Rural living.

[wcast]

30. I too live in rural PA, right at the top of the infamous T

My county is majority republican. I knew we were in trouble when I saw the turnout at my poling place. My county had slightly more than 70% of register voters cast a ballot, and 75% of them voted for Trump. 5% voted for someone not Trump and not Hillary. There is nothing that the Democratic Party can say to these voters here, no amount of marketing or reaching out. These people believe they are fighting for their way of life. They really do believe that Trump will make America great again.

They also believe that minorities have it easy, that they receive the majority of government handouts. They believe that minorities are something to fear and that crime rates are soaring. To them political correctness is a major problem and confederate flags demonstrate their country heritage. They are against "Obama" care although every week the local weekly paper has some fundraiser for someone whose insurance, or lack thereof, won't cover their medical bills.

Speaking of Obama, they believe that he is a communist, a Muslim, not American, and some churches in my community taught he was the anti-Christ. The irony is that they don't care about Russia influencing the election and every example given of Trump's ties to Russia is met with denial or a "but Hillary". He really could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and none of these people would stop supporting him.

Mostly though, the people in my community are afraid. The America that they know is fading away, and they believe they are being marginalized. These aren't bad people, they would probably give you the shirt off of their backs. But they are not very introspective. Things will change here, but it will be slow and not because the Democrats suddenly say the "right" things. It will change because th demographics are against the republicans, because the majority of young people today, even where I live, see no problem with marriage equality or people of color.

Things are bad with Trump, but I think we have to let it ride. These people who voted for him have to be made to own him. He, and the rest of his party, can only destroy. They cannot, and will not, make changes that benefit the people in my community, and after four long years, they won't be able to deny that they had been had. The results will speak for themselves.