Optimism is the Key

The “Conclusion” chapter in Our Patchwork Nation, in addition to summing up Chinni and Gimpel’s analysis, proposes a theory of American unity. In this final section, Chinni and Gimpel cite a 2008 Pew Research Center for the People and the Press statistic which asked people if working hard could help Americans get ahead. Surprisingly, at least […]

Satisfying the Exception

Our Patchwork Nation proposes the unique view that the recent American economic recession was experienced differently depending on the community type one resides in. On top of this, each community experienced its negative effects at separate times, often months apart. Chinni and Gimpel then use this to back up their proposal that federal aid should be […]

Satisfying the Exception

Our Patchwork Nation proposes the unique view that the recent American economic recession was experienced differently depending on the community type one resides in. On top of this, each community experienced its negative effects at separate times, often months apart. Chinni and Gimpel then use this to back up their proposal that federal aid should be […]

Adaptation Versus Stagnation

Chinni and Gimpel’s twelve community types are different in terms of politics, religions, classes, and ethnicities. While some communities lean Republican or lean Democrat, others are “swing” communities, willing to be swayed. While some have a large minority population, some are 96% white. Despite these statistical differences, Chinni and Gimpel mention a distinction that goes […]