[hueving]

>which is decidedly Trump's America

Look at the results for something like Kansas City, MO.[1] It's about 50/50 between the two candidates. If you look at the Bay Area counties[2], it's 1/6th to 1/5th of the voters supporting Trump.

So in a room filled with a random ~10 people will have 2 Trump supporters in the Bay and 5 in Kansas City.

>they were just the people I was obligated to spend time with.

I suspect this is the only actual difference between the two. On your visit to the Midwest you were forced to hang out with people discussing politics. This is no less unpleasant if you are living in the Bay and aren't a rabid Democrat.

1. http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/missouri

2. http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/california

[vkat]

I lived in Kansas City metro for 6 years and politics is rarely discussed at work. The people I hang out with are very welcoming and don't treat immigrants any differently. When there was racial induced killing in one of the suburbs(Olathe) there was an outpouring of grief and support. Basic human premise.

[cookiecaper]

Also note that a [white] local attempted to defend the targeted men and got himself shot in the process. There was also a racially motivated killing in NYC shortly thereafter.

The Midwest has its share of people who are off the rails, but so does the rest of the world. The overwhelming majority of people and interactions are just fine.

[throwaway729]

> Kansas City, MO...Bay Area counties

This isn't even close to an Apples-to-Apples comparison. You should at least include Clay, Lafayette, Johnson if you're going to look at the entire Bay area.

And then looks at who's Actually In Charge of the state! The people with the power are the ones who make an actual difference, on a political level. Greitens is downright liberal compared to a lot of the general assembly.

> So in a room filled with a random ~10 people will have 2 Trump supporters in the Bay and 5 in Kansas City.

But you and I both know that's not how it actually works basically anywhere. Except maybe the DMV.

> On your visit to the Midwest

I spent decades there, in cities, burbs, and rural areas.

My experiences are representative. Perhaps, I venture to guess, much more representative than someone who never leaves Jackson County.

Spend some time in the bootheel. Or even the comparatively flaming liberal city of Springfield.