I grew up in the Midwest. I have lived several other places in the US. I have many international friends. I think the reason I enjoy California so much despite its many problems due to population, is the diversity of people who came here for so many reasons. Since living in the Midwest what I noticed was the backstabbing and superficiality that exists there. If you want to express an opinion, it had better be similiar to the thinking of the region. My father, even tho I respect him, is a good example of dogmatic, religious shallowness. His thinking is extremely limited even tho he is quite intelligent. In the movie, South Pacific, there is a song that talks about getting things drummed into our heads and that is basically true. I believe that if one looks at the election returns and the states that Bush and Kerry won, one could get the idea that the midwest is Bush country and the open minded states voted for Kerry. Frankly, I voted for neither because I am not hearing what really needs to happen in the US but living in the midwest was like being from a Thomas Hardy book, I was dying on the heath becasue I knew the world was something other than what I was living and since I moved to California, I feel as if I have come home.