I cannot relate to liberals. Seems to be, really don't know any, surely aren't screening anyone beforehand.
Observations indicate manufacturing harbors conservatives, especially at shop level. These are the same folks who curry interest for cars and motorcycles, music from rock to classical, hunting, shooting, fishing, camping, and probably have a personal shop in their garage, a high percentage are veterans, to name a few traits. Side interests are part of what makes people happy, and reflects the family too. Many feel religious; my perspective says they have faith and beliefs; not the same thing. So, like others details offered, they are involved with things that can be just participation, or far more involved.
Liberals might act like wolves but they are more like sheep. They seem unable to weigh counter points. Intolerant, arrogant, and yet desperate for attention, and still ready to cancel you none the less. Everything is acceptable, the more aberrant (to us) the better. Liberals just have to display themselves with green hair, unattractive style, and a sorely neglected physical presence. They have a good number of pathological liars; because logic and genuine proof aren't convincing to THEM.
Perfect example right now; look at who is still wearing masks (apparently extra points while alone in car) while eyeing 'us' suspect.
This has not been my experience.
I have been working with metal for a living since the 70s.
I have employed probably 40 people over that time.
As the owner of my business, I have dealt personally with many subs and suppliers- from giant metal distributors, to industrial sandblasters, powdercoaters, waterjet shops, machine shops, fab shops, and welding shops. Suppliers from 1 man dealerships to multinational corporations.
I have found that the range of political opinions I have run into range from out and out communinst (0ne- a british blacksmith- there are virtually zero real communists in the USA) thru leftists, centrists, conservatives, q-anon believers, and delusional nutjobs.
I have employed veterans, ex-cons, college students, over 50's second career people, machinists, welders, and industrial designers, as well as lesbians, blacks, native americans, chicanos, asians, and plenty of all american white guys.
Two of the people I employed with the weirdest colored hair turned out to be a conservative guy who tried to get me to use my shop to let him convert a weapon to full auto- Full NO on that one, but he worked for me for two years, purple hair, pierced nose, and all. And, an very christian, female air force vet who has gone full on Q-anon since she worked here. She was a very good welder, and I enjoyed working with her.
Basically, over 50 years or so of actually knowing, and in many cases, working with, people for 2 to 5 years, I have known "liberals" and "conservatives" and found that your generalisations dont really apply to either.
The guy I had for a year or so who had gotten out of jail for shooting the police dog- he was a conservative.
The guy who was chicano/native, who had served in jail as well, was apolitical.
The ex-Coast Guard officer, who went back to welding school, was what you would consider a raging liberal.
Several of the liberal employees I had went on to start their own businesses in metal working.
Generally speaking, the more conservative guys I have employed went to work for big corporations, were less willing to take risks, and dont employ others.
But NO generalisations about political opinions seem to reflect, in my experience, at 67 years of age, honesty, morals, skills, or whether or not someone is a decent person.
I have good friends who are quite conservative, who are lifelong metalworkers, and friends who had been arrested multiple times for protesting and breaking police car windows in the 80s, who are excellent metalworkers, business owners, and employers.
It takes all kinds, and, thats whats out there.
