Are we kidding ourselves?

[OAITW r.2.0]

Watching MSNBC (I am sure it's the same on all channels), I am struck by the stark contrasts being shown on these political maps. Modern technology (graphics and telecommunication) hows a fascinating reality. Small islands of blue patches, surreunded by a sea of red patches.

The political battle is not "North" vs. "South"..it's "cities/urban areas" vs. "rural areas". Red is rural, blue is hi density people.

I lived a long time in the 2nd ME district in a small rural town for 25 years. It was surrounded by a lot of small rural towns. One thing I know, there is a very limited breadth of human interaction in these communities. Literally, their views are necessarily limited and insulated from a broad cross-section of society but their views are continually reinforced collectively within their limited community.

I am pretty sure that Fox News has more influence in rural communities than any other source. As such, they have inordinate influence on lots of rural communities. Repeat and reinforce with little or no challenge.

We need a political strategy that bridges these fundamental cultural differences.

[Patterson]

1. Interesting.

[qazplm135]

2. well yeah

it's rural-urban, has been for awhile...with suburban voters the purple part.

[OAITW r.2.0]

5. If the tech can differentiate red vs. blue.

it can show purple...that would be a better thing for understanding the real temperature of our politics.

[Blaukraut]

3. We are at a disadvantage as far as districts go

Since they don't account for population. Don't even mention the Senate. Oy. There needs to be a complete overhaul of the electoral system in order to achieve fairness. As to bridging cultural differences: It is up to their side to join us in the 21st century. I, for one, am not going backwards.

[question everything]

4. Just look at Minnesota

It has 8 districts and until this evening, five were D, three R. Now, with some rural districts only 20% reporting, it appears that Minnesota will have only 3 D. The Twin City Metro area.

I hope that as more districts report something will change, but do not hold my breath.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

6. Yeah, you can always depend on those dumbass toothless hicks

to vote against their own interests.…because of um, guns er sumthin.

[central scrutinizer]

7. Acres can't vote

Showing counties or other geographic charts is misleading

[jcmaine72]

8. This why immigration from Latin America and Africa is so vitally important.

We're never going to get the racist ignoramuses in that vast sea of red to listen to reason. Sorry to say, they need to be replaced as the majority in these places with a more diverse population. A comprehensive resettlement of refugees from both Latin America and places like Somalia and Congo would go a long way to remedy this problem. They'll be grateful to be here and will appreciate our compassion, and, eventually, will make far better Americans than the current demographic.

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. It already happened in ME.

Lots of Somalis living in Central, Me. It was reasonably good under Obama, but not sure if there is a greater incidence of racist acts under Trump.

[jcmaine72]

11. That's why sensible Hate Crime Laws are so vitally important.

They'll help protect these new Americans from local racists while they settle in. When they're the new majority, the problem will solve itself. Racists are cowards first and foremost.

Good luck to any ignorant, racist Trump humper who dares to show his toothless face in a town or county that's say 60% Somali and 30% Latino.

[In It to Win It]

10. Usually how it always is...

A sea of red with a few blue bots.