In the some circles, colonization is an activism war-cry, but as the West grows rapidly with cultural urbanites, elections no longer reflect the minds, values, people, and environments of the West.
Yep. I've been in New Mexico since I was 13, but my parents were from here, and my grandparents moved here post WWII, so I feel like I count as a native. (I'm certainly not truly native to anywhere else either, being a military brat.) And I've definitely seen exactly what you're talking about down here, too, though thankfully not quite as much since it's still pretty undeveloped. Though being poor just means it's easy to influence our elections with outside money. So we have quite a few elected officials who are there courtesy of Mike Bloomberg, who is very much *not* a New Mexican.
"If you liked how it was on the coast so much, feel free to go the fuck back there." Probably too long for a bumper sticker. ;)
I like your bumper sticker idea -- I'd buy one! haha. I think all of the interior western states are going through this right now as the coastal wealth spreads westward, now that the locals have made it just comfortable enough for them to grace the place with their presence. Vote local, vote no on outside money!
Interesting thoughts. I think the term colonization is appropriate for what you describe. I currently live in New Mexico, but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and when I go back there to visit I see something similar happening to Nashville. The Nashville I grew up in during the 1960s & 1970s had the feel of a big small town. Over the past 10 years since I left the area it has transformed with entire neighborhoods seeing their characters completely changed. Nashville was a moderate Democrat town that now seems to be turning hard left. It no longer feels like home to me.
Yep. I've been in New Mexico since I was 13, but my parents were from here, and my grandparents moved here post WWII, so I feel like I count as a native. (I'm certainly not truly native to anywhere else either, being a military brat.) And I've definitely seen exactly what you're talking about down here, too, though thankfully not quite as much since it's still pretty undeveloped. Though being poor just means it's easy to influence our elections with outside money. So we have quite a few elected officials who are there courtesy of Mike Bloomberg, who is very much *not* a New Mexican.
"If you liked how it was on the coast so much, feel free to go the fuck back there." Probably too long for a bumper sticker. ;)
I like your bumper sticker idea -- I'd buy one! haha. I think all of the interior western states are going through this right now as the coastal wealth spreads westward, now that the locals have made it just comfortable enough for them to grace the place with their presence. Vote local, vote no on outside money!
Interesting thoughts. I think the term colonization is appropriate for what you describe. I currently live in New Mexico, but grew up in Nashville, Tennessee and when I go back there to visit I see something similar happening to Nashville. The Nashville I grew up in during the 1960s & 1970s had the feel of a big small town. Over the past 10 years since I left the area it has transformed with entire neighborhoods seeing their characters completely changed. Nashville was a moderate Democrat town that now seems to be turning hard left. It no longer feels like home to me.