What do Dems need to do to win the rural vote

[Xolodno]

75. Need to understand them first.

These are people who till or work with the earth, have a deep belief in God, pull your self up out of a hole, if not, your neighbors will help you (and they do). And at the same time, they have no understanding what urban areas have to go through, but see it on TV and it shocks them.

Thus they think, if the urban areas adopted their ethic, they would do better. But, we are also talking about people who skipped a sub standard school at times to farm fields while the truant officer looked the other way. So critical and long term thinking isn't developed (if that was possible in the first place)

But sadly some on the left, mock their religion in a militant way, their intelligence, etc. So, they are turned off and/or don't trust. Can't blame them.

For example, myself, I came up from nothing....and when I mean nothing, I actually opened the fridge and wondered why it was even on because there was nothing in it (parents would not take "government hand outs&quot I got the grades to get the College Prep courses, went to "College Night"...by my self, and while there, saw I was the only solo student without their parents. But, I did manage to get into a University that was known to be difficult. None in my family and extended family even acknowledged it...my own father didn't realize I was in a University until I was two years into it. And while there, extended family tried to get me to quit and I quote one uncle "You are there because you're lazy, you see a bunch of guys working on a road with one guy watching them and say I want to be that guy"...fyi, he didn't graduate from HS, got a GED and walked away.

After that, got a good paying job, married, etc. Yet, there were relatives who said I would "turn away from God" eventually. Instead, became a respected member of the church (lets just say I'm refusing some leadership roles). And those who dismissed me? Had sons and daughters that went downhill. And still, dismiss me.

So all in all, I guess what I'm saying is, you can't reach all rural residents with logical thinking, even if you invoke God. And its sad because they are part of the economy and if they let there bias, prejudices, etc. by the way side, they could be more successful. But its going to be a tough nut to crack when they are willing to scorn one of their own for seeking a better life, while some mock them. This is not something than can be accomplished in a generation. And given the short term goals of leadership, there is no incentive to do so as of yet.

There is no easy fix here...and the GOP like it.