I always like to point out that those trends from the 1970s map very well onto intensive structural changes in banking/finance (both "private" and gov side), education, governmental organization n(including authority and responsibility locations), the organization of science R&D, and trailing a bit but still not far off in many places political organization. Among other things...
Anybody from the suburbs understands this. Suburban people are educated and don't necessarily vote party. In fact...many usually don't. I'm probably oversimplifying...but, don't count on it:)
Definitely interested in more articles from Mr. Chinni, if this is reflective of the quality of his analysis and writing. I think a lot of insight can be gained by disaggregating the 'working class' as a group, as this article does. There are important cultural and economic distinctions between different parts of it, e.g. rural blue collar voters and suburban blue collar voters, female vs male blue collar voters, Hispanic vs white, etc. We often talk about it as a monolith but it's not.
I'll float a suggestion for a potential follow-up piece that looks at the regional differences between 'Middle Suburbs' in parts of the country outside the Rust Belt. The suburbs of the Sunbelt are some of the fastest growing and fastest changing areas of the country. Case and point: Georgia was not as 'swingy' a decade ago as it is today--the prodigious growth of the Atlanta urban core and the Atlanta suburbs have been a big factor in loosening its partisan allegiance. Same goes for similar growth in cities like Austin, Dallas and Houston in Texas. (Texas isn't really as much of a swing state as Georgia right now, but it's showing signs of getting there) Urban growth in places like Utah are also slowly transforming it demographically and politically. All of these areas hold a lot of similarities to the suburbs of the Rustbelt, and a lot of contrasts. A comparative analysis could be really interesting.
Good article! Also keep in mind that indevidual communities with middle suburb charecteristics are still a big part of many other counties in differant types within the broader Great Lakes region (and to a lesser extent elsewhere as well, especially within many urban suburb and exurban counties) and this can have a big impact on many elections covering a larger geographic area.
This is an excellent article—helps in putting the issues together more clearly. Thanks
I always like to point out that those trends from the 1970s map very well onto intensive structural changes in banking/finance (both "private" and gov side), education, governmental organization n(including authority and responsibility locations), the organization of science R&D, and trailing a bit but still not far off in many places political organization. Among other things...
Anybody from the suburbs understands this. Suburban people are educated and don't necessarily vote party. In fact...many usually don't. I'm probably oversimplifying...but, don't count on it:)
Middle suburb women. The men have already decided.
Definitely interested in more articles from Mr. Chinni, if this is reflective of the quality of his analysis and writing. I think a lot of insight can be gained by disaggregating the 'working class' as a group, as this article does. There are important cultural and economic distinctions between different parts of it, e.g. rural blue collar voters and suburban blue collar voters, female vs male blue collar voters, Hispanic vs white, etc. We often talk about it as a monolith but it's not.
I'll float a suggestion for a potential follow-up piece that looks at the regional differences between 'Middle Suburbs' in parts of the country outside the Rust Belt. The suburbs of the Sunbelt are some of the fastest growing and fastest changing areas of the country. Case and point: Georgia was not as 'swingy' a decade ago as it is today--the prodigious growth of the Atlanta urban core and the Atlanta suburbs have been a big factor in loosening its partisan allegiance. Same goes for similar growth in cities like Austin, Dallas and Houston in Texas. (Texas isn't really as much of a swing state as Georgia right now, but it's showing signs of getting there) Urban growth in places like Utah are also slowly transforming it demographically and politically. All of these areas hold a lot of similarities to the suburbs of the Rustbelt, and a lot of contrasts. A comparative analysis could be really interesting.
Good article! Also keep in mind that indevidual communities with middle suburb charecteristics are still a big part of many other counties in differant types within the broader Great Lakes region (and to a lesser extent elsewhere as well, especially within many urban suburb and exurban counties) and this can have a big impact on many elections covering a larger geographic area.
Ouch. The middle suburbs are the home of the American Dream and that is fraying and not just recently.