Jazz Musicians, Russian Immigrants and Politics
September 21st, 2008 by Alexei Zoubov
Almost all last week I was conducting an absolutely unscientific poll in person and by telephone.
The question was “What is your estimate of the percentage of conservative republicans among - [the name of the group the polled belongs]
There were two groups asked:
- Jazz musicians
- Russian immigrants of the last wave (1970 - to now)
 
The results of this so called “poll” (absolutely unscientific, but still very revealing):
The percentage of conservative republicans:
- Among Jazz musicians - about 10%
- Among Russian Americans - about 90%
 
I find it very interesting and very significant. I have my own ideas why it is so, but I really would like to hear from others.
Please leave a comment!
Posted in Ideas & Ideologies, Jazz, Musicians, Thoughts
September 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Is it that jazz musicians are mostly poor?
Or they just feel being more liberal about everything, including music?
October 15th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Although it seems that some poor liberals are turning conservative if they become wealthy, that’s not a rule at all
I think that Justin’s second suggestion is closer to the truth. Freedom and “liberalization” of thought that’s typical for (most) jazz musicians in their music leads to liberal thinking in many other areas.
March 26th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I agree with Justin’s second suggestion and Barry.
Sure, only very few get rich by playing jazz. But musicians are like artists and writers, kind of a liberal stock.
March 31st, 2009 at 6:47 am
I’d like to continue on Russian Americans, why are they turning into Republicans?
Perhaps they remember too well the Soviet system with all its shortcomings and the pendulum goes now to the other extreme.