General Discussion

Lonestarblue

(13,578 posts)

66. The less well traveled also have no concept that the US is not the most exceptional country.

Sun Nov 7, 2021, 12:28 PM

Nov 2021

It is not tops in education or access to healthcare. It is not tops in policies that benefit families. It is not tops in infrastructure spending and maintenance. It is not tops in public transportation. Its airports are not even in the top ten for best airports in the world. Its trains are dismal compared with European and Asian trains.

Where the US excels is in medical research and the ability of its premium universities to attract talent from all over the world. Yet, many rural voters do not connect immigration with people who conduct research into things like cancer treatment that make their lives better. By being against all immigration so that black and brown people cannot come her, they would throw out many of the people who contribute to the enormous progress made in treating diseases.

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Why can't Democrats win in rural areas? [View all] Cyrano Nov 2021 OP

Much of rural America has turned into news deserts over the past few decades bearsfootball516 Nov 2021 #1

& Fox on steroids, aka social media with its RW favouring algorithms, plus RW white wing hate radio Celerity Nov 2021 #4

And AM talk radio Bettie Nov 2021 #30

yep. and RW radio makes fox possible. the answer to the question is Republican talk radio certainot Nov 2021 #65

Yep Bettie Nov 2021 #93

Spot on. Yet whenever anyone mentions the RW saturation AM radio... JHB Nov 2021 #106

The radio stream of propaganda is real - but BlueIdaho Nov 2021 #51

The problem is our U.S.A. Constitution. hunter Nov 2021 #114

That's why republicans are so set-against expanding broadband internet to rural areas.... George II Nov 2021 #57

But they have "evangeliKKKal" radio 24/7 and fox Hulk Nov 2021 #64

Whoever said "The truth will set you free" was mistaken. Cyrano Nov 2021 #88

Jesus said that Sur Zobra Nov 2021 #135

Of Alabama's four largest cities, only one has a daily newspaper misanthrope Nov 2021 #129

The goal is NOT to win in the suburbs... brooklynite Nov 2021 #2

:) Depends on the suburbs and office. But good strategic points Hortensis Nov 2021 #25

Sad that when they win in urban areas they refuse to vote for legislation directed to urban areas. George II Nov 2021 #60

Mostly white people . Even Large numbers of white people outside rural areas vote Republican JI7 Nov 2021 #3

Large swaths of the rural South are majority Black. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 2021 #7

The places we lose are largely white . There are some exceptions like Oregon and Vermont JI7 Nov 2021 #13

Then talking about "losing rural areas" without including the race component isn't helpful. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 2021 #17

we only win Oregon because of Portland and its suburbs dsc Nov 2021 #19

Same is true of Washington State. BlueIdaho Nov 2021 #43

Same is true of pretty much every blue state jmowreader Nov 2021 #136

Common in the midwest too Withywindle Nov 2021 #137

Vermont is a mystery to me. Elessar Zappa Nov 2021 #124

Education and income are big drivers! Mopar151 Nov 2021 #132

Not that I know..I'm in Texas LeftInTX Nov 2021 #77

Rural areas have lost population, but they have diversified. WhiskeyGrinder Nov 2021 #81

Thanks...very interesting...will read later.. LeftInTX Nov 2021 #84

And they have hate radio 24/7 mcar Nov 2021 #5

Exactly. Much larger impact than Fox News IMO. 24/7 brainwashing, highplainsdem Nov 2021 #9

A lot of the radio hosts... 2naSalit Nov 2021 #34

I live in a rural area that kept reelecting Democrats because Democrats spelled out exactly WhiskeyGrinder Nov 2021 #6

Absolutely this. It's all in the messaging! RobertDevereaux Nov 2021 #8

PURE AND SIMPLE....RACISM Nokillmessanger Nov 2021 #15

Sigh. Not very surprised for either reason. electric_blue68 Nov 2021 #111

Well good for you.. what rural area do you live in? mountain grammy Nov 2021 #53

Targeting is important LeftInTX Nov 2021 #87

Do you live in a rural republican area? mountain grammy Nov 2021 #99

I live in a suburban Republican area, but we have data... LeftInTX Nov 2021 #115

I moved from Texas to CO in 1984 mountain grammy Nov 2021 #121

It depends on the rural area. Elessar Zappa Nov 2021 #127

I know there are exceptions mountain grammy Nov 2021 #139

I completely understand what you're saying. Elessar Zappa Nov 2021 #143

Thank you, I needed that.. mountain grammy Nov 2021 #144

Awesome!! LeftInTX Nov 2021 #85

Do you mind sharing the demographics of your area? Elessar Zappa Nov 2021 #126

Messaging and financial fairness. Tetrachloride Nov 2021 #10

Young people have moved out of rural hellholes a long time ago wellst0nev0ter Nov 2021 #11

"Brain drain" is real. hunter Nov 2021 #62

Good post Cyrano Nov 2021 #94

#1 race #2 guns. nt doc03 Nov 2021 #12

Agreed NickB79 Nov 2021 #22

Yep.. mountain grammy Nov 2021 #54

#3 God paleotn Nov 2021 #101

Rural and mostly white areas of the NE USA are liberal. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #14

I don't think the evangelicals Elessar Zappa Nov 2021 #128

People with water wells and septic systems consider themselves independent and self reliant Klaralven Nov 2021 #16

This anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-trade, anti-government policy benefits big corporations... hunter Nov 2021 #100

Big corps park profits offshore, have fleets of lawyers to deal with regs, move operations abroad Klaralven Nov 2021 #105

The big guys ought to be able to "cope" as they usually have a hand in writing the regulations. hunter Nov 2021 #110

Rural U.S. men are convinced the Democratic are going to take their guns, they stopped voting when ShazamIam Nov 2021 #18

They supported Carter, an actual evangelical Christian... Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #24

Carter didn't run on an anti-gun policy agenda. ShazamIam Nov 2021 #35

I never said that he did. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #49

Nor did I claim that you did. My point was about the Republicans taking up guns + religion ShazamIam Nov 2021 #61

You might be correct about the gun issues later. Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #70

Yeah, the gun issue is weird... LeftInTX Nov 2021 #91

I love Jimmy, but he also used some racist campaign practices SYFROYH Nov 2021 #76

I just found some examples of it... Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #82

Politics can be ugly SYFROYH Nov 2021 #83

This is the sixth paragraph of his Jan. 12, 1971 governor's inaugural address misanthrope Nov 2021 #130

Carter won that election 45 years ago. Mariana Nov 2021 #146

WI has an evangelical hold in rural are. LakeArenal Nov 2021 #20

Rural America see's Democrats as coastal elites who make fun of country folks... honest.abe Nov 2021 #21

They thought Trump was qualified to be POTUS and voted for him in droves. Twice. BlueStater Nov 2021 #133

Hate radio, uneducated white people, evangelical churches. Ocelot II Nov 2021 #23

Not only are rural people less well educated, vlyons Nov 2021 #26

The less well traveled also have no concept that the US is not the most exceptional country. Lonestarblue Nov 2021 #66

30+ years of fox news and right-wing talk radio. AJT Nov 2021 #27

I live in rural PA close to the Ohio border. appleannie1 Nov 2021 #28

good pont about gerrymandering mrsadm Nov 2021 #48

I live right on the other side of the border from Sharon. JohnnyRingo Nov 2021 #63

I saw that working the polls when trump won appleannie1 Nov 2021 #117

Is this a 2022 District? or is it a 2011-2020 District? LeftInTX Nov 2021 #95

They redid the districts here about 10 years ago. It is why Rep. Dahlkemper only served two years. appleannie1 Nov 2021 #118

Why Bother Appealing modrepub Nov 2021 #29

They have disproportionate control of the U.S. Senate Sympthsical Nov 2021 #42

+1 leftstreet Nov 2021 #52

Not Listening modrepub Nov 2021 #122

Style of campaigning matters too. Qutzupalotl Nov 2021 #31

As an example, take the minimum wage debate. Qutzupalotl Nov 2021 #38

Having had a small farm, most like to keep things simple, more relaxed and less strenuous TheBlackAdder Nov 2021 #32

+1 2naSalit Nov 2021 #37

so much for the bullshit about how friendly rural folk are Skittles Nov 2021 #134

Local TV stations, newspapers owned by far right. Joinfortmill Nov 2021 #33

Clinton let the Fairness Doctrine disappear, and this shit is the result bringthePaine Nov 2021 #36

I always thought GWB was responsible for killing the fairness doctrine. Meadowoak Nov 2021 #86

It was Reagan LeftInTX Nov 2021 #96

Clinton wasn't President in 1987 tenderfoot Nov 2021 #108

Hate radio, fox, generations of racism, peer pressure. "Yer with us or yer agin us." Had someone Evolve Dammit Nov 2021 #39

They drive pickups, drink beer, and shoot animals (hunt) mrsadm Nov 2021 #40

"This is more cultural that's at play and identity politics that's at play than economic policies," gulliver Nov 2021 #41

As I have heard my wife say ( many times ) twodogsbarking Nov 2021 #44

I also live in deep red PA TheDemsshouldhireme Nov 2021 #45

agreed that guns is a probably the single biggest reason (I'm also in red PA) Amishman Nov 2021 #131

I know quite a few as well. LiberatedUSA Nov 2021 #141

Quit blaming rural voters Wild blueberry Nov 2021 #46

Thank you. KentuckyWoman Nov 2021 #113

Their circles of influence are so much smaller. world wide wally Nov 2021 #47

Unfortunately, RW Radio controls their mind ... aggiesal Nov 2021 #50

My Brother-In-Law is a like minded farmer. JohnnyRingo Nov 2021 #55

Rurals have reinforcing genealogy, religious, business networks hyped with social media bucolic_frolic Nov 2021 #56

"Hey rural America... LiberatedUSA Nov 2021 #58

I'm in a rural area visiting my daughter ismnotwasm Nov 2021 #59

I live in Ohio. SamKnause Nov 2021 #67

Couldn't Agree more, same here is PA TheDemsshouldhireme Nov 2021 #71

Thanks. SamKnause Nov 2021 #73

It costs $$$ to have a physical HQ... LeftInTX Nov 2021 #97

I think a lot of democrats don't want to waste Tree Lady Nov 2021 #112

I live in a rural area... orwell Nov 2021 #68

I wonder if part of the answer might be to design ads that speak to at least some of these karynnj Nov 2021 #69

I think Democrats and "socialists" like Sanders... Buckeye_Democrat Nov 2021 #90

We may not like it but rural voters live mostly in Progressive dog Nov 2021 #72

Back In THe 1960's The Most Liberal Senators Were From States Like DallasNE Nov 2021 #74

That's a complicated question, actually. MineralMan Nov 2021 #75

Rural voters tend to vote based on values rather than economics Poiuyt Nov 2021 #78

The same reason Republicans don't win the inner city vote Polybius Nov 2021 #79

Maybe less broadband availability Mr.Bill Nov 2021 #104

Democrats are labeled for raising taxes. RicROC Nov 2021 #80

I agree with many of the ideas above. cilla4progress Nov 2021 #89

This is a good article. . . . h2ebits Nov 2021 #92

I don't think we reach out to them. I remember when Bernie went to West Virginia and Kentucky? ratchiweenie Nov 2021 #98

IMO it started long ago moondust Nov 2021 #102

Rep. controlled media. Brainfodder Nov 2021 #103

Just 25% of the vote Trump got in MI came from counties considered rural or mostly rural. Kaleva Nov 2021 #107

Rural areas don't need government forthemiddle Nov 2021 #109

Much of rural U.S.A. would look like a third world nation... hunter Nov 2021 #145

Frankly they're dumb as fck, filthy disease-spreading covidiots that are horrible to be around traitorsgalore Nov 2021 #116

I too am sick of being told I need to "understand" these folk Skittles Nov 2021 #125

+1. They're goddamn hypocrites dalton99a Nov 2021 #140

I have lived city, suburb and rural Skittles Nov 2021 #147

God and guns budkin Nov 2021 #119

Because we don't live there. (n/t) Iggo Nov 2021 #120

My sister just finished writing a white paper not long ago misanthrope Nov 2021 #123

Vicious cycle of peer pressure, Fascist radio, illiteracy/semi-literacy, Roisin Ni Fiachra Nov 2021 #138

Small town America has been decimated by manufacturing falling Johnny2X2X Nov 2021 #142

I live in the largest county in the lower 48 and it is red ripcord Nov 2021 #148