] By crunching demographic numbers (in collaboration with
] the paper's statistical consultant, Robert Cushing),
] Bishop has been able to demonstrate that the United
] States isn't merely separated by Red (Republican) and
] Blue (Democratic) states; it's also separated,
] increasingly, by Red and Blue counties. The likelihood
] that you will ever argue politics with your neighbor is
] diminishing rapidly, because it's less and less likely
] that, politically, you and your neighbor will ever
] disagree.

[ An interesting little piece about the county-level political homogeneity the nation has been experiencing in the past 25 or so years. This was sort of striking to me, though I guess not surprising... i just hadn't thought about it before.

The conclusion the article makes is possibly valid (and I won't spoil it -- go read).

After reading it though, I'm more curious if this trend isn't countered somewhat by the increasing role of the internet and phone in our social lives... I may not discuss politics with my neighbor, but i do so daily with you folks online...

I'm also curious why it's happening, and by what mechanism. I've never said a word about politics to any of my IRL neighbors. Does political ideology carry an aura with it? What are the visible traits a particular political party imprints on a county -- school arts funding levels, number of trees and parks, wealth, distance from nightlife? Fascinating. -k]

Mister Landslide's Neighborhood - Red versus blue states isn't the half of it. By Timothy Noah