It’s much easier to just say you hate rural people than it is to argue with me that there are no progressives or Democrats or Independent folks who live in rural spaces. I ran for office and a ruby red district and got 25% of the vote. Just say what you’re thinking. You hate an entire region.
Obviously there are democrats and independents in rural locations. But I fully believe that more rural people hate people who live in cities/suburbs than the opposite. Hatred of the different (liberal/gay/minority) is a driving factor for why rural Republicans vote against their best interest.
And let's just say, for the sake of argument, that the same % of Democrats hate rural folk as rural Republicans hate city/suburbs. It's still not the same. Democrats vote for things that will help everyone, even rural Republicans. Rural Republicans vote for those who promise to hurt who they hate.
dying of whiteness
I’m a rural Dem. It’s not that city folks hate country folks. It’s that some city folks don’t see us as real people - more like props for their vacation, and uncultured servants who get in their way. Guess there are a few assholes everywhere!
Yes assholes exist everywhere. There are plenty of country folks who do the same to city folks. But liberal city folks do not vote to take the right of rural folks to even exist away on a regular basis.
Nor do liberal rural folks.
True and plenty R assholes live in cities and vote against their own and everyone elses interests.
Indeed. The condescension gets pretty thick at times, doesn't it?
As someone who grew up in rural America as well- the right has done significant damage to the word “democrat”. Maybe “democrats” would be better running as independents in these areas.
However- many in rural areas that have been controlled by republicans for decades will still blame democrats for everything even though they’ve had no power over policies. This is true in Florida- where I live now- including the county and town I live in.
As much as the people here complain and hate the republicans running things locally they have bought into the idea that a democrat would be worse. And that’s what has been fed to them for decades. It allows Rs to have little accountability and continue to govern in effectively.
I don't get the point here? Is it that we "hate" rural people or rural people are all Republicans? Or both? For me, there's no more point in "hating" rural people that I don't know than "hating" people in Indonesia. I believe in Goodwill towards anyone unless they offer badwill towards me.
Registered independent for over a decade, living in deeply red KY, we do exist ❤️
I'd never say there aren't any. But I think, with very few, perhaps no, exceptions, there aren't enough who will band together to take over the Dem parties in their areas and push for progressive change.
My spouse and I support you @piperformissouri.bsky.social! Fight the good fight. Change is happening - there was a 50501 protest in Springfield, MO earlier in the year. My in-laws and their friends are Dems and Independents.
Who hates rural people? I hate low information, racists, homophobes, fascists & they can live anywhere & vote for MAGA Nazi Party. It’s a death cult emulating values of their 🍊leader, a Nazi idolizer of Hitler & Mussolini. Red States have 🧠-💀 control & need change. History is vital #neveragain
I don't hate rural areas. I do believe we have to destroy their oversized political power, though. Rural Americans make up a small percentage of the real vote but have way too much impact on our national politics. It's a recipe for inequality.
I grew up in the Bronx and have lived my adult life in Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. This rural-urban back-and-forth is simply a myth to keep us divided. People are basically the same. They care about their families, schools & communities & almost all would help a stranger in need.
Democrats don't give a fuck about poor people. Blue dots like me in red counties like mine are chained to the land by poverty. Democrats haven't forgotten people like me--in my lifetime, they have been crystal clear that they don't even care I exist.
What are you doing to make it better? Why don’t you run? Why don’t you get in touch with the Democratic Party in your state and get them to come speak?
Protesting, calling and writing my senators, supporting activist organizations.... Thanks for asking!
By the way they not only refuse to come to my county but they also refuse to support democratic candidates that run for office in my county!
Dang
It takes a lot more courage to put up a Dem yard sign etc in a rural area. Small town, small schools, all the maga kids on the bus see your ma's yard sign and there are consequences.
Yeah, I'd prefer not to have my property and dogs being shot at. One Biden, Harris or no kings sign would probably cause that. 💔
The Democrat sign for Harris got shot up 3 times in the ruby red district I live in.
Our were destroyed 3 times also but thankfully not shot up in our red rural area. Made me shake in fear but mostly anger. Too much to ask for a conversation instead 🤬
Thats violent political intimidation and it's fascistic. A rural guy I know was trying to be open minded asking my opinions as a worldly gubmint man. He agreed with all the Constitutional/democracy points against maga. But ultimately conformed and put up a trump sign to protect his kid.
It's terrorism.
It is. If Dems ever get power again they need a version of project 2025 to ram through and new voter right laws to protect rural Americans from this crap would be a hell of a good idea.
Good for you. I fled my small midwestern town at 18 & never looked back *because* there was so much hate & targeting of a bright girl with ambition. Don’t know how you do it. But I know there are liberals there. I was one.
This. Why do rural folks not vote for democrats? In OR State agencies ignore rural families and accept the rural elite corruption, when kids (in school & out) are being physically & sexually abused and local law enforcement “investigations” simply protect/support local elite. @merkley.senate.gov
And btw- I vote blue despite how State democrats let down rural communities (though Democrats can’t say much about #votebluenomatterwho if they all don’t support #Mamdani).
Racism is an American problem not just a rural problem. Trump is an American problem not just a rural problem. People who voted for fascism are spread throughout the country. Rural folks only make up 20% of the population. I’m so sick of blaming one region for an entire country’s problem.
Yep, I feel the same way when folks in the Midwest and other parts of the country malign California and its residents. Sick of it.
OK, we won't blame just one demographic. The data shows Trump voters tend to be farmers and rural, cops, veterans (and active military), Christians (so-called), blue-collar workers, whites, and especially business owners and managers (who funded the fascist takeover).
You're right. My daughter talks of the Trumpers who came out of hiding in NYC after the last election. Gay people, artists, creatives. Suddenly there was no more hiding.
Its trueeeeee the left let some loud mouths speak for whole swaths of actually good people who love a place, and are living there, regardless of the loud mouths. Those people and honestly even the assholes, should eat and safely sleep from coast to coast.
So true! I live in Walz’s old district. Super red but still full of democrats. The problem is they are afraid to speak. Even now with everything in the line most are quiet. They think we are out numbered because MAGA are bullies. Stand up to them. They can’t speak beyond Fox headlines 🤬😂
Have relatives living in small towns. One looks MAGA head to toe. Thing is, he was at his small town's court house steps protesting AGAINST the Big Bill. Thus, don't judge political affiliation based how a person looks/where they live. Now is the time for Dems to engage rural America and Red states.
You’re right.
I grew up in rural Illinois, and my friends grew up in rural Illinois, and we are Democrats
Agree, there are plenty of rural people who suffer under the yoke of MAGA, and who would vote for an alternative if there was one. #OneMissionOneTeam.
This is what gerrymandering does to the country, beyond the obvious.
You nailed it, Jess. I’m a rural voter. We were even represented by democrats for many years. We need candidates who don’t dismiss us.
Absolutely it’s not like my state New York doesn’t have its own maga areas….. even in westchester . It’s not just rural areas Democrats get your asses into these Ruby red areas and talk to people
Yup! Absolutely. Sooner rather than later. Later may be too late.
I just don’t see the practical benefit of scapegoating. If Democrats allow rural areas to go 80% for the GOP, then Democrats are choosing to lose elections (especially with the way things are gerrymandered). You don’t actually have to win rural areas to win, but you can’t lose by HUGE margins.
This is the divide the other side seeks to reinforce because it keeps the poor and disadvantaged politically separated.
The reason it gets the blame is because Wyoming gets two senators and has less people than DC or Puerto Rico which don’t get any representation whatsoever.
As a puerto rican not interested in representation but liberation
Wyoming at ~575,000 residents also gets one rep in Congress while higher population states get one rep per 770,000 residents giving Wyoming residents more representation than residents of higher population states. One of many ways that "the system" is poorly built.
All the more reason to compete in Wyoming, right? But instead, we just say it’s red and do nothing there.
That may be because 25% is still a losing vote.
So next time it may be 35% , then 40% . You have to start somewhere
And 40% is still losing. Hell, given republican interference, you can start hitting above 50% and still lose.
So just give up . Stop bothering , there’s no point ever building a grass roots movement that isn’t in the here and now . In fact , why bother voting? 🙄
And that's why Wyoming and Missouri don't get the investment. If you can't get the people there to do anything, who do you think is going to swoop and rescue them?
Exactly. You can’t win if you don’t even try.
Get rid of the monopoly of AM talk radio, conservative local news/Sinclair, and demolish X. That would go farther than yelling at random people to start liking rural folks who lie about my urban life in America and send their troops to my city to exert their power.
I honestly wish you the best - my goddaughter, her husband of Korean descent & 3 lovely children live in DC. While yes, it is horrific, I’m not your enemy, though you seem pretty set on making me that.
I’ll get right on that, whoever you are. I’m not yelling at anyone. I’m a Dem in W Ma, disabled working sr who caretakes my husband w stage 4 metastatic cancer, and working w a group to help my immigrant neighbors who are being kidnapped by goons, and talking to my excellent Gov about healthcare.
I wasn’t responding to you, Annie. I wish you the best - unless you’re pro DC occupation then not so much 😉
Mid aughts Howard Dean 50 state strategy, rather than sinking 70 trillionty dollars into NYC and LA might help that.
Do you realistically see democrats making *any* progress in WY of all places? If so, ya’ll have not spent much time there or anywhere like it. These folks will die with their beliefs. Proudly. Even if it’s those very beliefs that get them killed, however indirectly.
There’s not an infinite supply of money….a billion dollars didn’t win the last time in these areas.
I agree that the old guard of the Dem party looks too much at the overall country and does'nt help at the grass roots like they should. Personally, I try to donate and support those who take care of their constituents and do what's right for them.
A 10% swing would have won Harris the state of Missouri, a place the DNC completely abandoned. 7% would have won a Senate seat. Is the Missouri Democratic Party and the DNC pounding the pavement now finding 2026 candidates for every single seat in the State House? That would make a big difference.
Come on Jess. Let's at least be honest. Yes, Trumpism is everywhere, but rural America is its home, its base, and its greatest source of support. Without rural America, Trumpism would never have happened. That's no reason to hate rural America, but math is math.
I grew up a few counties over from Jess. The county went 80-19 Trump. Sure there are fewer than 10K people in that county but to pretend those percentages isn't troubling is odd. I get the frustration, Jess ... but it is also a bit of denialism on your part.
Trump’s “home” is in the suburbs and boardrooms. Hos greatest base of support is the GOP, and that includes everyone’s Republican in-laws. Making it a “rural” issue means that people don’t have to make hard personal choices and can keep peace in their families, churches, and workplaces.
I hear you, every maga I know is not some stereotypical southern hick. They are all suburban middle-upper class white people. Many not even religious. And I don’t speak to any of them anymore, but I don’t think that I’m the norm. I think a lot of ppl keep those relationships and don’t confront it.
It’s FOX News and Sinclair Broadcasting that destroyed rural America. Churches didn’t help either. Poor schools added to the problem. There are many places to lay blame. That won’t help us NOW. We need to find a way to convince our young people to vote for Democrats. Republican policies are terrible
Or one age-group ( people over 55)
I remember the writer Bill Bryson travelled around the USA and noted that in the deep south black and white lived together in seemingly quite well. Whereas in the northern cities the self proclaimed white liberals often appeared to be living in gated communities separate from ethnic minorities..
People always paint shit with a broad brush…. It’s so hypocritical and simple ignorance
So true - I'm in a deep blue state, and many I know are MAGATS, despite my best (failed) efforts.
Absolutely!
I grew up in Calvert County, MD. It's deep red. Our field trips in school were to go pick tobacco. The difference between the world I thought I knew and what I'm learning has been astounding.
Your last statement is powerful. Getting out of your area (a safe space) is enlightening. Rural people I know who have traveled, read extensively (and a variety), get that level of astounding.
I also agree with Jess. If you can't lead a horse to water, take the water to the horse. It helps immensely if you're from the area.
I joined the Navy in response to 9/11. Thats the only reason I got out. Now, I hate going home.
Home is a hard place right now. I hate how the Am flag some display on their house now makes me cringe. Every day, my dad displays his American flag. I told him that MAGA did this, Trump supporters. He responded that he was a GD vet, had every right to display the flag. They weren't taking his flag.
If we got rid of the Electoral College, individual votes would have their proper value in presidential elections.
I don’t!! So thankful for you! Want to know how we can help!
I do hate some of them, but mostly, I just think they’re really fucking stupid. And by “I think” I mean it’s demonstrable fact.
Jess part of why I follow you is to understand rural communities more. I hope you and rural folks also understand the hatred we blue states get from “real Americans” we are told we aren’t real Americans that we hate america that we are what’s wrong with America etc. hard not to have some resentment
Nah. I grew up a good chunk in NH. My friends were mostly hunters and tradesmen. I've also hung with the fancy pants folks, being from a somewhat privileged family. Whenever city folk discourage country folk--*or vice versa*--they’re usually full of shit.
I think that republican hate of our cities has been shoved in our face for so long and been considered acceptable and justifiable by mainstream media and politicians that it’s no wonder there is counter-hate for rural areas. I’m not saying that is good or helpful, but I understand it.
Can you imagine a dem talking g about rural areas the way republicans talk about cities and blue states? They’d be tarred and feathered. We have to revere “real america” but it’s ok to talk about “shit hole cities”
Exactly. And everyone goes right along with that narrative
The idea that every person in a particular area votes red (or blue) is completely ludicrous.
Jess, I agree with you but you are also white and that’s analogous to having some tunnel vision about how you are accepted in the group. But I wholeheartedly agree with you that racism has no borders; it’s in rural and urban alike.
District 1 isn't rural. And you got smoked. You also haven't been a Missouri resident very long.
I'm in a rural county where Harris got 61% of the vote.
I live in rural Maine and encounter more people who are on the correct side of history every day. Encouraging as I live in a red leaning district.
I'd wager that 25% is close to the Dem base in that area.
Wait though - I don’t. I don’t know who does.
Look through the comments on my sub stack from this morning. It’s prevalent all over.
Yep. Pretty common. It's also common to see country folks laughing at city folks who don't know how to change a tire. It's all bigotry, as far as I'm concerned.
My hind was completely saved when I was out in the middle of rural Virginia with no cell reception and got a flat and the guy who came up behind me was an off duty EMT with a car lift in his garage a quarter mile away. I could have done it. Probably. But I was very glad to see him.
Eww. I’m sorry. I will stand firm in the belief that it’s a very vocal minority
Unfortunately I have seen that mentality on full display across many mediums and real life. The "they deserve what they voted for" spite point is pretty prevalent with blue state liberals. It shows a lack of understanding of policy/disenfranchisement and a conditional belief in humanitarian values.
Jess, my friend, I don't know anyone who hates rural people en masse. People are smarter than that. I suspect anyone saying that on social media is a paid foreign troll. They are EVERYWHERE and not easy to spot without checking their account. Just block and ignore to save yourself time and stress.
If you want to build a movement you invite as many people as you can; or it can be another in a series of self-defeating purity tests that have aided the ability of extremists to seize power.
As a progressive who lives in a rural TN county, I can guarantee you the Dems never do anything to change people’s minds in our county. If they would hold town halls and address people’s concerns in person, they might start changing the current voting trends.
Jess, there isn't a "we hate" rural voters en masse. We drives many of us nuts about that part of the country is that people get all spooled up on abortion, religious culture wars, "woke", etc. and then vote against their own interests (ex. Medicare, min. wage) by placing GOP Goobers in office.
I agree with your point, but because Dem's write off rural areas, often there isn't anyone else they can vote for except in a national election. representation matters. Dems need to run everywhere.
I agree with you. Too often the DNCC declines to support D's in rural areas b/c the "$consultants$" advise "too difficult to win". So, the GOP runs uncontested. The sooner the D's lose their consultants, who have succeeded mostly in LOSING, the better.
I’m like a broken record on this. They aren’t voting against their interests. They’ve proven over and over again that their interests are racism, xenophobia, homophobia, etc. Yes, they are voting against their *economic* self interests but they are fine to prioritize them behind the isms.
Don’t like word hate personally! Normally try and let them (religion)alone to themselves till they interfere with my life style and how I should live it. Than it can only be their freedom. If wanted to follow that I would have from start. Their choice lately seems age of children marrying.
We don’t “hate rural people”, we hate the damage many rural people have done to our country by voting for Republicans.
I live in California. We have more magats here than Missouri. Hell you could lump some of those tiny barely inhabited states together and we’d still have more. Just for perspective.
I live in rural Texas. And I am a progressive. And am quite surprised at the number of people in my community who are moderate to progressive. Many more than when I moved here 8 years ago. I call it the tRump effect.
Warrensburg here, you speak the truth
Lots of progressive rural folk (like me) vote Dem. I’d love to see Dems support and promote more rural progressive candidates. I’m tired of Dems running as Republican-Lite. There’s the vocal MAGA minority and ‘the rest of us’ majority. It’s clear which ones can be swayed.
I have four friends who live in three rural areas in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Their values and beliefs align nearly 80% with this lifelong Democrat. I would never cast them aside.
Right I live in rural NE and have to put up with Republicans selling us out and shutting down our solar plant. All I want right now is to not wake up with brown chuncky water
Well you’re wrong. Anyone even slightly progressive moves out of those shitty little towns. Don’t tell me that they don’t vote for what’s going on. Of course they did. Fuck em.
Actually, you are wrong! Just because someone lives in a red voting state, does not mean they vote red. I live in WY but I’m not a republican nor do I vote for republicans nor will I ever. Some of us try to change our shitty little towns for the better. FU!
Good luck!
The reds are campaigning in rural areas. It isn't worth their time to campaign in 75% districts. The question is how to get those non-voters to see they have a choice in how their lives are affected.
I've been living in rural or small town MO my whole life. I don't agree with everything Democrats do, but for the most part their values more closely align with mine. And that's how it works. Pobody's nerfect.
I'm also wondering how many of them voted by mail... and how many Rs would NOT vote if they had to go in person. His plan might backfire
In my experience Rural areas have a lot of ecletic folks.
It’s just too easy to generalize. I mean I even catch myself doing it as a blue dot here in eastern NC but I know there’s plenty out there who feel similarly statewide. We are a swing state after all.
It seems both parties have a comfortable establishment which caters to corporations and wealthy donors now. They favor it because our system is ultra rigged for it.
I’m a democrat and I live in a very rural area.
I grew up in rural PA. & love rural areas - but there's no democrats & fewer progressives Winning 25% = far more votes than I would get - but that 75% loss supports the fact that there are very few progressives there. Much of it is down to literacy - If you can't read you can't think
bsky.app/profile/blue...
Interesting! Are these just lists of everyone blue in a state?
They're people who have made starter packs for that state, so everyone in my starter pack has their own starter packs. There's democrat groups, sports, hobbies, all in whichever state.
Oh interesting - thanks for specifying.
Jess, no hate here. I love that you are speaking up from a rural area, and sharing concerns that all of you have. You have given a voice to the often ignored and maligned. Don't let some random comments every question your importance.
I'd love to move to a rural area, hardcore leftist and all
I love my tiny little town. The sad part is my neighbor that loves her dogs as much as I do also has an actual blackface lawn jockey in her yard.
it's so weird, isn't it, when there is so much to like about someone but then there's that racist garbage....I just can't look past it
whut?
Let us remember most of us in California came from the Midwest! My family migrated from Delaware to Kentucky to Missouri to N California to Central California over approximately 450 years of migration. Many of us retain our Midwest values while we enjoy our rights and respect our responsibilities.
I don’t hate rural people, I know most Democrats don’t either. Thank you for making me aware how difficult it is to be a blue dot in a red state. I understand NOW.
I didn’t know the Democratic Party ignored states that voted red in the past-until now. Wrote them off as “a waste of campaigning time”. Boy was that a dumb decision-look at where we are now! This just added to the dividing of America.
Just read an article this morning about the awesome Angelica Rubio, a NM state rep who comes from southern, rural NM. (I'm in NM.) I'm so convinced we need to work in every state to connect w/ rural folks, not just to "get their vote," but to respect, celebrate, and learn from them.
Well I hate Russia. Yet I assume there are some good people there too.
Cappies and fash always use rural America as a shield to shut down even discussion of development programs. Small rural towns should have trains, too.
We went home to Pinetop this weekend. American flags everywhere. Restaurants with "we stand for the flag here signs" maga broomstick flags flying from every war wagon. I taught here. Parent conferences were HELL when you were the known liberal. I think often, liberals in rural zones lie low.
I live rurally and I’ll never go back to the big city!
Not sure who that was directed at, but I just moved from a rural Colorado town that was 95% Republican. The Democrats still had people run for every office, & they were, to a person, better educated, & had more experience. We lost every time. But we spoke truth to their lies. Maybe some will change.
I'm in okc. People think we are all red as well
Born and raised in Brooklyn NY living in rural NC for the past 15 years, (independent but siding heavy on left)
Life is complex......and is often not black and white ☯️🔳🔲 You'd be surprised how many Hicks out in the sticks, are quite smart people 📚📓📒 and aren't down with Colt 🏇🎠🐎🐴 mentality 😉
Where I grew up, they brought their bullshit up north looking for a job after getting their asses handed to them over the right to own people.
Oh, please. Just win some elections. We hate the republican voters in rural spaces. They are and vote for horrible people.
I’m very blue in a rural area. When I bought my home, I checked the voter rolls and my neighbors on either side are registered Dems! Figured it was a smart thing to do. It has paid off having great neighbors who car pool to the rallys! At our local county fair aka animals, not one maggot hat!
Smart. I worked for the Dems in my red state and saw the maps, and even though we're in the minority, we're spread equally all over! There's always another Dem nearby. People benefit from being more visible - you might have to look one or two houses over, but you'll make good friends.
Please keep fighting.
Rural folk are not um, tolerant of liberals in their midst.
People really need to travel more.
Let’s @uncapthehouse.bsky.social for all those rural democrats, urban republicans, and all the minor parties and independent candidates that want to run for office, but can’t afford to campaign in such expensively large districts! Jess, if you were in Congress, would you cosponsor #hr4125? 🤷🏻♂️ ✌🏻😎🇺🇸
I appreciate rural people. Part of my maternal family has been farmers for longer than 10 generations, & all are progressive empaths and share with others. Pay for their education, health provisions, & have a secured life. Some rural people are different. Extreme abuse of substances make many angry.
I kinda do. If you can’t see the Koch bro donor network complete victory outlined by Nancy MacLean in her “democracy in chains”, project 2025 warnings are lost on the pure optimism of youth. Good luck, but move to a blue state soon. I worry for liberal females in the Midwestern Gilead
Preach, Jess. We have 20-40% progressive voters that turn out EVERY election and have for years, despite neglect from the DNC, open hate from blue state "allies", and pressure and threats from neighbors.
Rural America is an example of feudalism. A few wealthy people own most of the land and it’s just a survival skill to bow down to them. That’s not democracy.
Dem in red state and I would be afraid to put a bumper sticker, sign or anything political on my home or car. Really irks me that MAGA can without any backlash.
shit, I'm a Dem in a blue state and I wouldn't put a sign or a bumper sticker out....I am rural and a town 12 miles away went 75% for drumpf
Me neither. I don’t want my stuff destroyed. Couldn’t support Obama either. Not fair that they can rub MAGA shit in our faces.
We live in Alabama and my daughter’s car was vandalized because she had a President Obama sticker on her car
Sickening! They feel empowered because Trump is in office. I’m so sorry that happened to your daughter.
Thanks, my daughter is very open about who she supports and she said I am not going to hide it, just like the GQP does not hide it
I could see that happening.
I've lived in Tallahassee and its rural areas since 1994. There are plenty of us. We're just not loud and whiny.
Well you need to get loud.
"We" didn't include me, yo. I'm a loudie loud mouth. 🤣
No, we hate the conservative mindset that has dominated the region. We respect what they contribute to our economy (e.g., food).
Fellow Missourian here, not originally from. Would you agree that hate emanates primarily from rural voters first? Because I cannot count the amount of times in rural Missouri where I have listened to nothing but bigotry, racism and hatred from sed rural people. And I know you have also.
You are not the only candidate from a rural state. Have you changed your platform, because you appear to have gone from a uniting platform to a separatist one, why? Who said people in rural communities are hated, are looked down upon…they are the backbone of the country and you are diminishing them
@piperformissouri.bsky.social you have had a good campaign but whoever convinced you to take this direction has misled you
Paranoid, LYING, Sociopath/Pyschopath, adjudicated rapists, fascist (PLSF47) 34 X convicted felon, indicted x 4 treasonous, illegally sworn in 47** needs a real mental health exam and diagnosis which know would come back Socio/Psychopathic personality. A dangerously ill man
Paranoid,LYING,Sociopath/Pyschopath, fascist (PLSF47) now indicted 4 X treasonous. adjudicated rapist, 34 X convicted felon illegally sworn in 47** This should preface and be stated before reporting on anything he says or puts out in print. Journalistic malpractice if you don’t.
Rural America wants to be independent. I also live in rural America. bsky.app/profile/east...
I'm out in rural Minnesota. Still blue. Unfortunately, out here at night, it's four fm radio channels of right-wing propaganda, all night, every night. There's no actual news, and no other voices. That's why farmers here vote for the dickhead who screwed up their business the LAST time.
I’ve never lived in a rural area, and have only a vague idea of what it’s like to live there. But I read so much stuff from rural people who are so certain about what it’s like to live in an urban area. That’s what’s difficult for me to stomach.
This nation cannot heal unless the entire country can become empathic and want to care for each and every locality in all the states, including in rural areas. I believe part of the healing also requires moving forward into the future and leaving past civil war grievances which still persist, behind
A lot of policies passed come from dem bills from health and hospital services to relief for farmers. Now that they voted for trump they are going to lose it all. From farm programs and subsidies to doctors and hospitals. They made a bad choice. Yes, I use to live in rural VA and owned a farm.
This is true. I spend half my time in a rural area and my one neighbor and I troll the trumpist at the end of the street. If you are a lefty and in a rural area, you are not alone.
What? No.
I live in rural Southern Ohio & there are a few of us Dems around here!
My parents were both from a small NW MO farmtown. I am in KC. My grandfather, uncles, and cousins have been or are farmers. I do not hate them, but what they think cities and city folk consist of is totally unreal and at times unhinged. They fear difference and Rs use that fear against them.
I'm a progressive living in a GOP controlled rural county and state! There are lots of us!
I live in rural Central Texas. Democrats exist. Here's a little something that'll blow your mind... Texas Total Registered Voters: 17,485,702 Democrats: 8,133,683 (46.52%) Republicans: 6,601,189 (37.75%) Unaffiliated: 2,750,830 (15.73%)
I think it's hard to break through the information barriers in rural areas. People have their favorite news station, a favorite radio station, maybe no internet, and communicating to face is extremely time consuming.
Democrats don't realize how much ultra-conservative radio station owners impact Midwestern voting. People in their cars and trucks get a steady stream of pre-programmed music and near-fascist talk programming while they are just trying to get the local high school sports scores.
The first time I ever heard Rush Limbaugh was when "coach" took us in the Driver's Ed car. Rural Missouri, early 1990s. There is a gap in rural life that begs to be filled, and talk radio and church do a great job of that, and they're free. When you're bored and broke, anything sounds good.
Are you going to run again, Jess? Next time around get 35%+? Please say you're not done;-)