<p>It is overwhelmingly liberal, and surprisingly (and ironically) intolerant of most conservative viewpoints. In fact, that was an argument brought against Dave Reichert, a representative from the 8th district. Policy? Haha. No, he was “conservative.”</p>
<p>The people seem out of touch with reality in Seattle, something that LakeWashington alluded to. Most of these people have never met a farmer, honestly do laugh at the idea that someone in Texas could be intelligent, and have not traveled farther than Canada. I was shocked at how isolated Seattle in particular was. The fact that there is a lot of money due to Microsoft (and LOT of it) kind of helps the bubble become even more imprisoning.</p>
<p>For the record, our Congress is overwhelmingly Democratic, and the Republican viewpoint is indeed muzzled. Many people called for change, and wrote letters to the Seattle Times. They wanted to end the Republican menace, and elect more Democrats. I spit out my coffee, half-crying and half-laughing. It is truly an awful state politically, because there is no diversity and no acceptance of views that are not arch-liberal. You would be hard-pressed to find moderate viewpoints.</p>
<p>For example, someone anti-abortion who doesn’t mind gay marriage, is against capital punishment, but doesn’t care about the environment would be labeled “conservative.” Being pro-Bush automatically qualifies you as not only super-Republican and super-conservative, but also dumb. No kidding.</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, a new piece of legislation is going to be voted on in November, about euthanasia (I-1000). A lawyer wrote an article saying that there were loopholes. Regardless of whether she was correct, people were outraged. I just finished reading 4 letters to the editor blasting her column, her practice, her character, and her pet fish (okay, not the last one). Alternative viewpoints are muzzled.</p>
<p>Finally, the city is incredibly PC. Anything that might be in any way offensive is not said for fear of being ostracized. “That’s so gay” is not heard as frequently as elsewhere, especially in some of the private schools and public schools. Seattle is very racially-conscious, despite the dearth of blacks. We are also incredibly environmentally conscious, and have had problems with eco-terrorism recently. These issues are just as important than the Iraq War to many voters (the economy is more important to most). Seattle loves Fahrenheit 9/11 and An Inconvenient Truth.</p>
<p>So, there you go. If you want to live in a city where dogmatic liberal policies are the norm and you don’t want to ever run into a conservative, then live here. If you want to live in a city where everyone cares about the environment and there are a decent number of bikers and an increasingly used public transport system due to gas prices, live here. If you want to hear people rant about poverty and Darfur while relaxing on their futons in the 5000+ sq. feet mansions with their boat docked right outside (e.g. people in my neighborhood), live here. If you want incredibly inefficient state and city governments that have spent billions on a monorail that never comes and can’t decide what to do with a Viaduct, come here. If you want to be in a state where the Democratic gubernatorial candidate lost and demanded two recounts, and won the second one because they found bags full of votes that all happened to be for her, live in Seattle. </p>
<p>I say this as a moderate-to-slightly-conservative on social issues. I share my beliefs with… 2 or 3 people I know. I know a lot of people. When I say that it lacks diversity, I’m really not kidding. Seattle is NOT diverse. It is one of the most homogeneous places in which I’ve lived, which apparently doesn’t bother those whom I find to be hypocritical.</p>
<p>That’s my experience.</p>
<p>Sources: Seattle Times, government documents, my neighborhood, various malls in the area, my school, my other schools, the Seattle/Bellevue pubic school districts, etc.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to say that Seattle is bad. I’m saying it really is a bad place for conservatives. And I bet that if you took a poll, most Seattlelites would say that they don’t need conservatives for a functional city. They don’t have many now. Don’t expect your viewpoint to be welcome, and don’t expect people to want to have discussions about anything, really. That’s for the committees, made up largely of Democrats. </p>
<p>Seattle is hip, and there is a jazz scene, nightclubs, etc. that appeal to many college students. It is, however, a very expensive city.</p>