Which is more liberal: SOMA or Montclair

I'm curious which of the towns is most liberal:  South Orange/Maplewood (I am looking at them for this purpose as "one town"), or Montclair?

Not politically, per se (although that may be part of it), but...PC-wise...Which town is more politically correct, obsessed with its own liberal-ness, etc.?

In which town would someone who is not terribly left politically (at least not on every issue) feel most comfortable?

If you have to ask, then the answer is probably neither.

If you have to pick one, choose Montclair.

Shoshana said:

I'm curious which of the towns is most liberal:  South Orange/Maplewood (I am looking at them for this purpose as "one town"), or Montclair?

Not politically, per se (although that may be part of it), but...PC-wise...Which town is more politically correct, obsessed with its own liberal-ness, etc.?

In which town would someone who is not terribly left politically (at least not on every issue) feel most comfortable?

I had no idea people still thought PC is a term that's relevant or useful. Folks who consider themselves liberals (though they sit in the middle and swing both ways) would be right at home in either town (though probably more in Maplewood). 

I'm trying to understand why someone who is not terribly left is trying to choose between two of the most liberal towns in NJ. 

Quién es más macho?  Fernando Lamas or Ricardo Montalban?

ctrzaska said:

Quién es más macho?  Fernando Lamas or Ricardo Montalban?

Never mind

ctrzaska said:

Quién es más macho?  Fernando Lamas or Ricardo Montalban?

Ninguno.  Geraldo Rivera es mucho mas macho.

That's like asking who is more Communist - Lenin or Mao.

xavier67 said:

I had no idea people still thought PC is a term that's relevant or useful. 

It's useful as a rhetorical device for belittling views which you don't agree with. In my mind it's a sign of not being confident in your own arguments. "I must be right, my opponent is just being politically correct."

Still on the fence???  

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/114958-Montclair-vs-Maplewood-South-Orange-honest-opinions-advice-requested-?page=5#comment-2957182

You've gotten plenty of input.  Please stop trolling us.

jimmurphy said:

Still on the fence???  

https://maplewood.worldwebs.com/forums/discussion/id/114958-Montclair-vs-Maplewood-South-Orange-honest-opinions-advice-requested-?page=5#comment-2957182

You've gotten plenty of input.  Please stop trolling us.

That thread, if you remember/read, was not about the political leanings of the towns, and was asking a different question.

Why is it that when I ask a question on this board, there's always someone with a snarky comment?

Maybe the question I should ask then is:  which is the least obnoxious town?

Montclair - please go there.

Shoshana said:
Maybe the question I should ask then is:  which is the least obnoxious town?

I thought that was your original question, given how you defined and characterized ("Which town is more politically correct, obsessed with its own liberal-ness, etc.?") what you were looking for.

Why do you have to choose one of thee towns? If you don't feel you'd fit in, there are many more towns to choose from.

I don't know from Montclair.  But my perception of SOMA however is that it isn't as liberal as its reputation, and not as much as some residents like to think.  When we moved here 20 years ago, being ethnically diverse was more unique, and being LGBT friendly was almost unheard of in other places.  But as the rest of the country has embraced LGBT rights, become more aware of race inequality and income inequality, I think of SOMA as a more center-left place.  I don't mean this as anything but a value-free observation of reality -- SOMA is a place where a lot of residents seem to be pro-business, somewhat anti-labor, and in favor of tax cuts.  Kind of like what used to be Northeastern Republicans in the 60s and 70s.  Again, not meaning that as denigrating, just observation.  I am by no means a radical, but I now find myself (at least in my perception) as very liberal compared to most people in Maplewood on many issues, especially economic issues.

.

ml1 said:

Kind of like what used to be Northeastern Republicans in the 60s and 70s.  Again, not meaning that as denigrating, just observation. 

Yes. SOMA stayed the same. The rest of the country moved right.

I think it depends very much on how you define "liberal." @ml1 highlighted this above. So focus on what the core issues are and go from there.

Sweden.

Shoshana said:

I'm curious which of the towns is most liberal:  South Orange/Maplewood (I am looking at them for this purpose as "one town"), or Montclair?

Not politically, per se (although that may be part of it), but...PC-wise...Which town is more politically correct, obsessed with its own liberal-ness, etc.?

In which town would someone who is not terribly left politically (at least not on every issue) feel most comfortable?

It seems to me that what you are really asking is, which town is more conservative.

Perhaps it would help if the OP could tell us which issues she feels are too left.  Does she want the right to discriminate against gay people or does she just want to poison the ecosystem with pesticides?

Or maybe just extreme statism like banning leaf blowers most of the year, thereby inevitably driving up the cost lawn and yard maintenance, which is already going up due to the new minimum wage rules.

Still -- Sweden.

Or not:

"Sweden. A country associated with equality, humanitarianism, flatpack furniture, crime novels and great pop songs. Or at least it used to be.

While still a nation known for its women, dark thrillers and book cases, the once proudly egalitarian Sweden is closing both its minds and doors.
This month, the right-wing Sweden Democrats party polled 20 per cent, and after taking in the most refugees-per-capita in the EU, the Swedish government announced a cap. 

Swedish pride? In just seven years, an anti-immigrant party formed by Nazi sympathizers has gone from a right-wing movement to a serious political player supported by a fifth of Swedes

In just seven years, the anti-immigrant Sweden Democrats(SD) has gone from not having a single MP, to becoming a political party supported by a fifth of Swedes.
The party was formed in 1988 by a motley crew of ex-members of national-socialist, racist, and 'keep Sweden Swedish'-organisations."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3349890/Sweden-Home-IKEA-meatballs-ABBA-racism-Swedish-right-wing-went-joke-big-political-player-just-seven-years.html

bramzzoinks said:

Or not:

Tropes, polls and The Daily Mail. You sold me.

bramzzoinks said:

Or maybe just extreme statism like banning leaf blowers most of the year, thereby inevitably driving up the cost lawn and yard maintenance, which is already going up due to the new minimum wage rules.

Right. Just like banning auto shops from pouring motor oil in the river, driving up the cost of lube jobs.

Your right to pollute ends when your pollution hurts me and my kids.

bramzzoinks said:

Or maybe just extreme statism like banning leaf blowers most of the year, thereby inevitably driving up the cost lawn and yard maintenance, which is already going up due to the new minimum wage rules.

Oh you poor baby.  The horror of having to pay a decent wage for hard work.

tjohn said:

bramzzoinks said:

Or maybe just extreme statism like banning leaf blowers most of the year, thereby inevitably driving up the cost lawn and yard maintenance, which is already going up due to the new minimum wage rules.

Oh you poor baby.  The horror of having to pay a decent wage for hard work.

if you amortize the cost of a lawnmower over the course of its useful life, lawn care is cheap.

If the statists have their way the only lawn mover allowed will be push ones. Forced exercise and no pollution.

bramzzoinks said:

If the statists have their way the only lawn mover allowed will be push ones. Forced exercise and no pollution.

YES!!!! You've finally come around!