No place for moderate, open minded people.
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11/13/2009
It's a redneck town is what I was told when I bought a home here in 2002. I didn't think it could be all that bad. I was wrong; it is much, much worse than I expected. It is a hotbed of right wing conservatives and religious fanatics. The level of intelligence and fair mindedness was made clear to me when I commented to someone that Boston, Mass. was having a snowstorm. The comment in reply was that that must be making the democrats mad. Another comment was that all you liberals care about is abortion. Such is the mental acuity with which one must contend.
Ask anyone why they voted for McCain/Palin and the stock answer will be that they voted that way because of that worn out ludcrous term of family values. Those who were saying love it or leave when the Bush monarchy existed are now trying to revolt and dismiss the man who is without question the most intelligent, thoughtful man that has occupied the office since JFK.
As for the weather, it is horrible except for a few days in the Fall and Spring. Summers are all but unbearable from June through September.
The majority of white people I have met, most of whom have lived only here for their entire lives, are extremely narrow minded, mostly exclusive, largely racist, bigoted and condescending to all but immediate family and longtime friends. Evangelicals Christians dominate the scene along with Baptist and Jehovah's Witness, contrary to statistics. The culture, and I use the word loosely, is all about getting ourselves a home with a big screen TV and one or two big trucks although we don't have anything to put in the trucks.
As a white person, the friendliest people I have met are actually Hispanics who have integrated into the community to some extent. African American population seems low.
Any true ambiance is lacking as there is no culture of which to speak. The three movie theater complexes all show the same run of the mill mainstream mind candy which few exceptions.
As for the schools, I don't have children in them but have met several teachers that I woulld not want teaching them if I did for lack of competence and relgious convictions (one said that eveloution is a nice fairy tale).
And I should mention that the house I bought which was once worth $325,000 is now worth somewhere between $124,000 and $150,000.
On the positive side, golf is cheap and easily accessible. Courses are seldom crowded because of the weather. Sunday mornings are great because they are all in church.
Bill | Bakersfield, CA