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 Liberal Place: Bloomington, IN
These are comments on Bloomington, submitted by other Turn Left visitors. They do not necessarily represent the opinion of the webmaster. You may add a comment on Bloomington if you want.
 Bloomington, Indiana is definitely a liberal friendly city. The city
has had a Democratic Mayor for the past 16 years (maybe more, I'm not
sure). Our current mayor just made benefits for married couples
available to domestic partners, including same sex partners. Of the
nine members on the city's Common Council, six are Democrats (the
Republicans gained one seat in the last municipal election)During the
last Congressional election our Republican incumbent barely campaigned
here at all, knowing that it Bloomington was a lost cause for him (he
was right).
This island of liberalism in a conservative sea is the result of the
influence of Indiana University, which is mainly a liberal arts school.
The University attracts people from all over the world, and this has
resulted in a cosmopolitan atmosphere that is rare for such a relatively
small town.
...and another comment...
I disagree with the statements about Bloomington. My wife and I were
interested in attending IU, and we spent time in Bloomington to get a
feel for the school and the environs. We were not impressed. Instead of
finding a liberal oasis in one of the most backwater states in the
nation, we found rampant segregation, a highly organized Greek society
on campus, pervasive heterosexism and mysogyny, a strong presence of RW
religious influence, and *gasp* racial segregation in the restaurant
where we ate breakfast one morning -- white families were all seated in
the front, black families were seated in the rear near the bathrooms.
Indiana as a rule is a terrifying state. From South Bend and Gary to
French Lick and Evansville, this is a backwards state. Bloomington's
university aside, the city is nothing more than another Hoosier city
that prefers basketball, gay bashing, and hegemony over rational
discourse, intellectual pursuit, and free thought. IU, though home to a
number of members of the Left, still leans right. In The Princeton
Review's survey of America's Best Colleges, IU was noted for its Greek
activities and Conservative politics. Bloomington is anything but
liberal.
...and another comment...
Bloomington, Ind. is not totally liberal, but is a stronghold of the
Democratic Party and I.U. does make it somewhat more Leftist. Once
outside the city limits, it's anything but liberal. In fact saying the
"L" word outside of the city is sort of taboo.
...and another comment...
Let me try to strike a balance here (speaking as a quasi-conservative
myself but who prefers most so-called liberal towns over conservative
ones for cultural and lifestyle reasons). No, Bloomington is not
Berkeley. It is not, to my knowledge, an "activist" town.
Nevertheless, Bloomington is definitely a progressive breath of fresh
air in an otherwise very conservative state. For reasons I have yet to
fully grasp or figure out, Indiana is hands down the most conservative
state in the Midwest. In the the last two presidential elections, it is
has been island of staunch Republicanism. In that context, Bloomington
is most definitely liberal-friendly, if not an outright liberal town,
per se. Indiana University has strong liberal arts tradition and a
world-renowned music school. Those two things alone favor a progressive
atmosphere. Bloomington fits perfectly in the family of pleasantly
progressive Midwestern college towns like Columbia, MO, Ann Arbor, MI,
and Iowa City, IA. If you're looking for absolutist social-justice
indicators, you probably won't find them here. But I think Bloomington
is definitely tolerant and open-minded by Indiana standards. Dan Burton
need not apply.
...and another comment...
BLOOMINGTON IS MECCA! I was part of a Peace and Justice Center that just
grew out of the sweet Hoosier soil during the Gulf War. I've lived in
Cambridge Mass and attended NYU and I NEVER saw anything like
Bloomington...or the Peace and Justice Center!
To the previous commentators it looks like you're an urban
person...cruisin in for a week and becoming an authority. Indiana is a
wonderful place...I've spent 6 years there and there is one thing I
know...HOOSIERS ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH. I saw sustainable
agriculture, radical queers(their term), AIM, NOW, and gobs of free
spirits work for Change in that town We were uder one roof. It was a
MIRACLE! In the end we ran ot of money...but freaks are never loaded!
It takes time to slow down and be part of Indiana...and its worth it!
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