Benefits of Living Blue in a Red State

I am an introvert; I have always felt in the minority.  Some studies show that, in the general population, introverts make up about 10 percent -- which leaves extraverts the overwhelming majority.  What's the difference?

According to Kroeger and Thuesen in their book Type Talk, these are the preferences of both:

Introvert                                            Extravert
     territoriality                                       sociability
     concentration                                     interaction
     internal                                              external
     depth                                                  breadth
     intensive                                            extensive
     limited relationships                          multiple relationships
     energy conservation                           energy expenditure
     internal reactions                                external events
     reflective                                             gregarious
     think, then speak                                 speak, then think

Additionally, I grew up in an evangelical Christian family at a time when that was definitely not cool.  Public school was a nightmare in the sense that we as children were encouraged to be in the world, but not of the world.  As girls, we were required to wear dresses only (no shorts, long pants, or jeans), no make-up and no jewelry.  We could not go to movies, attend dances or play cards.  Sundays were for reflection and naps; no play.  At that time as a child, I felt weird, faceless, out of sync with my peers.  (On a Sunday afternoon, my fifth-grade playmate kept sending me upstairs to my napping mother to ask for a quarter so I could go to the movie matinee with her.  No, no and NO was the answer.)

Currently, I'm a Democrat living in a red state.  In my town, there is no Democratic organization, no get-togethers with others who have common values, no sharing of ideas or principals.  There is no common activism involved in generating enthusiasm for our cause.  In our voting district, a small percentage of all voters vote Democratic.  We are the silent minority.

I am an introvert with an evangelical Christian background but who no longer tracks in that path; I am a Democrat living in a place where Republicans overwhelmingly outnumber us.  I am definitely in the minority.  So what could possibly be beneficial about living here?

1.  On Sundays, I ride my bike around town while most everyone else is sitting in church.  There are no distractions, few disruptions, just my quiet time to contemplate and enjoy.
2.  My political stance allows me to stay somewhat invisible.  No sense in voting for someone for school board (something I tried last spring) who has opposite political views.
3. Society at large tends to ignore me which allows freedom from intermingling with larger groups of people with whom I may not have a lot in common.

In the end, it may feel a little too comfortable now.  Swimming upstream while everyone else is heading downstream is not a strange feeling.  It has in fact been a big part of my life.  If I genuinely lived in a progressive community (which I have dreamed of many times), I might really feel lost.  I'd have to actually look for barriers to overcome!
 


 

A Story of Obamacare 
     Jim and Jane live in Mississippi.  They are quite content because they have a daughter, Jill, in whom they have much pride.  Family activities have always included Jill even though she is now in her early twenties and has been unable to become self-sufficient.  As a result, she cannot afford to carry her own health insurance.
     One day, Jim hears that the new Obamacare health care insurance system will introduce a program whereby  parents may carry their children's health insurance on their own plan, up until the child turns 26 years of age.  Despite the fact that Jim and Jane have voted Republican most of their adult lives, they decide this Obamacare health program is worth checking out.  Indeed, they find that their daughter can be covered on their own policy for several more years, until Jill turns 26.  "It is a godsend -- literally," they exclaim.  "Whatever happens, we know that Jill will be covered by our insurance policy."
     Within the following year, the worst happens.  Jill is involved in a single-car accident, suffers a severe concussion, and expires soon after reaching a hospital.  Her parents are absolutely devastated.  They question themselves.  "What will we do without our child?  How can we continue as a family without her?  Did we do enough for her while she was in our care?"  All stages of grief become a part of their daily lives:  denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression.  Finally, as a part of their acceptance process, they realize that including Jill under their own health care policy was a symbol of how much they cared for their daughter while she lived.  They were reassured that they did all that was humanly possible to extend their umbrella of caring to include Jill.
     Obamacare was a reason that Jim and Jane felt they did their best for their daughter.  Upon hearing of this story and the role that Obamacare played in reassuring the parents, an evangelical Christian friend became livid.  To hear that Obamacare could make such an important positive impact went against everything he had heard on the Fox channel.  How could this be?  Anger was palpable in his reaction.
     I hear these stories and I wonder why Republicans (many of whom are evangelical Christians) have so much difficulty with Obamacare.  In growing up in an evangelical Christian family myself, I do not have an answer.  I remember verses from the Bible that admonish us to "Do unto others..." and "Ye do it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye do it unto me".  We sang choruses "Jesus loves the little children; all the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight..."  If all this is true and espoused by evangelical Christians, it would seem that Obamacare provides something needed by all of us, all Americans:  quality healthcare.  If they truly believe what they espouse, evangelical Christians (many of whom vote Republican) would be doing all in their power to see that people besides themselves would receive all the benefits of a good health care policy.  Jim and Jane were certainly doing that for their daughter under Obamacare and, hence, experienced healing reassurance.
     Supporting a Republican party that does nothing in Congress but vote to repeal Obamacare 60+ times (vowing to continue such a stance even after a second Supreme Court decision supporting Obamacare!) seems to go against values that the church preaches (see above).  Where's the problem here, evangelical Christians who vote Republican?  Is it the message or the messenger?  Something just doesn't fit!