General Discussion

sarisataka

(22,750 posts)

66. Then we should

Sat Dec 17, 2016, 01:26 PM

Dec 2016

reform the farm subsidy system to continue to support small farms. All farmers I know are family operations and government aid is the only thing keeping them viable. Then could, and likely eventually will, sell out to corporate ops but they are trying to maintain the family business.

The broad based rejection of everything rural simply sells out those small operations so power and profit will continue to concentrate in the hands of the few. Abandoning a traditional Democratic group just pushes them into the Republican camp, whether it is in their best interests or not.

Fighting in those areas we have allowed to turn red will not be easy. We may not get any of those state's Electoral votes for generations. But we just might pick up some House or even Senate seats which would make it all worth it. Even winning at the state level would have benefit.

None of this requires giving up our core positions on social justice.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

95 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Rural America: You won't change their minds. [View all] Comatose Sphagetti Dec 2016 OP

which is why I say, to hell with the willfully ignorant Skittles Dec 2016 #1

I don't. I know where my food comes from. Warpy Dec 2016 #4

Not too much farmland in New Mexico JimBeard Dec 2016 #10

There's more than you think Warpy Dec 2016 #13

Thats what I meant by "the valley". Once you leave San Antonio and go south all the JimBeard Dec 2016 #19

That's fine, but we're talking about politics and how you get them to vote. kcr Dec 2016 #58

First, you stop writing them off completely Warpy Dec 2016 #70

Pretty much why we lost "rural" America. Hangingon Dec 2016 #68

They're called racist because THEY ARE racist. THEY ARE stupid. resistance2016 Dec 2016 #71

Where do you get your food? philosslayer Dec 2016 #73

And we will gladly accept your money Kilgore Dec 2016 #81

I don't think we have to. Remember, if only 100,000 votes in three upper Midwest states had WestSeattle2 Dec 2016 #2

Agreed. Democrats are wasting time even listening to much of rural America. LonePirate Dec 2016 #3

Remember there was a Guy who ran for office Wellstone ruled Dec 2016 #5

Comatose Sphagetti ... LenaBaby61 Dec 2016 #6

Don't forget inviting them to sit in a circle COLGATE4 Dec 2016 #34

I live in the same situation in Texas JimBeard Dec 2016 #7

I will not write off a whole segment of AMERICA.... alittlelark Dec 2016 #8

But they don't feel undereducated or underpriviledged radical noodle Dec 2016 #30

These 'good people, the common clay of the midwest- COLGATE4 Dec 2016 #36

Yes, and in many cases they are good people radical noodle Dec 2016 #39

or HS football ('specially in Texas) COLGATE4 Dec 2016 #40

Football is too expensive radical noodle Dec 2016 #42

In Texas we don't surrender, we go to 6-man football :) JimBeard Dec 2016 #76

Think and change? Underprivileged? You're talking about rural white Americans? resistance2016 Dec 2016 #72

Rural whites are underprivileged? Since when, they got their guys controlling both houses of... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #75

My mom atreides1 Dec 2016 #82

"Save those that can be saved...and let those that don't want to be saved go on their merry way!!!" Comatose Sphagetti Dec 2016 #92

POTUS said today: elleng Dec 2016 #9

odd he says this considering the 50 state strategy died the day he was sworn in so to speak nt msongs Dec 2016 #24

Not quite. elleng Dec 2016 #26

+++++++++++++ LeftInTX Dec 2016 #25

+1. Bernie's already doing it Arazi Dec 2016 #32

Yes and, of course, HAD been. elleng Dec 2016 #35

Could you point me to Sanders plan on this? thx in advance uponit7771 Dec 2016 #52

It was rural Minnesota that just handed the state legislature back to the Republicans dflprincess Dec 2016 #11

I didn't realize that Democrats are doing so well sarisataka Dec 2016 #12

Huge swath but not that many people. Just shave a little off the sides and thats all we need. JimBeard Dec 2016 #17

And that large, sarisataka Dec 2016 #23

We could write each of them a check for $1M and they would still vote Republican. LonePirate Dec 2016 #27

Never know for sure sarisataka Dec 2016 #31

Rural people are voting. It's the urban and suburban people who are not voting. LonePirate Dec 2016 #33

We DO know for sure Nwgirl503 Dec 2016 #83

Add up the huge amout of farm subsidies that go to a few that JimBeard Dec 2016 #45

You're right, sarisataka Dec 2016 #46

Are you intentionally mischaracterizing the post you responded to, or do you just not Squinch Dec 2016 #49

I read that post sarisataka Dec 2016 #54

So the latter, then. Squinch Dec 2016 #59

I am open to hearing sarisataka Dec 2016 #61

Well, you read wrong. In this day and time the farm welfare is CORPORATE WELFARE JimBeard Dec 2016 #62

Then we should sarisataka Dec 2016 #66

could some of their ignorance be because of Fox News and talk radio? rainy Dec 2016 #14

Yes elmac Dec 2016 #28

It is getting worse every year. I see my towns share of Democratic votes shift from 35% JimBeard Dec 2016 #15

If government action hits them, such as lost SS benefits... Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #16

All the traits you mention... Binkie The Clown Dec 2016 #18

I tend to agree. Humans lived FAR longer in small family tribes... Buckeye_Democrat Dec 2016 #21

Thank you. We need to work around these people and stop pretending that they listen coolbreeze77 Dec 2016 #20

This. Work around. (EOM) Comatose Sphagetti Dec 2016 #69

K&R smirkymonkey Dec 2016 #22

30 million non-college educated whites sat out in 2012 BeyondGeography Dec 2016 #29

The Party should decide it's values on issues first radical noodle Dec 2016 #37

Sometimes the fake news comes to people from the real news media, like the fake email scandal. StevieM Dec 2016 #43

Absolutely radical noodle Dec 2016 #44

Like Thomas Paine said 47of74 Dec 2016 #38

Indeed! n/t radical noodle Dec 2016 #41

and which is why, too, we must get rid of the fucking Electoral College! C Moon Dec 2016 #47

I've lived in various areas of the country Bayard Dec 2016 #48

I helped my 91 year old mother vote for Hillary. JimBeard Dec 2016 #64

We certainly won't win any over if we don't try. DemocraticWing Dec 2016 #50

I know how you feel because I have felt the same for years. JimBeard Dec 2016 #74

Agree 100%. The OP's message is a recipe for disaster Quixote1818 Dec 2016 #85

I understand your observation... Lostnote Dec 2016 #51

Don't have to change ALL their minds many a good man Dec 2016 #53

Yup. That's what we're fighting against. Baitball Blogger Dec 2016 #55

And they truly believe that they were "raised better" than everyone else. milestogo Dec 2016 #56

Funny thing is sarisataka Dec 2016 #63

Urban Trump voters are generally filthy rich and they do get a lot of criticism. milestogo Dec 2016 #65

Unfortunately, rural America's votes carry much more weight than the "rest of us" etherealtruth Dec 2016 #57

When the economy crashes and we are at war Emilybemily Dec 2016 #60

I wonder when we block illegals and countries ban US agricultural imports how they will feel hollowdweller Dec 2016 #67

the word 'illegal' is an ADJECTIVE Skittles Dec 2016 #80

Alex Jones territory? n/t RKP5637 Dec 2016 #77

I think we are really mis understanding the vote problem. It isn't JimBeard Dec 2016 #78

This is a stereotype. Many are and many are not this way. Quixote1818 Dec 2016 #79

You will definitely not change their minds by dismissing all of their concerns while insulting guillaumeb Dec 2016 #84

Thank you. nt Quixote1818 Dec 2016 #86

Thank you for your excellent response also. eom guillaumeb Dec 2016 #87

I have lived in small towns other than my University years all my life. JimBeard Dec 2016 #90

True. My family is from a very small town of under 1000 people when I was born. guillaumeb Dec 2016 #91

The problem is that their concerns are either social issues... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #88

Assuming that each and every one indeed is exactly as you describe them, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #89

How many of those people really switched from Obama to Trump in this election... Humanist_Activist Dec 2016 #93

If they initially voted for President Obama, guillaumeb Dec 2016 #95

... Different Drummer Dec 2016 #94