We need to start a mass campaign post elections to win over rural America

[Le Roi de Pot]

There is absolutely no reason they cannot be Democrats.

If we start making inroads - We can either force GOP to either reinvent or go extinct.

[CrispyQ]

1. +1

We have ignored hate radio for 40 years, to our detriment.

[ms liberty]

2. This. n/t

[wcast]

3. As someone who lives in rural America, we can peel some from the margins but not the majority.

This is for several reasons. First is cultural. These people feel distinct from urban, suburban Americans, in fact they feel they are the real Americans. They feel superior to non-whites and believe whites that are liberal are ______. (Choose your own pejorative.)

Second is religion. Rural Americans believe that God is on their side, even though the ideas they espouse are not biblical. Liberals are not true believers, same as minority populations (especially non-Christians who worship God in a different way).

Third is racial. Rural America believes the stereotypes that have been part of America’s history since it’s conception and before. They few they know are the good ones but all the others are not. They can’t understand Or empathize with BLM protestors. This is where Trump articulates their beliefs and why my community is full of Trump flags.

I am only speaking of the Trump supporters as liberals do live in rural America, so the above is a generalization.

The ones on the margin can be converted by doing what Joe says he is going to do. Support unions, truly make health care affordable, create good paying jobs all over America, not just population centers.

[Le Roi de Pot]

4. Thank you for the detailed response - I love it

Right now - the only voices that reach them are folks on talk radio and what they hear within their own communities. I agree we have a huge bias deficits.


1) THe first thing we need to do is bring back fairness doctrine that atleast get us a seat at the discussion table.

2) There are many Democrats who are people of faith .. we need to disabuse them of the notion that we are anti-God. We need to have competing churches if needed. We need a distribution channel.

The point is that we need to start talking - we may not win - but we have to persist and over time - we will make enough of an impact so that we can be competitive rurally.

[DSandra]

6. Mainline protestant churches have been in decline while conservative churches have flourished

There needs to be a movement within the left that are religious to take back religion.

[KPN]

8. I agree with your assessment as one who also

lives in rural America, including the piece about “by doing what Joe says he is going to do.” While not entirely of our own making, that has been a problem in the past; expectations that don’t match results.

[wcast]

9. I agree with your point.

Expectations don’t always match results. I hope this time they do.

[Cosmocat]

5. This fundamentally misses why they are republicans

it is 100% cultural, they have and will continue to vote against their own best interests because of a toxic mix of fear and pride.

They don't vote for policies like us.

They vote as act of opposition to our very existence.

The battle is for the people who don't vote.

[roamer65]

7. There isn't much benefit to it in the long run.

I spend a lot of time back in the rural area where I grew up for family reasons.

ITS DYING. Closed stores abound, very few middle aged people, etc, etc. All the hallmarks of depopulation.

People are leaving the rural areas for the suburbs and cities.