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.” 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
- Introduction
- The Puzzle and Hypothesis
- Methodology
- Theoretical Background: Liberalism in the American Context
- Liberalism in Vermont
- History of Liberalism in Vermont
- Bernie Sanders and the Phenomenon of Socialism in Vermont
- The 2006 Midterm Elections
- Interim Conclusion
- Explaining Liberalism in Vermont
- Political History of the State
- Political Culture within the State
- Laws that provide a legitimating effect to one side of a public opinion issue
- Migration patterns to and from the state and current state demographics
- Conclusion and Perspectives for 2008
Objectives and Key Themes
This research paper aims to investigate the prevalence of political liberalism in Vermont and identify the underlying reasons for its prominence. It challenges the common perception of Vermont as a liberal stronghold by examining the historical, cultural, and political factors contributing to this phenomenon.
- The definition and evolution of liberalism in the American context.
- The historical development of liberal thought and politics in Vermont.
- The role of Bernie Sanders and the 2006 midterm elections in shaping Vermont's political landscape.
- The influence of Vermont's political history, culture, and laws on its liberal leaning.
- The impact of migration patterns and demographics on Vermont's political ideology.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the central research question: Why is Vermont so liberal? It uses a provocative quote from a conservative campaign ad to highlight the perceived contrast between Vermont and the rest of the United States. The chapter establishes the puzzle and outlines the methodology, which involves defining liberalism in the American context, examining the history of liberalism in Vermont, and analyzing four key factors to explain Vermont's liberal character. The methodology acknowledges the challenge of evaluating the strength of liberalism in Vermont and explains the approach taken to address this challenge.
Theoretical Background: Liberalism in the American Context: This section delves into the evolution of liberalism as a political ideology in the United States. It discusses the changing interpretations of liberalism over time and how its meaning has shifted, particularly in the American context. The chapter distinguishes between classical laissez-faire liberalism and the modern understanding of the term, highlighting the influence of industrialization, urbanization, and progressive movements in shaping contemporary American liberalism.
Liberalism in Vermont: This chapter traces the development of liberal thought and politics within Vermont. It examines the historical context, the role of Bernie Sanders, and the results of the 2006 midterm elections as indicators of the strength of liberal ideology in the state. The chapter aims to demonstrate the long-standing tradition of political independence and liberal thought within Vermont and how this is reflected in current election results, candidate positions, and public opinion.
Explaining Liberalism in Vermont: This chapter proposes four factors to explain Vermont's liberal character: (1) the state's political history; (2) its political culture; (3) laws that legitimize one side of public opinion issues; and (4) migration patterns and demographics. The chapter explores how the interplay of these factors contributes to Vermont's distinct political identity and suggests that this combination is unique to Vermont and may not be easily transferable to other states.
Keywords
Liberalism, Vermont, American politics, Bernie Sanders, political culture, political history, migration, demographics, 2006 midterm elections, ideology, case study.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Case Study of Liberalism in Vermont
What is the main topic of this research paper?
This research paper investigates the prevalence of political liberalism in Vermont and explores the underlying reasons for its prominence. It challenges the common perception of Vermont as a liberal stronghold by examining historical, cultural, and political factors.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper examines the definition and evolution of liberalism in the American context, the historical development of liberal thought and politics in Vermont, the role of Bernie Sanders and the 2006 midterm elections, the influence of Vermont's political history, culture, and laws, and the impact of migration patterns and demographics on Vermont's political ideology.
What methodology is used in the research?
The methodology involves defining liberalism in the American context, examining the history of liberalism in Vermont, and analyzing four key factors to explain Vermont's liberal character: political history, political culture, laws legitimizing one side of public opinion issues, and migration patterns and demographics.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The paper includes an introduction outlining the research question and methodology; a section on the theoretical background of American liberalism; a chapter on liberalism in Vermont, exploring its historical development, Bernie Sanders's influence, and the 2006 midterm elections; and a concluding chapter explaining Vermont's liberalism through the four key factors mentioned above.
What are the four key factors proposed to explain Vermont's liberal character?
The four factors are: the state's political history, its political culture, laws that legitimize one side of public opinion issues, and migration patterns and demographics. The paper argues that the interplay of these factors creates Vermont's unique political identity.
What is the significance of Bernie Sanders' role in the context of this research?
Bernie Sanders's influence on Vermont's political landscape is examined as a key factor in shaping the state's liberal character. The paper analyzes his role in the context of the historical development of liberal thought and politics in Vermont and the results of the 2006 midterm elections.
What role do the 2006 midterm elections play in this analysis?
The 2006 midterm elections are analyzed as indicators of the strength of liberal ideology in Vermont, providing evidence of the long-standing tradition of political independence and liberal thought within the state.
What is the conclusion of the research paper?
The conclusion summarizes the findings and offers perspectives for the year 2008, drawing on the analysis of the four key factors contributing to Vermont's liberal character. It suggests that this combination of factors is unique to Vermont and may not be easily replicated elsewhere.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
The keywords include: Liberalism, Vermont, American politics, Bernie Sanders, political culture, political history, migration, demographics, 2006 midterm elections, ideology, case study.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2007, The Left-Wing Freak Show - Analyzing Liberalism in Vermont, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/153854
