well, yeah, and they are also the ones where evangelical sentiment is growing. we've known this for a long time. When I took soc of religion years ago, a popular explanation was "relative deprivation". People feel _relatively_ deprived. They strive for success, become so, and then they realize it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. Not only that, what they feel they have to spend to have the lifestyle they think they should have (to be successful) means that even having good jobs and decent salaries isn't enough. They make it, but they still struggle--chasing after an elusive ideal that always, always, always elides their grasp because it's about proving success in terms of consumption. It's the consumption juggernaut: buy, buy, buy; more, more, more; now, now, now.
That is why I told Chuck0, back when he was insisting that the Christian right lost the culture wars, that he was nuts be/c, here in limpdick, the people who are the biggest zealots, where evangelicism is growing, live in the community that has something like a median income of 90k!
Their churches are huge, carnival-like social centers. On Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, they have to have extra shifts of cops there to direct traffic before and after church. They are in wealthy neighborhoods. (See Steven Tipton's early work, Getting Saved From the 60s). If they own small and medium sized businesses, they plaster their advertising with the Jesus fish. They've been advocating, for at least 7 years now, buying only from stores and vendors who are also Christian. The Jesus Fish is the sign that lets others know that they're good to do business with. The Jesus Fish on cars is NOT like the Virgin Mary on the dashboard.
christian social services for people in need--emotional, pscyhological, economic. christian economic networks to help ensure success for christian-based businesses.
they don't have to fight a politcal war anymore. they ARE an integral part of conventional politics. They are creating an alternative economic system and supporting social and human services network.
i can't help be reminded of Weber's analysis of the Protestant ethic.
Kelley
"We live under the Confederacy. We're a podunk bunch of swaggering pious hicks."
--Bruce Sterling