General Discussion

OnionPatch

(6,309 posts)

215. I grew up in the country too.

Sat Jan 26, 2013, 11:07 AM

Jan 2013

I've lived in the city but I never felt completely comfortable there. The feeling of being "in public" the second I poked my toe out my door made me feel claustrophobic. The lack of interesting wildlife and the opportunity to observe nature was a loss I felt deeply. The noise from constant traffic drove me crazy. I missed the sound of wind in the trees, the singing of birds and crickets at night. Not being able to have a garden and a big yard for kids and dogs was stifling.

It has never been a question of the culture for me. In fact, socially, I prefer the diversity and open-mindedness of urban people (no offense to some of my neighbors.) Just saying, I agree that rural people are not all here for the culture, a lot of us are just used to living closer to nature.

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If The Dems Made A Concerted Effort To Appeal To Rural Voters What Would You Recommend They Do?.... [View all] global1 Jan 2013 OP

Send them somewhere they can get a quality education? mmonk Jan 2013 #1

One can get a quality education in rural places. Yours is the kind of bias that hurts the party. Scuba Jan 2013 #3

Mine is the kind of bias that comes from getting screwed by them mmonk Jan 2013 #5

Who grows the food you eat? nt tama Jan 2013 #12

Thank you. Scuba Jan 2013 #19

Mexico. n/t Ian David Jan 2013 #29

That most important point has not been very much forgotten in these threads tama Jan 2013 #34

who SELLS the food we eat Trajan Jan 2013 #82

Some farm just for money tama Jan 2013 #155

Both good and bad people. mmonk Jan 2013 #142

OK tama Jan 2013 #156

tarring every rural voter with the broad brush won't help your war; you need allies & there are HiPointDem Jan 2013 #168

I don't cotton to death threats myself. That's a point I'm trying to make. mmonk Jan 2013 #299

Oh please treestar Jan 2013 #216

Then why are rural people in Minnesota, murielm99 Jan 2013 #228

Then I'd say study that treestar Jan 2013 #243

Minnesota has a large union presence in rural areas YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #248

I live in a rural area in NC that always votes Democratic Party. Jamastiene Jan 2013 #263

MN has the particular history of the DFL to thank for that, but don't fool yourself. JVS Jan 2013 #370

??? tama Jan 2013 #262

Who do you think? procon Jan 2013 #233

Exactly tama Jan 2013 #242

Urban school districts are the worse performing in RI while rural areas have excellent schools. hack89 Jan 2013 #4

I guess they just don't teach the research and critical thinking skills.. ananda Jan 2013 #16

Rural Rhode Island = oxymoron. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #48

I take it you are not familiar with western RI hack89 Jan 2013 #55

Rhode Island has 1000 residents per square mile!! lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #64

And you don't know RI hack89 Jan 2013 #70

Rhode island has half the area of my *county*, much higher incomes, and 15 times as many people. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #86

You = rather ignorant of RI Capt. Obvious Jan 2013 #77

With 1000 residents per square mile, there are no backwaters. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #80

You = ignorant of RI Capt. Obvious Jan 2013 #90

Did you learn math at a rural school? hack89 Jan 2013 #102

Yes, I did. You apparently didn't. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #126

King County has a average pop density of 908/sq mi hack89 Jan 2013 #133

"Areas"? Perhaps an occasional 50 acre gated estate. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #148

How about census tracts? hack89 Jan 2013 #153

good hint lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #244

Wow, that is a cool site. PotatoChip Jan 2013 #276

Looks like my kinda place. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #287

Well, I must admit that a common saying about this area PotatoChip Jan 2013 #303

I'm annoyed by people who extrapolate their own experience into whatever topic is current. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #320

Yes, I know what you mean. PotatoChip Jan 2013 #321

One more thing... PotatoChip Jan 2013 #312

Highest ACT Scores in the country (in order) Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #49

My daughter goes to college in the Midwest with a bunch of farm kids. hack89 Jan 2013 #56

I spent my first 7 years of education in a 1-room rural Wisconsin country school. Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #57

Dat shud hep. Owteer inda stix Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #52

I love language tama Jan 2013 #198

Thank you. n/t Jamastiene Jan 2013 #264

As a rural teacher, LWolf Jan 2013 #212

Give them a "DU" & then tighten rules about being polite & avoiding gratuitous insults. patrice Jan 2013 #2

Out in rural areas "DU" means Ducks Unlimited. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #336

He, he, they'd probably like that!, but maybe we should make that a Rural Underground instead. patrice Jan 2013 #348

How far down the thread before FDR's name was used in vain?... Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #356

Not sure what you're referring to there, but I will try to check. & I was actually just thinking patrice Jan 2013 #357

FDR's alphabet agency approach was effective, but Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #371

It's a big thread and I don't see that FDR reference; it would be okay patrice Jan 2013 #358

I wasn't dissing FDR, I was being sarcastic about hiw long the Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #372

I didn't think you were. I thought you said you saw someone else do that. nt patrice Jan 2013 #375

No, no. Just bad conumijashun! Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #378

Show some respect loyalsister Jan 2013 #6

There is a chicken/egg element riqster Jan 2013 #15

Whether it's availability or preference loyalsister Jan 2013 #18

True enough riqster Jan 2013 #46

Good points. In many places in Colorado there is no cell phone service or cable. MissMarple Jan 2013 #138

There is an issue of infrastructure being in place for the type of communications you refer to Skidmore Jan 2013 #179

Iowa was incredibly strong for the Union during the U.S. Civil War. One of its coalition_unwilling Jan 2013 #213

+1! uponit7771 Jan 2013 #194

I lived in Alaska for a time. Scootaloo Jan 2013 #204

In mid-Missouri loyalsister Jan 2013 #260

She's not trying to be condescending at all. xmas74 Jan 2013 #283

We won without them, though treestar Jan 2013 #217

You must think that rural people are interested only in guns and social conservatism if you say that Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #229

make sure they have internet 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #7

This and it should be in 2013 a basic service like electricity libtodeath Jan 2013 #8

Shit - when you live rural ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #249

+1 gulliver Jan 2013 #226

Seriously? ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #326

yep in some areas, all is still true. 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #364

they could get some tips from Oregon's Rural Organizing Project... Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #9

That looks like a great resource. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #175

Emphasize values like freedom, liberty, equality. Hammer hard about how Repubs are screwing them. LonePirate Jan 2013 #10

'emphasize' Single Payer National Healthcare, $20 an hour Minimum Wage n/t leftstreet Jan 2013 #26

A $20/hr minimum would appeal to people who hire much low-skill low cost labor? nt dmallind Jan 2013 #137

Land reform tama Jan 2013 #11

Promise them what? Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #21

Land reform tama Jan 2013 #27

What? Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #40

As you say tama Jan 2013 #47

OK Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #88

We didn't tama Jan 2013 #112

Did you know that the U.S. imposed land reform on Japan and Taiwan after World War II? Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #41

Now that you mention tama Jan 2013 #140

+1 HiPointDem Jan 2013 #171

A sad and Forgotten Time 4Q2u2 Jan 2013 #201

Manual labor in the fields tama Jan 2013 #207

The Dem power structure is overwhelmingly urban and coastal, and too many of the Beltway types Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #225

Urban and commungardens are becoming increasingly common. There is a whole movement promoting them. MissMarple Jan 2013 #139

Point out the facts riqster Jan 2013 #13

IOW ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #101

better access to health care WI_DEM Jan 2013 #14

Cooperatives exist that do that reteachinwi Jan 2013 #54

this is a great one. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #143

This is an excellent one Warpy Jan 2013 #265

Bank bailouts, "free trade" with Korea, mandatory insurance. Those would be my top priorities. nt Romulox Jan 2013 #17

Right-to-work, Chained CPI SS cuts, Jobless Recovery Program n/t leftstreet Jan 2013 #24

And if those ignorant racists don't like that, I don't know what to tell them? Romulox Jan 2013 #25

You need to show them, not just tell them. geomon666 Jan 2013 #20

This. theKed Jan 2013 #235

What does it mean to choose to be rural in the 21st Century? sadbear Jan 2013 #22

Think tama Jan 2013 #30

Not robbing? What do you mean? nt ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #83

History of civilization tama Jan 2013 #94

Red states take more welfare than blue stats. ZombieHorde Jan 2013 #98

Yeah tama Jan 2013 #110

That is a very interesting question ..... oldhippie Jan 2013 #35

I do believe it is a choice. sadbear Jan 2013 #45

My take. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #97

I grew up in the country too. OnionPatch Jan 2013 #215

some of us city dwellers have been country all along 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #368

In that sense tama Jan 2013 #116

I choose to be rural because ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #322

Like I said, there are exceptions. sadbear Jan 2013 #323

I really do think ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #324

I don't understand how that explains the overwhelming number sadbear Jan 2013 #331

As someone pointed out in another post, ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #333

So most rural voters are so stupid that they think sadbear Jan 2013 #334

No we aren't stupid and Republicans don't make the disdain so obvious. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #335

C'mon now, that's just silly. sadbear Jan 2013 #337

No, what you said is silly. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #339

The answer is silly. sadbear Jan 2013 #340

It's a matter of perspective and opinion. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #342

No, I'm suggesting that Democrats are ALWAYS better than republicans. sadbear Jan 2013 #343

And that is your opinion from your perspective. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #349

Yes, other people have different perspective. They're called republicans. sadbear Jan 2013 #353

LOL... ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #362

"Republicans don't make the disdain so obvious." Home run. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #346

You live on an acre and a half 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #366

Stop making assuptions is the main thing. Brickbat Jan 2013 #23

Tell them the truth in a way they understand it. butterflygirl Jan 2013 #28

We do speak English... ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #325

Start kicking republicon asses up one side of the back forty and down the other madokie Jan 2013 #31

Send out activists to just LISTEN to rural people Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #32

You can't have it both ways Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #43

Maybe they care about guns so much because their other needs are not being met Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #44

It's not about needs, it's about culture SpartanDem Jan 2013 #59

One thing the Dems need to make clear is that no one is talking about hunting rifles. Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #66

Making a semi-automatic rifle sound like a minigun isn't going to help derby378 Jan 2013 #95

Saying you are not talking about hunting rifles is not enough thetonka Jan 2013 #100

And yet, almost all the school and other mass shootings have taken place in rural or suburban areas Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #114

It's not that simple thetonka Jan 2013 #122

+1000 forthemiddle Jan 2013 #202

Except variants of those have been used for hunting for decades SpartanDem Jan 2013 #106

There are companies that sell 30 round clips for the M1 Carbine thetonka Jan 2013 #123

I think he meant the Garand gejohnston Jan 2013 #149

The Beltway yuppies and Wall Street types are big reasons why so many rural people... YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #290

"Rural voters do not have a good choice in today's political world." JVS Jan 2013 #365

Could start by regjoe Jan 2013 #33

For starters, drop many gun-control proposals derby378 Jan 2013 #36

There really are Two America's on this subject... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #67

From what I've seen in the executive orders, they're fine derby378 Jan 2013 #92

If I were Obama's principle political advisor... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #108

I think you nailed it on the head derby378 Jan 2013 #113

And as soon as you say "gun nut" you lose the vote and the attention thetonka Jan 2013 #124

As with the term "gun grabber" Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #150

Exactly, and the conversation quickly degrades and ends. thetonka Jan 2013 #374

devote resources to rural areas dembotoz Jan 2013 #37

Make 1894 Winchester standard on every pickup One_Life_To_Give Jan 2013 #38

Single-payer healthcare. JVS Jan 2013 #39

K&R! patrice Jan 2013 #72

Pocketbook issues... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #42

Bonus question for all you high information voters; What is the state motto of Wyoming? lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #50

Looked it up reteachinwi Jan 2013 #60

Does Wyoming offer civil marriage for GLBTQ citizens? geek tragedy Jan 2013 #73

Much like Rhode Island in this regard. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #91

Rhode Island offers civil unions for same sex couples, explicitly geek tragedy Jan 2013 #93

I'd recommend they not. Robb Jan 2013 #51

How cynical is that? "Southern strategy" 2014. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #71

"Rural" is not "the south." Robb Jan 2013 #99

Many rural districts are evenly divided. reteachinwi Jan 2013 #84

JOBS! hedgehog Jan 2013 #53

I think we should start with suburbs and small towns LeftInTX Jan 2013 #58

It is all about economics with rural voters thevoiceofreason Jan 2013 #61

My take on this... logosoco Jan 2013 #62

Guns are marketed as a wedge issue reteachinwi Jan 2013 #78

#1 Ask rural people themselves what they want & need. #2 Use the 50-state strategy. Hekate Jan 2013 #63

Free guns and bibles jpak Jan 2013 #65

Tom Harkin reteachinwi Jan 2013 #68

Run an old, white candidate who loves guns and hates abortion and teh gay. geek tragedy Jan 2013 #69

Posts like this are one of the biggest reasons Democrats lose rural America YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #291

Have you looked at who rural America sends to Congress? geek tragedy Jan 2013 #313

I lived in rural CA for a long time. One thing upaloopa Jan 2013 #74

Excellent points Hekate Jan 2013 #96

Yes, and above all, don't ridicule them Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #117

"Those stupid, inbred hicks! How come they don't vote for us?" YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #292

First: build an infrastructure there Capt. Obvious Jan 2013 #75

Go Truman. nyquil_man Jan 2013 #76

tell them to wise up quinnox Jan 2013 #79

Passenger rail service. nt patrice Jan 2013 #81

I live in rural PA. The only thing that would work is change party. Rural would vote for a skunk appleannie1 Jan 2013 #85

Yep Cosmocat Jan 2013 #104

As a Liberal and Progressive rural Voter I say give the people a clear choice Lesmoderesstupides Jan 2013 #87

Yes, if Democrats think they have to act like Republicans to get elected, they'll lose, Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #115

It only takes one bad apple and sadly there are too many with D's after their name Lesmoderesstupides Jan 2013 #145

+1! uponit7771 Jan 2013 #196

Get them turned onto alternative energy rightsideout Jan 2013 #89

For real. I've actually witnessed climate change changing rural voters. raouldukelives Jan 2013 #373

Promote a 21st century version of the TVA (from the 1930's) DinahMoeHum Jan 2013 #103

HIGH SPEED INTERNET B Calm Jan 2013 #105

Better cell coverage would probably be a bigger seller than fast internet Xithras Jan 2013 #169

The first thing this old truck driver B Calm Jan 2013 #173

Yes! Access to lots of diverse information. OnionPatch Jan 2013 #218

Massive reform in agricultural subsidies, or even better, free farmers to farm. Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #107

Reading this thread Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #109

Sure! There can be alt energy in rural areas. Part of my friend's solar array in Roanoke VA rightsideout Jan 2013 #129

Guess that is a definition Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #134

To be frank tama Jan 2013 #158

Most of the Roanoke, VA area isn't exactly rural. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #252

"no government intervention" except cities like NY are subsidizing their way of life. bettyellen Jan 2013 #174

If there is no homeless population in Cattaraugus County, you should inform these services that Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #208

My question is the cultural divide just too much? SpartanDem Jan 2013 #111

Values change tama Jan 2013 #160

Being a rural progressive OnionPatch Jan 2013 #219

Or take them to the world SpartanDem Jan 2013 #223

It would be more helpful Abq_Sarah Jan 2013 #295

Packer ban. Packer ban. Packer ban. Packer ban. Recursion Jan 2013 #118

Focus on economics, stop trying to ban guns, cease supporting controlling individual behavior, TheKentuckian Jan 2013 #119

Ask Bernie Sanders! Wind Dancer Jan 2013 #120

good one. Phillip McCleod Jan 2013 #144

+1! uponit7771 Jan 2013 #197

Can't write them off, but they (in general) are the GOP target Spike89 Jan 2013 #121

So, same thing. Lurker Deluxe Jan 2013 #125

Wasn't talking about quality of education at all Spike89 Jan 2013 #136

It requires different education tama Jan 2013 #159

remind them that the democrats are the only party to guarantee social security spanone Jan 2013 #127

That won't work tama Jan 2013 #157

why are they in such denial about all the government handouts they get? bettyellen Jan 2013 #177

Are they? nt tama Jan 2013 #180

over and over again the myth of "self sufficiency" and concern about taxes, when blue cities pay bettyellen Jan 2013 #181

There may be tama Jan 2013 #184

their big concerns are about the govt taking their taxes, but they're actually getting handouts bettyellen Jan 2013 #188

I don't tama Jan 2013 #190

Social security is popular because it's not a handout, but insurance. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #220

Tama said something about SS not being something we shld bother talking about. bettyellen Jan 2013 #224

Rural folks understand the distinction between "handouts" and "insurance". n/t lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #245

those obsessed with "redistubution of wealth" in the US are the largest beneficiaries bettyellen Jan 2013 #301

Frankly, I'm not even sure that's true YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #251

The thing that Democrats can do to appeal to rural voters is wilsonbooks Jan 2013 #128

democrats are seen as the party for colored folk, gay folk and feminists La Lioness Priyanka Jan 2013 #130

Even more tama Jan 2013 #162

we're actually pretty accepting of "brown immigrant workers" here in the big cities, but thanks! bettyellen Jan 2013 #178

Capitalist profit logic tama Jan 2013 #182

or just the reality of being a melting pot. we actually take meetings with brown people here!!! bettyellen Jan 2013 #183

Many kinds of meetings tama Jan 2013 #189

well, i wasn't talking about nationwide institutional racism in the prisons, but rather diversity bettyellen Jan 2013 #230

Stop and Frisk is not a 'meeting'...NYPD practices: Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #210

Bloomberg has had an awful effect on the NYPD, I agree. But I'm sorry- rural cops would likely bettyellen Jan 2013 #227

Trying to bring the assault weapons ban back has kind of killed that idea n/t doc03 Jan 2013 #131

Start with reminding them that the GOP congress left town without passing a farm bill OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #132

Please don't tama Jan 2013 #163

My response is to cite many other responses I've made OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #281

Yup tama Jan 2013 #298

Make rural schools better. Zoeisright Jan 2013 #135

Rural schools are pretty good, as far as I know. Better than many urban schools. nt Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #154

Your insight is amazing. LWolf Jan 2013 #304

Populism annabanana Jan 2013 #141

They need to read "Deer Hunting with Jesus" Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #146

The problem tama Jan 2013 #164

I don't know how much I qualify as an expert on the rural mindset, but....... socialist_n_TN Jan 2013 #147

Yup tama Jan 2013 #166

Women. I think there's a shot at getting some of the rural female vote. Honeycombe8 Jan 2013 #151

Real Simple... Shade7M Jan 2013 #152

Dude...seriously, they are never going to vote Dem as long as threaten to take their guns away davidn3600 Jan 2013 #161

Democratic Party sponsoring rodeos Pretzel_Warrior Jan 2013 #165

By the way, at most larger state and county fairs, the local Democratic party generally does have a OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #284

In my experience, two things would swing rural voters left: Xithras Jan 2013 #167

+1. I don't think so many urban dwellers really get how 'nightmarish' some of this stuff can be. HiPointDem Jan 2013 #172

Ouch. Xithras Jan 2013 #185

Not just perception of government tama Jan 2013 #192

Talk to the average urban resident and see if their contacts with the government are so positive Fumesucker Jan 2013 #205

But urban residents depend more on public goods SpartanDem Jan 2013 #214

Right. YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #253

Thanks tama Jan 2013 #191

^^^ and this one OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #314

(1) Quit bashing rural people & rural culture (2) Listen to the issues that are important to rural HiPointDem Jan 2013 #170

yes, there's cultural considerations, but access to factual information is the biggie procon Jan 2013 #240

that's not the case in all rural areas. nd the fact remains, even if there were a 'liberal fox,' HiPointDem Jan 2013 #241

Steps nobody_special Jan 2013 #176

Being from a rural state and having grown up in a small town here I have some insights for you: RBInMaine Jan 2013 #186

^^^ This one OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #282

I've now read this entire thread Fumesucker Jan 2013 #187

Easy tama Jan 2013 #193

Simple... WiffenPoof Jan 2013 #195

Doesn't that work both ways? tama Jan 2013 #200

If I Understand... WiffenPoof Jan 2013 #203

There's revealing article (and book) tama Jan 2013 #206

How Intreging WiffenPoof Jan 2013 #234

Belief systems tama Jan 2013 #258

Water. Clean drinking water. postulater Jan 2013 #199

Be way more 2A friendly. ileus Jan 2013 #209

These things: LWolf Jan 2013 #211

Exactly! ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #255

Better policies for small farms OnionPatch Jan 2013 #221

Three Short Answers: Demo_Chris Jan 2013 #222

It's what the blue dog Dems do, and DU despises them. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #231

No, we're not talking about being a corporate lapdog Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #236

It seems that there is more than one definition of blue dog Democrats. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #237

Max Baucus? Come on! Corporate shill all the way Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #238

Ok. Let's look at our common ground, define terms, and see where it goes. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #239

Kerry and H. Clinton only managed to look stupid trying to be "just plain folks" Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #271

Democrats don't need to do anything jeff47 Jan 2013 #232

LOL ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #327

K, please name the liberal counterpart on satellite TV to Fox News. jeff47 Jan 2013 #328

There isn't a liberal equivalent ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #329

Urban dwellers are getting information from sources other that TV and Radio jeff47 Jan 2013 #330

Like what? ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #332

Alternative newspapers, gatherings of various types jeff47 Jan 2013 #344

There is delivery of magazines and newspapers. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #347

I'm not talking about a one-on-one conversation jeff47 Jan 2013 #351

So, getting together weekly with a group of people is the only acceptable way ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #354

Do I have to link the definition of "example"? jeff47 Jan 2013 #355

How many conservatives in your ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #360

Could you possibly be more condescending? cordelia Jan 2013 #341

Reality has an urban bias, apparently. jeff47 Jan 2013 #345

" Dial-up only access tends to limit using the Internet as an information source." ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #350

Your telephone use is a one-on-one conversation. jeff47 Jan 2013 #352

We find liberal contact through ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #361

I can't use one because of my location. Not everyone has one. 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #367

Yes there is one thing. And it is a worthy endeavor. Herlong Jan 2013 #246

JOBS JOBS JOBS Jamastiene Jan 2013 #247

Jobs Herlong Jan 2013 #254

Rented labor tama Jan 2013 #261

Drop the poisonous alliance with Wall Street and other corporate interest groups YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #250

Start by making sure they graduate from high school, a mind is a terrible thing to waste & hatred mother earth Jan 2013 #256

About the fear.... OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #270

Do you have some statistics LWolf Jan 2013 #305

I'm not making that claim, just that it all begins with education, city & rural folk alike. :) mother earth Jan 2013 #315

Okay. LWolf Jan 2013 #317

True. Though I'm thinking the OP was about reaching over to the other side, probably more geared to mother earth Jan 2013 #319

Stop going after guns kudzu22 Jan 2013 #257

There's a huge disconnect between the urban and rural views of firearms OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #269

How do they feel about Big Agra gulliver Jan 2013 #259

My experience is that they like Big Agra OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #267

Wow. Great post! gulliver Jan 2013 #274

Thanks! OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #279

I also agree great post LeftInTX Jan 2013 #316

The idea that all rural people are stupid ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #266

I've met many very smart people in Ag OmahaBlueDog Jan 2013 #268

I completely agree, you can't change people's minds by yelling hughee99 Jan 2013 #285

Yep. The idea that all rural people are rightwing Republicans is wrong, too. OnionPatch Jan 2013 #297

If you live in a rural area, be out Nikia Jan 2013 #272

The yard signs and bumper stickers are a good way ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #273

I'm sorry if that happened to you Nikia Jan 2013 #275

I'm not silent but I don't ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #277

My view is that if there are no or much fewer D yard signs/bumper stickers Nikia Jan 2013 #306

We have Democratic offices for counties. ohheckyeah Jan 2013 #338

To greatly improve how we fare with rural voters Still Sensible Jan 2013 #278

as a rural, liberal voter... mike_c Jan 2013 #280

Democrats should stay Democratic. JDPriestly Jan 2013 #286

Maybe Democrats don't really "stand for" many or all of those things, in practice? YoungDemCA Jan 2013 #288

It's a matter of "compared to what"? JDPriestly Jan 2013 #294

If the dems got the rural voters Trascoli Jan 2013 #289

Start with the statement: Volaris Jan 2013 #293

Eat more fried food. Kablooie Jan 2013 #296

Encourage more democrats to move Shankapotomus Jan 2013 #300

Remind them that the things they care about randr Jan 2013 #302

microtarget rural households with messages that educate them about arely staircase Jan 2013 #307

Do an all black, gay, Muslim, Latino revival of HEE HAW yurbud Jan 2013 #308

Is Otis as exotic as the Somali workers that are working in the processing plants in Tennesse? SQUEE Jan 2013 #318

health care and education support samsingh Jan 2013 #309

take progressive positions on farm issues that the GOP can't and won't like taking on big AG yurbud Jan 2013 #310

OK, I've lived in rural areas all my life. Many folks in rural areas Zorra Jan 2013 #311

Interesting responses. jonthebru Jan 2013 #359

Only 16% of the US population lives in rural areas frazzled Jan 2013 #363

Uhh...no. Census numbers are horribly misleading. Xithras Jan 2013 #377

Push the idea of less government 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #369

1. Know rural, as many "city foks" are buying up farmland, big time. Frustratedlady Jan 2013 #376