Posted: 6/27/2008 6:27:34 AM EDT
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I picked this book up at the LA Times book fair over the summer and still think it's very interesting. The premise of the book is that as the US has become more mobile, it has also sorted itself out such that people have moved into communities that are more like-minded. Counties that used to be 51-49 democrat/republican are now 70/30 democrat/republican. Towns that used to be a slight majority Christian are now growing more solidly Christian, and others have become more secular. The same goes for majority republican bases. As time has marched on, areas that were slight majority republican have become more thoroughly republican. The author of the book thought this was terrible, but I like the idea. Why should everything in the US be one percent difference between two ideologies? I like the idea that I can live in a community that's pretty much like me, and in which I can be comfortable expressing my views. I like the idea that smaller splinter groups can become more influential in local politics and have their say. There was a lot of hand-wringing over this book when it came out because it essentially said that the US was balkanizing a little bit. I thought the balkanizing was a great idea! That's now different states maintain their personality. If you want to live in Chicago, or Butte... you can have a different life. Why not have some variety? Any of you guys read this book? |