The Democrats Need to Stop Avoiding Rural Areas.

[Tsiyu]

41. I live in an extremely poor, rural area

This year, the very first local Republican was voted into office in the history of a neighboring county.

Nary a Republican to be found governing in any capacity in all the years of that county's existence. Why has that county always gone Democratic? That's something to study.

Also: People hype the "ignorance" in the area, but then forget that there is the internet here, and cable, and Netflix, and people may not see the Big City in person, but they get it in their living rooms. Most of the people I know watch movies, music videos, visit with one another, watch a little reality TV, and ignore politics.

I don't hear them say anything disparaging when a non-Caucasian character comes on TV; they don't appear shocked to see New York City on the screen. If asked, most don't fear gays being part of society, really, because they have a family member or friend who is gay. The churches preach intolerance of course, but only a small portion of people attend these churches. ( These are also the ones who regularly vote. ) A lot of the rural people I know dress as well as TV depicts folks should dress, most don't really care what anyone is wearing. Many travel for work, or have come back after living in Chicago or Dallas. They travel to Chattanooga and Nashville and stay in hotels and navigate the health care system and do a lot of the same things urban and suburban people do.

They share a love of the woods, they like being close to trails where you can ride or hike to beauty, they like to hunt, they like to grow things and raise animals, they have more social contact and support than many in urban or suburban areas.

Example: no real homelessness here, as someone will take you in, and zoning is such you can live in a box until you get it together.

Rural areas are generally a mix of old families and new people who come for the solitude and unmaterialistic culture. Many have degrees, run businesses, have colorful families.

IOW: Black and White thinking is SO. MUCH. BULLSHIT.