I appreciate your comments as a city raised Republican, now Democrat living in rural ruby red Idaho. In my experience, many of the farmers and ranchers in my area are honest people that would help out a neighbor, but since this area is primarily white I can't vouch for how much they would be willing to support the brown and black people who work the hard and dirty labor intensive jobs white people won't do anymore. I am seeing fewer "This is Trump Country" signs lately but they might resurface for the next elections.
The Democratic party lost many of these people over decades of condescending messaging (remember "fly over country" that disparaged the heartland voters?) and becoming known as the coastal elites with their broad based support of fringe issues like defund the police and gay rights issues that were largely misunderstood as they were portrayed on Fox News which is still the go to TV station in rural country. I was screaming at the news during the 2024 elections because the dems were so weak in their messaging and seemed to pound on abortion rights to the exclusion of most everything else. In my experience, most rural people are socially conservative and many vote as their church, often Mormon in my area, dictate to them. Yes, I care about abortion rights but I also care about providing a living wage with a sound national economy, and climate change, helping out small farmers and ranchers so they can make environmentally positive changes, and so many other vital issues that were never brought up in the national news coverage.
Most people are reportedly loath to change their politics as it has become their personal identity so we will have to see how this continues to play out.
This reader with family farm roots in Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, and before that Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware approves this message. My mom grew up driving tractor. I grew up in town; we bought a few acres in the country before retirement. My younger son raised his own meat next door, on our land (chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef), and hunted deer with bow and arrow.
Public policy has got to include safe, healthy soil for people to grow their own food; allotments make the most sense with the large apartment complexes. Make it beneficial to include them.
I appreciate your comments as a city raised Republican, now Democrat living in rural ruby red Idaho. In my experience, many of the farmers and ranchers in my area are honest people that would help out a neighbor, but since this area is primarily white I can't vouch for how much they would be willing to support the brown and black people who work the hard and dirty labor intensive jobs white people won't do anymore. I am seeing fewer "This is Trump Country" signs lately but they might resurface for the next elections.
The Democratic party lost many of these people over decades of condescending messaging (remember "fly over country" that disparaged the heartland voters?) and becoming known as the coastal elites with their broad based support of fringe issues like defund the police and gay rights issues that were largely misunderstood as they were portrayed on Fox News which is still the go to TV station in rural country. I was screaming at the news during the 2024 elections because the dems were so weak in their messaging and seemed to pound on abortion rights to the exclusion of most everything else. In my experience, most rural people are socially conservative and many vote as their church, often Mormon in my area, dictate to them. Yes, I care about abortion rights but I also care about providing a living wage with a sound national economy, and climate change, helping out small farmers and ranchers so they can make environmentally positive changes, and so many other vital issues that were never brought up in the national news coverage.
Most people are reportedly loath to change their politics as it has become their personal identity so we will have to see how this continues to play out.
This reader with farm family roots in Ohio and Pennsylvania approves this message.
Best I can do is leave the door open if they decide to atone for their choices. Everyone is capable of redemption, but they must do it themselves.
This reader with family farm roots in Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, and before that Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Delaware approves this message. My mom grew up driving tractor. I grew up in town; we bought a few acres in the country before retirement. My younger son raised his own meat next door, on our land (chicken, turkey, lamb, and beef), and hunted deer with bow and arrow.
Public policy has got to include safe, healthy soil for people to grow their own food; allotments make the most sense with the large apartment complexes. Make it beneficial to include them.