The GOPNov 07, 2012
red for Reagan and H.W. Bush, but NO more. California's gone very blue in Presidential elections ever since. For those who don't remember, 187 was an attempt by conservatives to deny schooling and healthcare to illegal immigrant children. It outraged MANY of all backgrounds, but it especially activated the Hispanics it was aimed at; and although it was later voided as unconstitutional, the damage it did to the GOP lives on. If no 187, we might well have woke up to a President-Elect ...

The Most Powerful Democrat In Congress Could Be Unseated For The First Time In Nearly 3 Decades.Mar 03, 2015
The most powerful Democrat in Congress could face his toughest reelection race yet next year. Last week Gravis Insights released a new poll of Minority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nevada) 2016 race and found him trailing two lesser-known challengers: state Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R) and former Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki (R). Gravis has a poor track record as a pollster, but its results here are in line with other surveys that have repeatedly suggested Reid ...

56 Examples Of Lewd Language Spewed By Clintons Over Last 3 DecadesOct 11, 2016
http://www.naturalnews.com/055582_Hillary_Clinton_foul_language_abuse_of_women.html ...

Why Southern Places Close When It Snows AndJan 08, 2010
We heard we were getting snow yesterday. This is Georgia. We might have had just a light coating but this is the issue. We have ice. No one that I know of drives good on ice. Near the Atlanta airport this morning there was a 21 car pile-up. Our interstates seem to be ok, they have had gravel and sand put out but our secondary streets are the issue here. I live on a hill, a big hill and I doubt I would want to take my nice vehicle down or even try because no sense in wasting a good car and I am s ...

Southern Fried Green BeansNov 23, 2014
Thiis is something I make a lot.  I cannot give an EXACT recipe but can give the main ingredients and how to do it About a half package of bacon cut into peices/strips and try to separate as best as possible. 1/2 onion (optional) finely diced 6-8 tbsp olive oil 1 clove garlic chopped and miniced or garlic powder. I package froze green beans. Saute bacon, onion and garlic in olive oil or cannola oil.  I cook the bacon until done but not "super crispsy." Add frozen green beans to ...

I Love Hillary's New Southern Accent, Don't You?May 28, 2015
nm ...

Racism Still Blights Southern US Juries: StudyJun 08, 2010
By Agence France-PresseMonday, June 7th, 2010 -- 11:00 am Having an "out of wedlock child" was enough to remove a black juror from a 1998 Mississippi murder trial involving an African-American and a white victim. Since then, nothing much has changed in the old south, a newly released study has said. When it was all over, Alvin Robinson was found guilty by a jury of 10 whites and two blacks, and sentenced to 20 years behind bars for a murder he claimed was in self defense. Two years later, an ...

Southern Conservatives Struggling Over Economic Advancement VersusOct 21, 2012
is running into much the same intractable head-butting instead of sensible solutions here as the rest of the country. “I’ve been in politics for 30 years, and I saw firsthand after I was elected the split within the Democratic Party,” said Eric Johnson, who was in the Georgia legislature for 15 years. “Now you’ve got the rural conservative Republicans and the suburban moderates and libertarians. I don’t think you have as broad an ideological split as the ...

Copycat Empties 50 Rounds In Southern CA Mall Parking LotDec 15, 2012
Aside from sheer panic that sent hordes of screaming holiday shoppers running for cover, mall store lockdowns, a police search and investigation, no fatalities or injuries, thank goodness.  The perp was taken into custody and charged with felony assault with a DEADLY weapon.  Again, it was 50 rounds of live ammunition, not 50 knives or 50 Molotov cocktails.  Merry Christmas from the NRA et al.    ...

If We All Lived In The Same Little Town What Would Your Role Be?Nov 24, 2009
I would be the rich sassy one that had nothing to do but drag her dog around all the time. ...

CaliforniaOct 24, 2012
Can all you Obama supporters fit there?  I would like to make that suggestion -- take that state.  You will fit in with the Hollywood clan.  You will be surrounded by the rich that you hate, but that you also want the money of.  Ought to work out great. ...

MT In CaliforniaNov 05, 2016
When Nuance laid off all California MTs, I began to wonder what was happening but that was employees.  TTS wrote me and said they will not hire any from California. I have applied to numerous jobs and hardly a word.  I have passed tests at 96% and still, have not been hired.  I purposefully applied somewhere and left off my address.  I saw there were 400 hits so I figured I would not hear from them.  Today I got an email asking, "Where are you located?"  Am I correc ...

California Principal May 08, 2010
How awful this whole thing is.  It is apparent that the school officials just wanted to avoid any unrest, but they ended up setting the stage anyway.  I don't think they could have avoided it no matter what they did, but it seems it would have been much better if they had announced that there would probably be those who choose to wear the American flag.  The students should have been counseled on how to handle situations such as these as a group, and made fully aware of the c ...

What Does InScribe Have Against California MT's?Nov 18, 2014
So, I'm new to this forum and to MT. Looking for legit work and i see InScribe then I click on the site and : Inscribe is not currently accepting Radiology applications or applications from any resident of the state of California.   Can anyone enlighten me as to what is the reasoning behind this? Any suggestions to a really good company to work for? ...

Hotel CaliforniaJan 29, 2016
Every now and then something comes along that is exceptional and you just have to share it, this is one of those times.  This rendition of Hotel California is performed completely without insturments.  I think Glenn Frey would be pleased.   Just in case the link doesn't work. http://youtu.be/MY2k9VXj74w ...

About Obamacare, I Just Found Out In California, SMOct 14, 2013
that many of the exchange plans will not have the same doctors as the non-exchange plans. Blue Shield will only offer 50% of the doctors and only 40% of the hospitals as the same non-exchange plans. I guess you have to sign up for it before you know what's in it. Pun intended. The silver lining to all of this is that market forces are about to be re-introduced into the health CARE industry. I've read about doctors opening cash only clinics, and like Medicare will pass on Obamaca ...

Obamacare Gave CaliforniaJan 17, 2014
...to promote his HC. Ads are on TV with Richard Simmons "dancing" to try to entice the millennials. I have now seen it all. What a patent waste of tax dollars. Kind of brings new meaning to the old adage of "tax and spend liberals." ...

Anyone On Covered California (Obamacare)?Mar 05, 2015
I am thinking of letting go of my terrible work insurance where the premiums are nearly $200 per month. I can quailfy for subsidies from Obamacare because my income is so disgustingly low. I'm wondering if anyone has trouble with getting prescriptions covered? Do you have to pay full price for them and are those costs rolled into the deductible? Did you have to change doctors? I believe I would have to do that if I select the bronze plan. I figured out the cost of my current premiums and ...

Glad I Don't Live In California!May 18, 2017
If you live in California, have a job and pay taxes Governor Jerry Brown would like you to know that you’re  a freeloader and he’s tired of your complaining. In a speech in Orange County last week Brown responded to criticism over a new $52 billion tax hike that was hastily rammed through Sacramento by the Democrat supermajority over the objections of taxpayers across the state. Democrat Senator Josh Newman narrowly defeated Republican Ling Ling Chang in Novembe ...

President Went AWOL, So California, OtherJun 02, 2017
will take over the fight for our planet. Leave it to the states is what the president says about a lot of things yet: "Trump has ordered a reassessment of national fuel-efficiency rules set under President Barack Obama and suggested he might take away the right of California and other states to set their own tailpipe emission rules. The president says the requirements are too onerous on the car companies and will kill jobs. California leaders argue that consumers worldwide are demanding th ...

Mr President, Do Know How Many People Lived On Ramen Noodles To Get You Elected?Oct 19, 2009
How many gave up savings? How many people gave up entertainment?How many people sensing the collapse of our financial system literally threw you forward like a Hail Mary pass in hopes that you would act in our best interest; you know, the *people* people of the United States?I'm now unemployed, uninsured, and foreclosed. All of these issues were addressed in your campaign promises. Do you think we as a group of evermore impoverished plain Americans we can preserver as long as the Democratic ...

Russian Connection Who Died Lived In Trump BuildingMar 07, 2017
"Yet another individual directly involved in Donald Trump’s Russia scandal has dropped dead under suspicious circumstances, and for the first time, the deceased is a United States citizen. Alex Oronov, one of the organizers of a plot that had the Kremlin pressuring Trump to oust the president of the Ukraine, has died. Palmer Report has determined that Oronov lived in Donald Trump’s building." http://www.palmerreport.com/opinion/trump-russia-conspirator-alex-oronov-dies-sus ...

California Illegal Immigrant TuitionNov 16, 2010
I should not be surprised.  Leave it to the idiots in California.   The California Supreme Court has reversed a lower court holding and sided with California Regents and illegal aliens on the issue of in-state tuition breaks. Under the latest ruling, California colleges (California State University, the University of California, and California Community Colleges) have been given the green light to offer tuition breaks to illegal aliens and deny the same benefit to U.S. citizens from ...

Mystery Launch Off California CoastNov 09, 2010
The link posted is for the video. Part of the story is from another news source.   The unmistakable contrail of a missile streaking into the California sunset was captured on video last night by a KCBS news helicopter flying over Los Angeles at around 5 p.m. Pacific time. The missile firing drew more attention when local news stations were told by Navy and Air Force officials that they did not launch a missile last night. Flying above Los Angeles, the crew aboard the helicopter estimate ...

Babysitting/child Care In CaliforniaJun 17, 2011
Hello out there...my 22-year-old is home from college this summer and is going to take care of my neighbor's 2 daughters, ages 5 and 6, a couple of days a week probably for around 8 hours a day.  What would be a good rate for her to charge?  It's been so long, I don't even have a clue.  I used to do daycare before my illustrious transcription career so I know people can't pay a normal minimum wage.  Would 5/hr be good?  Any suggestions would be greatl ...

California Welfare Cards Used In CasinosJun 24, 2010
http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/06/24/california-welfare-cards-used-in-casinos/ ...

A Tale Of Two States: California And Texas..Jul 12, 2012
will show how ACA works.  See link. ...

California Congressman Introduces Bill To (sm)Jul 09, 2013
provide condoms for prisoners.  Sure, why not?  So what if it's illegal?  Good grief. ...

California GOP Congressmen Ignoring Tea PartySep 07, 2013
Excerpt from the NY Times article, link  at bottom. "As the immigration debate simmers in Washington, California Republicans face a very different reality than a majority of their party colleagues, who elsewhere largely represent districts that are overwhelmingly white. More than half of California’s 15 Republican members of Congress have districts that are at least 30 percent Latino, making them potentially vulnerable to Democratic challenges and prime targets for those pushing for ...