[1787]

You've shown that many midwesterners are anti-progressive, but that is not the same thing as anti-intellectual. Furthermore, the optics of where they stand relative to young professionals in the sciences are just that - optics that don't necessarily reflect anything. Consider student movements in the past that haven't gone anywhere or were really misguided in hindsight (there are enough).

[lotsofpulp]

My response is in the context of anti intellectualism being an odd criticism for why tech startups might not consider Midwest. There are other factors of course, but my reasons, in my experience, are big reasons why employees tech startups would want don't want the Midwest due to anti intellectualism.

[H1Supreme]

I'd argue that it's both anti-progressive and anti-intellectual. I live in a stereotypical flyover area, and the sentiment is spot on. People vote against things that would clearly help them, because that's what everyone at church is doing.

This isn't an overstatement either. I know these people. Their opinions are what someone told them to think. Almost completely void of logic. Fox news said some shit, so it must be true! This sounds exaggerated. It isn't.

Some guy was running for office and totally did the "Jesus, show me the way" campaign. Crosses on his election signs, the whole nine yards. He was neck in neck with the incumbent (who was well liked, I might add) just based on this crap. Until he got arrested for nearly beating a guy to death. Not very Jesus of him, is it?

[Helmet]

I live in a stereotypical flyover area, and the sentiment is spot on.

As have I, and the sentiment is a silly caricature.

People vote against things that would clearly help them, because that's what everyone at church is doing.

Can you list some of these things?

As far as I can tell, the progressive legislative agenda has done nil to help anyone in the flyover country. Obamacare is a disaster, factories have been shuttered because they can't compete in a globalized economy (neither the left or right are at fault here), and progressive cultural values do not align with the moral and ethical stances of these people.

Not to mention, they are continually mocked, condescended too, and made fun of by coastal elites.

This isn't an overstatement either. I know these people.

I know them too, and you've painted a caricature.

Their opinions are what someone told them to think. Almost completely void of logic. Fox news said some shit, so it must be true! This sounds exaggerated. It isn't.

Oh, like almost every mainstream liberal that I know? CNN, ABC or MSNBC told them some shit, so it must be true.

Some guy was running for office and totally did the "Jesus, show me the way" campaign. Crosses on his election signs, the whole nine yards. He was neck in neck with the incumbent (who was well liked, I might add) just based on this crap. Until he got arrested for nearly beating a guy to death. Not very Jesus of him, is it?

So some crazy guy ran for office and lost. What's your point?