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Horse with no Name

(34,241 posts)

11. In the small East Texas town I am from

Thu Aug 15, 2019, 12:26 PM

Aug 2019

There have been many opportunities for growth that were turned down by the town elders.
“They ain’t gonna put an interstate through our back yard”

They made it difficult for industry that begged to come there

Now, the town is declining. The hospital is gone. Schools are underperforming. There aren’t any jobs.

The old white men killed the town rather than allow progress.

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Whats Killing Rural America? [View all] thomhartmann Aug 2019 OP

Rural Americans are killing Rural America. Aristus Aug 2019 #1

So much this... Wounded Bear Aug 2019 #2

That was one of the problems with the Roman Empire. Aristus Aug 2019 #3

That and never ending wars. Sound familiar? Va Lefty Aug 2019 #4

Yeah, no kidding. Aristus Aug 2019 #9

and the meth and opioid epidemic. nt Javaman Aug 2019 #15

meth opiod is not an epidemic. one has to chose to use nt msongs Aug 2019 #30

That's a Republican talking point. Turin_C3PO Aug 2019 #34

no kidding. I couldn't believe that response. nt Javaman Aug 2019 #65

The American Medical Association calls it a medical disorder.. an illness..... albacore Aug 2019 #82

Jeez. /nt yardwork Aug 2019 #90

I agree with you. An epidemic is the spread of an infectious disease. LuvLoogie Aug 2019 #91

Epidemiologists disagree with your made-up definition of an epidemic. yardwork Aug 2019 #92

I never hear of anyone describing urban addiction as an epidemic. LuvLoogie Aug 2019 #95

Are you an epidemiologist, a medical provider, or a scientist? yardwork Aug 2019 #101

Alot of similarities between bdamomma Aug 2019 #24

I for one am looking forward to the invasion of barbarians from the north - Heil Canada!!! Moostache Aug 2019 #51

Well they have an bdamomma Aug 2019 #77

Painting with a broad brush ? SamKnause Aug 2019 #5

Unfortunately you're outnumbered by a factor of 10 to 1 BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #7

Yes I live in rural America as well... jcgoldie Aug 2019 #93

There with you. Skidmore Aug 2019 #23

yep - I do too (see it) Locrian Aug 2019 #59

You think rural America's embrace of Trump is based on their economic anxiety? BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #74

during the election? yes Locrian Aug 2019 #100

"People in those situations will turn to anything." BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #107

Yeah, sure BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #73

most urbanites live in working class neighborhoods. /nt radius777 Aug 2019 #98

Thank you all for your support! I too, have family in rural America, that vote ... SWBTATTReg Aug 2019 #37

I am a liberal living in rural Iowa Bettie Aug 2019 #42

Thank you for your honesty Boomerproud Aug 2019 #75

Thank you for that post. llmart Aug 2019 #80

It's a generality Bradical79 Aug 2019 #48

pointing out the truth is not "painting with a broad brush" Takket Aug 2019 #50

I don't know if I would use "vast majority" TheRealNorth Aug 2019 #56

American population is something like 80% urban and 20% rural. pangaia Aug 2019 #58

Soooooooo, you and your fam are not the exception for rural America? thx in advance uponit7771 Aug 2019 #66

I live in rural America and I gotta say, I am sick to death of the wide brush. I volunteer airmid Aug 2019 #102

and killing the rest of America too AlexSFCA Aug 2019 #53

Bingo CanonRay Aug 2019 #62

+1 Blue_Tires Aug 2019 #63

"They", as if rural America is one monolithic same voting block. elocs Aug 2019 #67

I think it would be a good idea. Aristus Aug 2019 #69

Your post was my first thought too! RURAL AMERICANS are killing rural America and Maru Kitteh Aug 2019 #84

Bingo! 100% Correct Buckeyeblue Aug 2019 #106

This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #6

Seriously? Skidmore Aug 2019 #25

It's another upward transfer of wealth. When farmers go broke, investors buy up the land. Midnight Writer Aug 2019 #8

Sounds like it. elleng Aug 2019 #10

Absolutely right. JDC Aug 2019 #27

Yep...we are about lose a farm that's been in the family over 100 years. airmid Aug 2019 #103

In the small East Texas town I am from Horse with no Name Aug 2019 #11

Fresno California mshasta Aug 2019 #13

And I bet they have no idea why the town is dying. PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #46

Just as what happened in Ireland over the years. Peregrine Took Aug 2019 #12

what a lovely article bdamomma Aug 2019 #33

Clinging to God and their guns Runningdawg Aug 2019 #14

BINGO!!! ⬆⬆ Duppers Aug 2019 #43

My single greatest problem with the Bible PoindexterOglethorpe Aug 2019 #47

Post removed Post removed Aug 2019 #16

Stupidity. OliverQ Aug 2019 #17

Love the reactions in this thread. JFC. WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2019 #18

Yup, we are our own worst enemy sometimes Amishman Aug 2019 #22

No kidding... MicaelS Aug 2019 #49

Then show us the way. Tell us what's killing Rural America. maxsolomon Aug 2019 #57

Did RT sponsor this post? NightWatcher Aug 2019 #19

Dense Urban Centers are the future JCMach1 Aug 2019 #20

God, I Hope Not RobinA Aug 2019 #60

Good read, Cities are also evolving JCMach1 Aug 2019 #71

Does it matter? sarisataka Aug 2019 #21

Food. 33taw Aug 2019 #26

Ding ding sarisataka Aug 2019 #35

And some seem to forget who their markets are, by the way. A significant portion of their ... SWBTATTReg Aug 2019 #41

Big AG is feeding cities. The family farmer feeding America is a myth. Blue_true Aug 2019 #79

Check your produce isle. Almost 100% of the stuff is imported. Blue_true Aug 2019 #78

Oh and enough votes to swing elections in WI and WI. 33taw Aug 2019 #31

Another excellent reason sarisataka Aug 2019 #39

What the rural US needs is bdamomma Aug 2019 #28

+1000 Duppers Aug 2019 #44

No good Internet in my part of rural America. phylny Aug 2019 #64

Amazon only go to places with good broadband, transportation and at a lower level, schools Blue_true Aug 2019 #85

Rural Anerica would not have been a good choice for Amazon. Blue_true Aug 2019 #83

Health Care is a big issue 33taw Aug 2019 #89

Rural Americans cost us WI and Iowa in 2016. I think we need to not be so arrogant. 33taw Aug 2019 #29

Russian interference (and I believe vote manipulation) cost us those states... Moostache Aug 2019 #55

whats killing rural America larwdem Aug 2019 #32

For those championing rural voter outreach BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #36

Not all rural areas are Jesus centric. Turin_C3PO Aug 2019 #38

I'm in Oklahoma so I can't speak for Wyoming BannonsLiver Aug 2019 #40

Yep, tent revivals are a tad above snake charming. Blue_true Aug 2019 #86

I was going to reply to this thread from my own experience Maeve Aug 2019 #45

Voting against their own best interests LW1977 Aug 2019 #52

Rural Americans' voting habits. (n/t) Iggo Aug 2019 #54

Damn straight this right here. Afromania Aug 2019 #61

+1000 smirkymonkey Aug 2019 #109

**** THANK YOU !!! **** uponit7771 Aug 2019 #68

This explains it all. Comatose Sphagetti Aug 2019 #70

Good video. Not just agriculture - small factories as well. KY_EnviroGuy Aug 2019 #72

Great rant Enviro. Blue_true Aug 2019 #87

That's it in a nutshell, wish you'd do a separate OP on this appalachiablue Aug 2019 #88

I think the reason is not complex Steelrolled Aug 2019 #76

MAGAts are killing them Skittles Aug 2019 #81

Unswerving devotion to Republicanism has fatal consequences. VOX Aug 2019 #94

and don't forget... myohmy2 Aug 2019 #96

Candidates like Sen. Elizabeth Warren can reach rural Americans: appalachiablue Aug 2019 #97

Red America refuses to embrace modern values, radius777 Aug 2019 #99

That's something that really began in the 1940s or so Spider Jerusalem Aug 2019 #104

Going back to rural America for visit. Haven't been there since well before Trump. captain queeg Aug 2019 #105

Just came back from a visit to rural Indiana and suburban Cincy. maxsolomon Aug 2019 #108