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.