The biggest reason is probably family and peers. If people look up to their parents they’ll many times defend them right or wrong. Same with peers.

Illinois’ views don’t differ that much from Indiana’s or any other state. It’s just that a majority whether it be 51% would make a state blue or red therefor their politics are usually about the same except democrats tend to tax and spend way more money on social programs, schools, government, and union work. If you take the average conservative and the average liberal and put them in a room, they would agree about many things and disagree about a few.

Most Americans aren’t as bitter about politics as political commentators would like you to think. Their listeners are usually very political and they themselves would like the audience to believe in the importance of there beliefs by creating a one sided argument "us and them" attitude, In which one party is destroying America or causing all the problems.

In reality, the vast majority of people don’t choose one side or the other totally. For instance, Sean Hannity tries to make one believe that all the people who disagree with Obama’s health care reform have the same mindset and believe exactly what he believes, even though many disagree because it’s not enough or want a more "leftist" program.

Religion is a main factor states that are more religious are more conservative because of right to life, cultural anomalies that they blame on the liberal culture. Although "liberalism" doesn’t condone pornography, promiscuity, or violence. Some conservatives believe that progressive thought has damaged christian morality by siding with gay marriage and pro choice.

The more rural and isolated one is the more they are likely to have the same opinion as the people they know and are not introduced to different ideas whether right or wrong and fear or don’t want change in the way of progressive idea’s.

Race also plays a factor. Blacks and Hispanic people are more likely to vote democratic because of what they believe to be more racist tendencies by the conservative groups. Blacks have been voting democratic ever since the new deal when southern whites rebelled against the democratic party for their race policies. Most conservatives aren’t racist, but just tend to have a view of American culture that is more nationalistic, and want other races to adapt many conservative democrats and republicans believe that immigrants are taking jobs away from Americans. However many people believe that this is not do to economics but race and fear of a white minority. Some of the most racist people in America are southern democrats who are so involved in tradition they still vote for the democrats, they were quite the racist party before the "New deal" and won’t vote for republicans because it was the party of Lincoln and still bitter over the civil war!

States that have unions are more likely to vote democratic. Education plays a role. The more one goes to college the more likely they’ll be liberal, this is due to accepting liberal philosophy and progressive attitudes towards science, law, and morality. Business majors and people in finance have a more right wing economic policy but are still more often socially liberal.

Most states aren’t blue or red they’re purple

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/purple_america_2004b.gif
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Social geographic studies.

States with a larger urban population are more socialist, not liberal. Socialists have fraudulently taken the label "liberal" when liberalism is actually antithetical to their policies; but they prefer that label to theirs. Most people today say, think, and believe whatever they like, regardless of any truth to it.

Jefferson futilely warned that bringing heavy industry here would bring hordes of people conditioned to taking direction and dependent on someone else for a wage. That’s what we have now and those are inclined to socialism.

Liberalism advocates: individual freedom, weak government, and free markets. Conservatism advocates: moral responsibility, strong government, and protected markets. Socialism advocates: social responsibility, omnipotent government, and controlled markets.
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decades studying philosophies, cultures, and social institutions began because of the confusion resulting from my military experience under the shadow of neo-Marxist propaganda disseminated from universities

Population concentrated in metropolitan areas. Relatively high number of colleged educated adults. Unionized work force.
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