The Rural Vote

It’s true that Democrats haven’t done a very good job of reaching out to rural and less educated voters. It’s true that not much has improved in rural areas in the last 50 years. It’s true that many who live in rural America feel abandoned by Washington. But I am growing weary of hearing how Trump got so many rural white votes because these poor rustic souls believed him when he told them he was going to bring them good jobs and prosperity.

I lived in rural West Virginia for over 40 years. I know the people in rural America aren’t dumb as fucking bricks. All of this post-election analysis that tries to assure us that Trump voters are scared for their economic future and dumb enough to believe Trump’s bullshit… That’s just more urban and suburban elitism and arrogance. If you’re smart enough to see through Trump’s bullshit jobs plan, you can bet your sweet ass most rural Americans are smart enough to see through it, too.

Many if not most rural voters who feel shut out by the system simply don’t vote. The Democrats need to become more progressive and reach out to those people. Like Kennedy did and Roosevelt.

The Democrats haven’t earned the rural vote in a long time. That’s for sure. But you know who else hasn’t earned the rural vote? Republicans. Not everyone in rural America is voting for Republicans. Some are voting blue. And some are staying home on election day. Those who keep voting Republican are the asshole rednecks. Republicans, including Trump, especially Trump, tell them what they want to hear: they are the “real” Americans who deserve to live high on the hog simply because they were born American and white and that minorities are stealing their birthright. They buy into that shit not because they’re poor, simple folk who don’t know any better. They like feeling superior. And they like kicking minority ass.

I am convinced that a vote for Trump was, by and large, in fact a vote for hate and not a misguided vote for good jobs.