Originally Posted by Antithesis

The issue is, without a doubt, power, at least in the government, but in the West people are becoming more socially liberal, which can't be a consequence of that. I think it's just that people out in places like Colorado and Nebraska are adopting more of a "live and let live" mindset. That's why they're libertarian and populist. They want as little intervention while maintining as much control over their own affairs as possible.