In a campaign ad aired in early 2004 by the conservative Club for Growth, Democratic
presidential candidate Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, was scolded by two
supposedly average American people who advised him to “[…] take his tax-hiking,
government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Timesreading,
body-piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont, where it
belongs.”1 The quote became quite famous for it apparently hit the nail on the head with its
characterization of the divide between conservative and liberal America, the latter being
perfectly epitomized by the state of Vermont.
While the dramatic exaggerations of campaign ads are rarely based on facts but on
feelings, the notion that politics in Vermont are decidedly liberal still prevails among
Americans and observers from abroad. They are supported by such facts as a self-declared
democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders, being elected United States senator in 2006, after
already having served as a member of the House for 15 years. Sanders defeated his
Republican opponent by an impressive 2-to-1 margin in the 2006 midterm elections. Voting
records and public opinion polls on issues such as gay marriage or environmental issues
indeed suggest that Vermont is not only a stronghold for the Democratic Party, but for liberal
ideology in all its forms.
Even though everyone seems to acknowledge that Vermont is a liberal state, one
crucial question has not yet been given much attention by media outlets and researchers alike:
Why is it, that Vermont is so liberal? In fact, it seems quite puzzling that such a small, rural,
and landlocked state should be a stronghold of cosmopolitanism and political awareness. This
research paper therefore intends to analyze whether political liberalism is in fact a prevalent
political view in Vermont and, if so, why.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 The Puzzle and Hypothesis
1.2 Methodology
2 Theoretical Background: Liberalism in the American Context
3 Liberalism in Vermont
3.1 History of Liberalism in Vermont
3.2 Bernie Sanders and the Phenomenon of Socialism in Vermont
3.3 The 2006 Midterm Elections
3.4 Interim Conclusion
4 Explaining Liberalism in Vermont
4.1 Political History of the State
4.2 Political Culture within the State
4.3 Laws that provide a legitimating effect to one side of a public opinion issue
4.4 Migration patterns to and from the state and current state demographics
5 Conclusion and Perspectives for 2008
Research Objectives & Key Themes
This paper aims to investigate the prevalence of political liberalism in the state of Vermont. By analyzing historical, cultural, legal, and demographic factors, the research seeks to resolve the puzzle of why such a small, rural, and landlocked state functions as a significant stronghold for liberal and progressive political ideologies in the United States.
- Evolution of liberalism within the American political context.
- The historical development and political traditions of Vermont.
- The impact of democratic socialism and the political career of Bernie Sanders.
- Analysis of 2006 election data and voter behavior in Vermont.
- The influence of state-level legislation and demographics on local political ideology.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 The Puzzle and Hypothesis
In a campaign ad aired in early 2004 by the conservative Club for Growth, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, was scolded by two supposedly average American people who advised him to “[…] take his tax-hiking, government-expanding, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, Volvo-driving, New York Times-reading, body-piercing, Hollywood-loving, left-wing freak show back to Vermont, where it belongs.” The quote became quite famous for it apparently hit the nail on the head with its characterization of the divide between conservative and liberal America, the latter being perfectly epitomized by the state of Vermont.
While the dramatic exaggerations of campaign ads are rarely based on facts but on feelings, the notion that politics in Vermont are decidedly liberal still prevails among Americans and observers from abroad. They are supported by such facts as a self-declared democratic socialist, Bernie Sanders, being elected United States senator in 2006, after already having served as a member of the House for 15 years. Sanders defeated his Republican opponent by an impressive 2-to-1 margin in the 2006 midterm elections. Voting records and public opinion polls on issues such as gay marriage or environmental issues indeed suggest that Vermont is not only a stronghold for the Democratic Party, but for liberal ideology in all its forms.
Even though everyone seems to acknowledge that Vermont is a liberal state, one crucial question has not yet been given much attention by media outlets and researchers alike: Why is it, that Vermont is so liberal? In fact, it seems quite puzzling that such a small, rural, and landlocked state should be a stronghold of cosmopolitanism and political awareness. This research paper therefore intends to analyze whether political liberalism is in fact a prevalent political view in Vermont and, if so, why.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the research puzzle regarding Vermont's reputation as a liberal stronghold and outlines the methodological approach, which involves a three-block analysis of theory, historical development, and explanatory criteria.
2 Theoretical Background: Liberalism in the American Context: This section examines the evolution of the term "liberalism" in the U.S., tracing its transition from classical laissez-faire principles to the modern association with governmental intervention and social reform.
3 Liberalism in Vermont: This chapter traces the state's political trajectory, highlighting its independent origins, the emergence of democratic socialism through Bernie Sanders, and the analysis of voter behavior during the 2006 midterms.
4 Explaining Liberalism in Vermont: This section evaluates four key criteria—historical legacy, political culture, legislation, and demographics—to determine why liberal ideology maintains a stronger than average presence in Vermont.
5 Conclusion and Perspectives for 2008: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, confirming the multifaceted nature of Vermont's liberalism while offering a cautious outlook on future electoral outcomes.
Keywords
Vermont, Liberalism, American Politics, Bernie Sanders, Democratic Party, Progressive Politics, Socialism, Political Culture, Midterm Elections, State Legislation, Demographics, Political History, Voting Behavior, Ideology, Public Opinion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the ideological landscape of Vermont, specifically aiming to explain why the state maintains a strong and consistent reputation for political liberalism compared to the national average.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the historical roots of Vermont's political independence, the role of democratic socialism in state politics, the impact of local demographic and legal factors on public opinion, and the comparison of Vermont's voting patterns against national trends.
What is the central research question?
The study asks why a small, rural, and landlocked state like Vermont serves as a stronghold for cosmopolitan, liberal, and progressive political views.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative approach, measuring Vermont's political indicators against national averages and analyzing four specific explanatory criteria: political history, political culture, state laws, and demographic patterns.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main body defines American liberalism, provides a historical overview of Vermont's politics, analyzes the 2006 election results, and tests the influence of socio-political variables on the state's liberal identity.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Vermont, Liberalism, American Politics, Bernie Sanders, Socialism, Political Culture, and Democratic Party.
How did Bernie Sanders influence the findings regarding Vermont's political climate?
Sanders' successful 2006 senate campaign is presented as a case study for the viability of democratic socialism, proving that Vermont's political landscape is uniquely receptive to leftist alternatives compared to the broader U.S.
What role does the state constitution play in the author's argument?
The author highlights the Vermont constitution as a factor that manifests liberal values, noting unique provisions for public use of private property that have helped shape a culture centered on community interest over absolute property rights.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2008, The Left-Wing Freak Show, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/154994
