My point about the US being more alike than different and thus a map that shows cultural differences is that there really isn't anywhere in the US where a state or a whole "cultural region" would like to secede or talk of seceding from the union.

Of the 9 Gareau Cultural Nations, only Quebec has talked about seceding from its respective nation, Canada. So, in that sense, its the only one of the 9 that has perfect geographic boundaries that describes its "cultural nation". Canada is not like the US. It is not a republic, its a dominion. Quebec could easily vote to secede from Canada and become its own nation, and probably be able to do so peacefully with the rest of Canada. Also, Newfoundland -- the island out in the far east Atlantic seaboard, was its very own republic until 1949, when it chose to join the Dominion of Canada. I once had an internet discussion with someone from Newfoundland and he described that Canada is a patchwork or a quilt that has made Canada work as a dominion, but Quebec and Newfoundland have very strong republic-like identities within this loose patchwork of a dominion. Really the core of Canada is rooted in Ontario. The Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta identify more with Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana than they do with Ontario, and British Columbia is really a part of the Pacific Northwest and feels akin to Washington State and Oregon, more than Ontario.

Nowhere in the US do we have the characteristic of Quebec or even Newfoundland (although Texas was once its very own republic, but it enthusiastically wanted to join the US, and did so in 1845). We see ourselves as one republic. Sure there's political and some cultural differences between regions and people, and more often than not those differences are seen not in different geographic region but within metropolitan areas.

The Civil War is nearing 1.5 centuries in the past. Yes there is regional differences and preferences, but 9 different cultural nations in the US, no.

I like the reference to the "burbs" in this thread. More than half the nation lives in the 'burbs" and those are all pretty much the same throughout the nation. The other half live in central cities and rural areas. So these are difference within metro areas and rural portions of individual states and not a whole nation. Which explains why there is some talk from time to time of certain regions within states wanted to secede from their individual states to either become their own state or become a part of a neighboring state. But none of these kind of talks are really really serious. Everyone still sees one republic.

The country breaks down, very roughly, to 40% independent, 30% Democrat, and 30% Republican. I really scoff at the generalization made here.

I once saw a map (not on the internet) of linguistic dialect variations in America, and it tends to account for an urban existence in many cities (outside the Northeast and South) versus the surrounding rural culture, then the South and Northeast and a few other odd spots... and while it's somewhat different than the Nine Nations map, I tend to think it may be more accurate. Too bad I can't find it on the 'net.

The map does lose a lot of local flavors. Montana west of the Divide (among the places I tripped through over the weekend) is quite culturally different than the "East Side". Missoula (definitely booming, BTW) is kind of a transition zone from a Midwestern mindset to Ecotopia. Northern Idaho has been part of that transition zone for some time, while Southern Idaho is definitely among the wastelands of the Intermountain West.

Oh, as a fellow Portland Timbers fan pointed out, the difference between Portland and Quebec is that Portland succeeded at seceding. Portland just hasn't bothered to send the word out yet, though it's our general observation that you wouldn't notice anyway. ;D

As one from the deep south who moved to the northeast (usually the other way around, and who retires to the north?; academia takes some to unplanned places), I want to offer my perspective on this. First, I enjoyed viewing the map, entertaining in fact, and in a suggestive way, an element of truth to it.

The only caution I have is the propensity for stereotyping. While I live deep in the eastern part of the rust belt, it is certainly not the bastion of "eastern establishment liberalism". There are plently of religious fundamentalists, staunch conservatives, and pardon the affectionate phrase, "rednecks" around. On the flip side, back in my former southern domain, which I visit quite often, there are an appreciable number of liberal minded, upscale citizens.

Certain areas may hold a majority for a particular political outlook, though the divide of differences may be in the single digits in terms of percentages.

The 2000 national election showed majority democratic support in urban, coastal, and muti-dimensional communities; while republican support dwelled strongest in the national interior, rural, and suburban environments. Obviously, Florida, with a combination of it all, showed us the confusion and divide regarding this.

The north-south divide has gotten blurred. In college sports, it recently happened; who would have thought Clemson and Boston College as sisters in the same division of the same conference ;D?

BC probably wasn't Clemson's first choice. But Clemson had limited options to choose from. VT was a gimme for the ACC. Miami was the one the ACC really had to work for. I'm sure behind closed doors Miami officials informed Clemson and everyone else in the ACC they weren't joining unless they had some kind of assurance that either BC or Syracuse would be a member. Furthermore, the ACC had limited choices for a 12th member. Their choices were either BC, WVU, or East Carolina. Clemson officials knew the ACC wouldn't be too keen on expanding with ECU, and one has to wonder if Clemson didn't really want ECU in the ACC to begin with regardless of the NC's schools' opinions. Now you're down to WVU and BC. BC has better academics than WVU and Boston is a bigger market than Morgantown, WV.

Actually, the Clemson President chaired the ACC Presidents during expansion.

Clemson supported having 12. There is no official record specifying their order of preferences during discussion. VPI was not a gimme. That was the intervention of the VA Gov. & Virginia politics forcing UVA not to vote for expansion unless VPI was accepted.

In the end, VPI essentially took Syracuse's spot. Syracuse was originally sought in adition to Miami and BC. Yes, Miami had demands for northeast teams. Whether or not that was a true bluff, is debatable. Miami did not balk when VA Tech was taken, and the Presidents settled on 11 while the potential championship game was being petitioned for.

WVU and East Carolina were never seriously considered. ECU did openly seek ACC membership, going so far as to send a group to conference headquarters while #12 was being pondered.

Further, the ACC had other options such as Tulane, Temple, South Florida, etc. They were not seriously considered either.

If we want to see the "cultural" differences between regions, all we have to do is print a map showing the states where Michael Moore's "Farenheit 9/11" is allowed to be shown & those where it isn't. ;D

An excellent documentary uhh oh movie!

Cultural uniqueness:

A prancing Purdue or Ohio State drummajor
The Southern University Marching Band
Something in the air at Prairre View A&M to prevent wins
Col. Reb at Ole Miss
The GA-FLA thingytail party
Cowbells at Miss State
The few fans at Temple fb
Joe Paterno not retiring
Lou Holtz not retiring
Bobby Bowden not retiring
Clapping at PAC 10 games - enthusiasm?
ACC still North Carolina at its core
SEC & Big 12 still want to cheat
A Colorado recruiting strip show
A betting pool among Washington athletic staff
Notre Dame over-exposure
Big East still BCS?
Are Big Ten refs bias or inept?
TCU conference jumping
Can Texas buy a national championship?
Ann Richards getting Baylor in the Big 12.
The WAC not taken serious
Nebraska ain't got it no more
Alabama still clinging to Bear Bryant
UCLA coaching hires?
What will be the first college to have its name changed to Ronald Regan U?

That would be every state. As in there is at least one theatre in every state plus DC that is currently showing Michael Moore's documentary. Check it out:

http://www.f911tix.com/

Also, check this out:

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/breakingnews/index.php?id=39

So the US only needs one college football conference.

Some areas are going to be more conservative or liberal than others and social activities are influenced by ethnic customs, climate, population density, employment opportunities and so forth. People also move around so there are pockets of differences to the norm for each area.

The following link provides additional insight into the politics played by the VA governor, among others:

Political blocks sprung Tech
Warner, Kilgore, Allen and Casteen cleared the way for Hokies' run to premier league
BY JEFF WHITE
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Jun 30, 2004
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031776322789&path=%21sports&s=104585593484

An ACC invitation for Virginia Tech was NOT a gimme. That's not what I was talking about TigerfaninSC. Acceptance of an ACC invitation by Virginia Tech WAS a gimme. That's what I was talking about.