General Discussion

DemocraticWing

(1,290 posts)

94. I grew up in the country. Your story is very, very relatable.

Sat Dec 17, 2016, 05:41 AM

Dec 2016

I know in my hometown, Trump did very well, but also a lot of people didn't vote. Are all my old neighbors and friends racists, or are most of them just not plugged in to politics? I know these people, and a lot of them just don't give a crap about it all. We gotta reach those people, in my opinion.

I also know how people on DU act towards rural people. They paint with broad brushes because they can't imagine that left-wing country people exist. That gay country people exist. That country people of color exist. They just want to generalize a whole area and a whole culture as bad. It's the same thought process that racists use: and I know, because I'll admit that some racists existed where I grew up and I saw how they think.

Of course with people who hate rural folks, just like racists, it's never entirely true when they say "oh I don't hate you, you're one of the good ones." Their hate is based on something that's mostly a figment of their imagination that has completely altered their view of people different than themselves. If they could accept that we're a lot like the people they hate irrationally, they wouldn't care for us either.

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Rural living. [View all] LWolf Dec 2016 OP

If most rural Americans didn't constantly vote against their best interests ... LonePirate Dec 2016 #1

It's only a fool who never felt like one. WheelWalker Dec 2016 #4

I suspect most people vote for candidates who they THINK is in their best interest. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #6

marketing AlexSFCA Dec 2016 #19

Combined with the "What have you done for me lately?" phenomenon. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #22

Welcome to DU, AlexSFCA! calimary Dec 2016 #32

post truth AlexSFCA Dec 2016 #43

And that's part of the problem right there. NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #81

Yes, it is a problem The Genealogist Dec 2016 #158

Keep in mind that some view at least some of those programs as the REASON for economic woes. MadDAsHell Dec 2016 #56

I imagine many of them don't see themselves ever needing it. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #65

Did you miss the part... druidity33 Dec 2016 #18

we need to be strategic AlexSFCA Dec 2016 #20

I said most of rural America, not all of rural America. LonePirate Dec 2016 #21

It is never a waste of time to go after every vote. kwassa Dec 2016 #143

I refuse to respect any voter who supports racism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, etc. LonePirate Dec 2016 #146

and the fact that these voters vote Republican doesn't mean they support those things. kwassa Dec 2016 #150

Except those issues were the key issues on the Republican side of this past presidential campaign. LonePirate Dec 2016 #151

From your perspective, not from theirs. kwassa Dec 2016 #154

Most voters who were worried about the economy voted for Hillary, not Trump... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #167

Not the former factor workers whose jobs disappeared overseas. kwassa Dec 2016 #220

Evidence for this? Exit polls on election night contradict what you said. n/t Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #238

NEVER is an awfully long time hfojvt Dec 2016 #157

You are completely wrong..... paleotn Dec 2016 #209

No amount of marketing will reach them. They chose the racist who will take their health care. LonePirate Dec 2016 #210

Then we lose and the country goes down the drain paleotn Dec 2016 #213

No amount of trying will persuade people who are only interested in destruction and ignorance. LonePirate Dec 2016 #214

Did you even read my post? paleotn Dec 2016 #216

You seem to think they can be reached. I don't think they can be reached, hence an impasse. LonePirate Dec 2016 #217

"Some of us have no interest in coddling fools." tecelote Dec 2016 #40

Ask that question a year from now when they lose their health care and Social Security. LonePirate Dec 2016 #41

And you're laying the groundwork for change? tecelote Dec 2016 #42

I have zero interest in changing rural America so that they join the rest of us in the 21st century. LonePirate Dec 2016 #48

Spoken just like the Trump supporters. tecelote Dec 2016 #60

Nope. Unlike them I am more than happy to let them live by their rules in their backwards USA. LonePirate Dec 2016 #61

And this is exactly why Abq_Sarah Dec 2016 #244

Democrats have tried to help them and have succeeded when given a chance. LonePirate Dec 2016 #247

Tried to help them? Abq_Sarah Dec 2016 #249

They could act like they are not a different species by joining the rest of us in 2016 America. LonePirate Dec 2016 #252

Thats OK, we will just keep on taking their money Kilgore Dec 2016 #255

".....and there is a monumental amount of stupidity firmly entrenched in rural America nowadays." pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #59

+1! tecelote Dec 2016 #66

They are more interested in their hatred for us treestar Dec 2016 #96

Yup. + 1,000,000 NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #49

The people who elected him. Don't forget Hitler won a clear plurality in the 1933 election. DemocratSinceBirth Dec 2016 #119

donald did not win, imho. tomp Dec 2016 #137

You're deciding what's in their best interests? MadDAsHell Dec 2016 #46

+ 1,000 NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #50

Someone needs to given how they think their best interests include bigotry, early deaths ... LonePirate Dec 2016 #52

You're going to take the position that they voted in their best interests? Squinch Dec 2016 #90

Yes treestar Dec 2016 #97

They ARE voting for their interests if their interest is keeping black and other minorites down JI7 Dec 2016 #55

Just another reason why we shouldn't bother with them. They are a lost cause. LonePirate Dec 2016 #57

yeah, but this goes for people in rural and city areas . i don't care where they are from JI7 Dec 2016 #58

Exactly treestar Dec 2016 #98

And there it is. First response. nt LWolf Dec 2016 #135

Please elaborate. Do you really think rural Americans vote for their best interests? LonePirate Dec 2016 #144

I really think LWolf Dec 2016 #164

Rural Americans shouldn't support politicians who represent the worst of America. LonePirate Dec 2016 #175

Well said. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #236

I have to ask the obvious.... Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #196

Evidently maintaining the health & welfare of oneself, one's family & the planet is an urban ideal. LonePirate Dec 2016 #198

You continue with the myth....Urban is better than rural....it's not. Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #200

Did you even try to socialize with the people in your building? Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #201

"Did you even try to socialize.."....ohh absolutely I tried.. Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #203

Perhaps its because I live in St. Louis, a city that was eviserated by white flight... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #204

The vast majority of rural America does not think or see things like you do. LonePirate Dec 2016 #202

No...you are wrong..."quite decisively" wrong... Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #241

You may care but rural America's decades long voting streak for Republicans says otherwise. LonePirate Dec 2016 #242

Have we done better??? Several election cycles say not. Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #243

They no longer have any scapegoats come January 20 so maybe they will finally see the light. LonePirate Dec 2016 #245

This mindset is exactly why we will continue to take beatings as we have recently... Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #250

I don't agree that rural Americans know the cause of their ills. LonePirate Dec 2016 #253

You've made that clear....."253. I don't agree that rural Americans know the cause of their ills." Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #254

They were offered a reasonable solution this year. They rejected it in favor of bigotry and lies. LonePirate Dec 2016 #256

Hey...you can live with that vision of those that don't see things your way... Uggwearingdad Dec 2016 #259

Someone coddled them and they responded tom_kelly Dec 2016 #211

Except they didn't realize the answer to his question was health care, Social Security & the planet. LonePirate Dec 2016 #212

I get it. easttexaslefty Dec 2016 #2

I hear ya. WheelWalker Dec 2016 #3

No stop signs here jeffreyi Dec 2016 #5

K&R Martin Eden Dec 2016 #7

I don't see that many people feeding the city slicker/country bumpkin stereotyping Warpy Dec 2016 #8

It's pretty much the same where I'm at 2naSalit Dec 2016 #36

This is an interesting observation. I haven't seen that stereotyping either until after the Squinch Dec 2016 #92

I live in a similar situation. Mr.Bill Dec 2016 #9

what specific discrimination do you see from other du'ers? La Lioness Priyanka Dec 2016 #10

I recall reading at least one post thst was titled something like f'k the white rural voter. CentralMass Dec 2016 #84

Sounds like pipi_k Dec 2016 #11

I catch myself feeling... AJT Dec 2016 #12

I agree, and the media feeds it every election cycle... rwsanders Dec 2016 #29

Yep, and pipi_k Dec 2016 #142

+1 meadowlander Dec 2016 #161

relunctantly voted for Trump? Skittles Dec 2016 #13

This samir.g Dec 2016 #51

Exactly. n/t Different Drummer Dec 2016 #207

And no attempt to unsderstand treestar Dec 2016 #99

I know. Did you catch the insinuation in the OP that he and his rural Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #122

and that is another thing that bothers me greatly Skittles Dec 2016 #156

Yes and it is not something when you live so close to others you would even think to highlight lunasun Dec 2016 #171

It was frustrating, to be sure. LWolf Dec 2016 #139

Well-said. k&r, nt appal_jack Dec 2016 #14

No It Wasn't ProfessorGAC Dec 2016 #225

'Rural people don't really feel the love from the Democratic Party. elleng Dec 2016 #15

Some Can Be Won Maybe But... colsohlibgal Dec 2016 #16

THANK YOU Skittles Dec 2016 #17

Thank you 47of74 Dec 2016 #39

+10000000000000 treestar Dec 2016 #101

I'm with you. Tired of excusing their views due to their willful ignorance. TonyPDX Dec 2016 #128

+1 SunSeeker Dec 2016 #23

+10000000000000 treestar Dec 2016 #100

You write beautifully. Adsos Letter Dec 2016 #24

Is this the new "city boy." plimsoll Dec 2016 #25

No, not intended. LWolf Dec 2016 #136

Didn't think so. plimsoll Dec 2016 #173

Big K&R... awoke_in_2003 Dec 2016 #26

Let's not forget that if they voted for Obama in '08 then they also probably StevieM Dec 2016 #27

It doesn't appear that "they voted for Obama" is exactly true etherealtruth Dec 2016 #123

THIS,THIS,THIS!!! I wish I could pound this into people's heads. Squinch Dec 2016 #186

Excellent points, Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #237

They feel excluded. HassleCat Dec 2016 #28

I too live in rural PA, right at the top of the infamous T wcast Dec 2016 #30

but are the young people even staying in your area? pstokely Dec 2016 #93

In my area many of the brightest do tend to move away. wcast Dec 2016 #193

This +1000 DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #107

Ugh, the idea of Pennsylvanians flying a Confederate flag Patiod Dec 2016 #141

Great post. My ancestor fought at Gettysburg with the Pennsylvania Bucktails .... kwassa Dec 2016 #149

This message was self-deleted by its author DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #31

The media doesn't help either. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #33

I live in rural eastern Ohio this area was heavily Democratic until we lost doc03 Dec 2016 #34

Race is interesting in LWolf Dec 2016 #138

exactly - great post Locrian Dec 2016 #190

Yes. LWolf Dec 2016 #222

If the fact they feel insulted makes them vote against the future of their children, Darkhawk32 Dec 2016 #35

I just now decided to see how the Amish vote. Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #37

Thank you for this... Docreed2003 Dec 2016 #38

"It really does hurt to see so much disdain for rural America on a forum like this." pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #47

I totally agree with you. kwassa Dec 2016 #152

Bravo! Outstanding post! pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #44

The Democratic Party used to be known for helping the little guy in the small towns. MadDAsHell Dec 2016 #45

elites who sneer down from the big cities ? So Trump doesn't fit this ? JI7 Dec 2016 #54

Trump just arrived on the scene. pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #62

they see equal rights for minorities as sneering at them JI7 Dec 2016 #64

Who is "they"? All rural people? Scapegoat much?! pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #68

"they" are people who voted for Trump. This includes those who live in cities and anywhere else JI7 Dec 2016 #69

So what's your point? It really has nothing to do with the OP now, does it? NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #71

my point is that racism is a HUGE part of their support for Trump and all the elites crap is bs JI7 Dec 2016 #73

Which has exactly 0% to do with the OP. NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #75

the OP doesn't want to acknowledge the bigotry behind the Trump vote. JI7 Dec 2016 #77

Broad-brush much? LOL! NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #79

The racists trump voters I know in are far to Violent for Rational Thoughts. stonecutter357 Dec 2016 #110

And of course your anecdotal experience is reflective of the entire nation. pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #159

no just the racists trump voters . stonecutter357 Dec 2016 #160

+1, why are some ignoring the empirical data on Benedict Donald stoking racial animus to win? Obama uponit7771 Dec 2016 #104

They voted for Trump because he's a white male and stoked racial animus ... period. There are no ... uponit7771 Dec 2016 #103

It forces people to confront ugly and inconvenient truths etherealtruth Dec 2016 #126

Lol! It still does that. It's just that those little guys now like to vote for the Republican Squinch Dec 2016 #91

they seem fine with Big City Elites like Donald Trump . JI7 Dec 2016 #53

See post #62 NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #63

Trump didn't just arrive on the scene. he has been pushing Birther crap during Obama's entire JI7 Dec 2016 #67

See #68 NT pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #70

fuck anyone who voted for Trump. no matter where they live . and they did it over shared bigotry JI7 Dec 2016 #72

Fine. Dump your profanities and ignore the point of the OP. pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #74

i get what the OP is doing. but the OP doesn't want to acknowledge the real reason they supported JI7 Dec 2016 #76

You're broad-brushing, and as a result I'm done with you. pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #78

lol, if they voted for Trump no matter where they live they are bigots JI7 Dec 2016 #80

Whoosh! (The sound made as the point of the OP sails over your head.) pablo_marmol Dec 2016 #87

Hillary Clinton didn't attack others as hicks or rednecks. but TRump DID attack others JI7 Dec 2016 #88

These are some of the same people who voted for Obama... of course Obama wasn't running against uponit7771 Dec 2016 #106

You didn't answer the question about Fiengold either uponit7771 Dec 2016 #105

Meh, not feeling it. No one kisses California's ass* R B Garr Dec 2016 #82

and even the early primary states where it's all about Iowa and NH JI7 Dec 2016 #83

I found your last finger wagging sentence offensive eleny Dec 2016 #85

. Squinch Dec 2016 #117

Like you I grew up largely in Queens. marybourg Dec 2016 #155

My old neighborhood was Woodhaven right near FK Lane HS eleny Dec 2016 #163

Flushing. nt. marybourg Dec 2016 #187

Instead of dividing us oldtime dfl_er Dec 2016 #86

Urban living. Squinch Dec 2016 #89

Yep DeminPennswoods Dec 2016 #109

Thank you! Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #125

Well, you know. Apparently not mowing down the pedestrians in the parking lot is Squinch Dec 2016 #134

Hey, my high school had a class - Advanced Elbowing eleny Dec 2016 #165

I still have knuckle scars from the Dominicans! Squinch Dec 2016 #166

Omg, I had them in elementary school. Some bruisers, for sure. eleny Dec 2016 #168

Amen. eleny Dec 2016 #130

I grew up in the country. Your story is very, very relatable. DemocraticWing Dec 2016 #94

What derision from DU? treestar Dec 2016 #95

I live in rural Idaho. nilesobek Dec 2016 #102

The racists trump voters I know in are far to Violent for Rational Thoughts. stonecutter357 Dec 2016 #108

Sorry but it's too late for all this handwringing .. ananda Dec 2016 #111

Indeed. Laughing, because we too built a temp waterline to the neighbor's when their well failed Yo_Mama Dec 2016 #112

Excellent post. cwydro Dec 2016 #113

Cwydro, you know I love you, but I'm sorry I have to say this. Look at your post. Squinch Dec 2016 #115

I only see this rural versus urban thing here on DU. cwydro Dec 2016 #124

"Perhaps I've missed the ones dissing the urbanites." eleny Dec 2016 #131

Your own post disses urbanites. I don't see it as a big deal, but apparently when it goes the other Squinch Dec 2016 #133

I wish my neighbors were as considerate as yours re guns. Vinca Dec 2016 #114

Fuck em,I hope the stupid fucks suffer all the misery their racism and sexism deserves. libtodeath Dec 2016 #116

Humanity senaca Dec 2016 #118

No problem with ur truck..u use it dembotoz Dec 2016 #120

One of the best posts i have read on DU in quite a while. Kilgore Dec 2016 #121

Good grief, seriously? Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #127

Or that neither take precedence, LWolf Dec 2016 #140

As if a vote for Trump was not a vote for their group's wants, needs, and prejudices, Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #184

Actually, I didn't acknowledge that "point" LWolf Dec 2016 #223

I am not looking for a scapegoat, I'm looking for facts to explain the outcome of the election. Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2016 #235

Great OP. I agree 100%. KPN Dec 2016 #129

One more time: those for whom the economy and jobs were the most important issue Squinch Dec 2016 #183

The urban folks that denigrate and lump the rural PufPuf23 Dec 2016 #132

Rural folks don't denigrate city folk? Ha. Missn-Hitch Dec 2016 #148

No different from the rural elitists such as the OP here. n/t Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #176

My point is more of those in superior social position defining those of lesser position as PufPuf23 Dec 2016 #179

Frankly speaking, as this election shows, rural whites have far too much political power... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #199

Great post. Squinch Dec 2016 #206

LOLOLOL!!!!! NO, you're wrong. The "big part of what has gone so wrong" are the imbeciles Squinch Dec 2016 #218

We lose rural america because of the gun issue and the misinformation that surrounds it. TrekLuver Dec 2016 #145

I am guilty of it. However, same could be said of rural folks attitudes towards city slickers. Missn-Hitch Dec 2016 #147

Reverend Horton Heat - Rural Point of View bluedigger Dec 2016 #153

Us vs them is part of the plan.... AJT Dec 2016 #162

Agreed senaca Dec 2016 #170

Yep, people in our rural voted for Obama both times and this time it was Trump Autumn Dec 2016 #169

I was in northern WI this summer LeftInTX Dec 2016 #172

Huge K&R, you have opened my eyes... bless you! secondwind Dec 2016 #174

I'm assuming at least 90% of your neighbors are of a single color, is that right? n/t Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #177

I'd say 95% resistance2016 Dec 2016 #181

True, I've been to rural and near rural places where, being white, I end up witnessing... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #185

Y'know, I live in the city, and I regularly HOLD DOORS for people! hatrack Dec 2016 #178

I remember one time, a tire blew and we were in the big bad city... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #188

But, hatrack, you DO run down pedestrians in parking lots, don't you? Because if Squinch Dec 2016 #189

God, I am So busted! Haven't run down anybody in . . . . weeks. hatrack Dec 2016 #191

I am going to have to report you to the Society for Squinch Dec 2016 #192

Oh yeah? Hey FUCK YOU, BUDDY!!!!! hatrack Dec 2016 #194

VROOOOOOM!!!! Oops! Sorry! Squinch Dec 2016 #197

Do white people plow their black neighbor's driveway too where you live? resistance2016 Dec 2016 #180

Excellent! raven mad Dec 2016 #182

Too much tribalism and conformity for my tastes Politicub Dec 2016 #195

I like both. LWolf Dec 2016 #226

You just like a different tribe and different kind of conformity SubjectiveLife78 Dec 2016 #229

I think the implication is the rural conformity excludes LGBT people, whereas the conformity in... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #239

Rural's ok tirebiter Dec 2016 #205

tirebiter, thats a handle I remember from the old Pathfinder Time Magazine JimBeard Dec 2016 #208

Can't speak for everyone who disagrees with you, but I am not angry with or scapegoating those folks stevenleser Dec 2016 #215

I agree with all of that. LWolf Dec 2016 #224

At this point Afromania Dec 2016 #219

Great post. kwassa Dec 2016 #221

Beautiful post. Squinch Dec 2016 #251

Or maybe they didn't feel they'd come out ahead in the last 8 years. LisaM Dec 2016 #227

Well, that's all very nice, but I still don't think pnwmom Dec 2016 #228

What is party makeup of your local politicians? Roland99 Dec 2016 #230

I was mortified when Hillary called people deplorable BRToldschool Dec 2016 #231

I was too. It was the 2016 version of Mitt Romney's 47% comment. Initech Dec 2016 #233

Yes! I thought exactly the same thing! BRToldschool Dec 2016 #234

Welcome to DU, LWolf Dec 2016 #240

I totally understand your view and feeling you expressed. Well written. Thank you. kgnu_fan Dec 2016 #232

Thank you. kstewart33 Dec 2016 #246

I love how this is always presented as a one-way street. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #248

That's simply not true. LWolf Dec 2016 #257

Many people here are emotionally invested in their candidates.... Act_of_Reparation Dec 2016 #260

Yes. LWolf Dec 2016 #261

Nice post, thank you. I grew up in a rural area like yours. Unfortunately, it's become all built napi21 Dec 2016 #258

I believe that LWolf Dec 2016 #262