What the #$@& is going on in Iowa?

[Stargazer]

I used to always envy Iowa's seemingly more progressive atmosphere (seen from across the river at least).. casinos, marriage equality, medical marijuana, etc.

But lately, WOW is wrong with these people? Leading the nation on abortion legislation, stripping gun permit requirements, mask mandate ban.. and latest 'critical race' backlash in stripping the word 'slavery' from the social studies curriculum.

[Silverspoon]

Its Iowa... Theyre different to say the least...

[ricko]

I used to always envy Iowa's seemingly more progressive atmosphere (seen from across the river at least).. casinos, marriage equality, medical marijuana, etc.

But lately, WOW is wrong with these people? Leading the nation on abortion legislation, stripping gun permit requirements, mask mandate ban.. and latest 'critical race' backlash in stripping the word 'slavery' from the social studies curriculum.

I've been following political trends in various states for several decades now. This is just my armchair take on it, but I think a lot of it has to do with things like brain-drain, demographic shifts, the rise of intolerant religiosity, economic instability/insecurity (especially in former industrial and agricultural powerhouses). Some states are trending more conservative (Iowa, Missouri, the Dakotas, Ohio, et. al.), and some more liberal (Virginia, Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado). Sounds funny now, but college towns like Iowa City, Lawrence, Columbia, and Norman were hotbeds of anti-war activism during Vietnam.

[nativeomahan]

Yes, people move around a lot. I have read where about 20% of Americans move in a given year. That doesn’t mean they all move to another state. Most don’t. But there is a continuing brain drain in much of the rural Midwest. I believe that almost every Nebraska county west of Grand Island actually lost population during the past decade. The same pattern holds true in Iowa, the Dakotas, Kansas, etc. urban metros gain population but the remainder of the region continues its century long legacy of depopulation. Young people move away, to larger cities, with more diverse and inclusive demographics. So what you are left with are bright blue dots in a sea of red.