Anytime you mindlessly bash a region, whether it be

[Uncle Joe]

East, North, South or West, the oligarchs, Republicans and their corporate media mouth pieces win.

You only serve to make their job of obtaining/maintaining out-sized wealth and political power over the people all the easier.

They thrive on division, reaping cultural, economic and political windfalls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divide_and_conquer

You may not love or even like people from another region because they're too different but hate is a two edged sword, which only seems to cut those wielding that weapon not so much those encouraging or instigating the action.

No body is perfect, no region is perfect and trying to reduce such massive geographic areas to the lowest common denominator is the enemy of critical thought.

Simply put,the dividers don't want you to think, they want to prey on your emotions.

[NaturalHigh]

1. Very true.

There are good people in all parts.

[Amonester]

2. True that. I just saw one about (non-US) Alberta.

I have friends there who'd never support the stupid tar-sands' neocon ruler$.

So I would invite everybody to care about specifying distinctions very clearly.

Beware of the big bad broad brushes...

[LuvNewcastle]

3. I wish people from other regions would take into consideration

all the good that has been done by the federal government to the people in the South. A lot of southerners don't appreciate it, of course, but those of us in minority groups certainly do. We are able to live our lives freely because the U.S. govt. guarantees our right to do so.

A lot of people from other regions have family and friends in the South. Would they like to see their loved ones living under some fascist govt. that might take over down here?

I know that Southern politicians aggravate people. Just think what we deal with; they're basically all we have. But you are doing your part to help us in the minority down here every time one of your liberal politicians takes an interest in seeing justice done in the South. You're protecting us in the minority from the tyranny of a majority that would probably get out of hand quickly if left to its own devices. So if it helps any, think about us when you think about the South. There are a lot of good people down here, but we can't make it all on our own.

[carolinayellowdog]

4. transparent efforts at distracting people from real issues with two-minute hatefests

or more like two days in terms of how long the threads disrupt. People who are obvious allies of the worst of the worst, easily find supporters who on other issues oppose them at every turn, suddenly falling into line and saying "look over there! It's a cat! From the South!" Used to be my ignore list was entirely made up of RW disruptors and shills. This week they were joined by quite a few people I'd come to respect on political issues but who became mindless enablers of the dividers/conquerors when incited by regional hate.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. ... spoken like someone from the Mid-South

... this opinion from a denizen of "Rust Belt"

[cali]

6. Yep. Good OP, Uncle Joe.

kick and rec

[FSogol]

7. True, but I see more posts complaining about region bashing than posts that region bash.

Personalizing and taking offense about anonymous rips on a region seems to be silly.

[Uncle Joe]

9. There should be more posts complaining about it as regionalism is still happening.

Furthermore it's not personal, it's strategic, by all means if you enjoy being divided and conquered by the powers that be have at it.

If you think massive wealth disparity is a good thing, that elections should be unnecessarily close just to "promote television ratings," that our nation should be led to war at the drop of a hat, then bash away.

The oligarchs, their corporate media mouth pieces, extremists and string pullers will enjoy the shit out it.

[FSogol]

10. While I agree it is crappy (and I've probably been quilty of it), I think you really

overstate its effects.

BTW, when did I say anything about wealth disparity being good?

[Uncle Joe]

11. Unions are weakened because of regionalism.

They're identified more with the North than with the South, that creates a cultural headwind to change in the South which is only aggravated by strong regionalism.

Connecticut born, Yale educated, and D.C. saturated George W. Bush was portrayed by the corporate media as a good ole boy from Texas, meanwhile 16 year Tennessee Congressman and Senator veteran Al Gore was strongly portrayed by the same corporate media as being a product of D.C.

I'm not overstating the consequences of division.

[cordelia]

8. A fine OP. Thank you.

[Uncle Joe]

12. Thanks to everyone that posted and/or recommended.

Peace to you all.