Why Is San Francisco The Home Of Hippies And Leftism?

chrstnwr Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 6:11 am

I would argue that Berkeley is the current center of ‘progressive’ culture. Be that as it may, Haight Ashbury was the destination of choice for much of the counter-culture in the early 60’s. Most attribute this to the ready availability of cheap, Victorian housing. The architecture appealed to the mind set of those drawn to the counter-culture movement. The large homes with their many rooms allowed a large number of people to share the house and maintain a modicum of privacy. As a result of this migration, many of the popular bands of that era began performing regularly in the Haight. This in turn drew more of the counter-culture crowd to the area.
The primary philosophy of the counter-culture movement of the sixties was socialism/communism. The foremost of that community stayed in the area either because it was their power base or out of a developed love for the area. As the population there grew and because that sub-culture prided itself on its political awareness, they began to run for and win political office. What we see today is the natural progression of that process.

smittie Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 6:22 am

Referring to the Haight Ashbury Region of San Fran:
It gained a reputation as a center of illegal drug culture, especially with the use of marijuana. Circa 1967, its fame chiefly rested on the fact that it became the neighborhood of choice for a number of important psychedelic rock performers and groups of the mid-1960s. Acts like Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin, who all lived a short distance from the famous intersection, not only immortalized the scene in song, but knew many within the community as friends and family. Its mystique was further enhanced by the 1967 Scott MacKenzie hit “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)”, written by The Mamas & the Papas’ John Phillips. Some said the song was a blatantly commercial pop song that climbed the charts much to locals’ chagrin.

not2shabby abby Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 7:14 am

It’s warm and sunny there in the winter time .. all the flower children went there in Vans and had babies. Good Luck !

tysavage Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 7:33 am

Haight Ashbury….the summer of love
The Grateful Dead and the Jefferson airplane!

CoolLuke Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:01 am

San Francisco has a wide variety of people (and with them a wider spectrum of their experiences). San Fran is also home to many industries and companies dependent on high education degrees (these people often lean more liberal and tolerant in politics and lifestyles).
There is something to be said for location. On the bay, San Francisco (NEVER call it Frisco) has ships from different countries coming in every day.
By the way, hippies went out in the seventies.

adphllps Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 8:42 am

i know! i live in sf and it is so terrible

Krasavit Says:
October 24th, 2009 at 9:34 am

Pretty much the entire west coast of the U.S. is liberal country. Cali still has Arnie for Governator, though, which sucks rat-monkey balls.

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