General Discussion

KPN

(17,116 posts)

129. Great OP. I agree 100%.

Sat Dec 17, 2016, 11:29 AM

Dec 2016

I also live in a rural area; a very remote one, and have for the past 28 of my 66 years. You hit the nail on the head.

What I have seen in my time here is a rural people falling behind, their children having to move away just to find a menial job let alone a decent job. Over my time here, the County I live in has become increasingly Republican -- partly because they feel like they've been ignored ... by Washington as well as the State (which is dominated politically by democratic leaning urban areas) ... and partly because their resource based economy has been increasingly restricted by environmental regulations and processes that inadequately consider and balance local socio-economic impacts with benefits. (I say this as a retired natural resources manager who frankly has a preservation not just conservation bias.)

These are people who are simply trying to survive ... and preserve their community. As recently as the mid-70s, this County consistently voted Democrat in national elections, but that has not been the case since then. They are good people. I believe they are misguided in embracing of the GOP, but the Democratic Party has not done a good job in addressing their economic needs, especially in the face of GOP disparagement of big government. But I believe we can win them back -- if we pay attention to them ... and do a better job of addressing their needs. We just need to be open to them. They are good people.

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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