I’m conflicted about this cartoon.
It’s true that I’ve met some ferociously progressive people living in this rural red part of the state — but it’s still red. The majority of voters in these parts voted for Trump in the last election, for instance. They put up anti-abortion signs and sign up for the NRA and drive megamonster trucks.
So don’t go too far in either direction. The rural midwest is complicated.
It’s not in the bible, but “rocket’s red glare” is right there in the National Anthem which Jesus wrote, along with the Constitution.
Wrong thread.
They put up anti-abortion signs and sign up for the NRA …
This reminds me of a (southern) friend, a gun collector and lifetime NRA member, who considers each fetus a separate human life but stands firmly on the pro-choice side. He doesn’t see any contradiction in that: he wants his daughters to have abortion rights and gun rights too, for (if needed) self-defense.
Is this the “Biden won more votes in Texas than he did in New York State in 2020” problem? I think those people have always been there but the way how elections work in the US makes them invisible. Of course Dems ignoring rural area (kinda makes strategic sense, though) doesn’t help. Maybe Walz can bring some pleasant surprises here.
On the other hand, there is also a “Trump won more votes in California than he did in Texas” thing, which I kinda wish can be kept that way but am perfectly okay if both can be solved together (by NPVIC, for example). However, given that GOP almost lost every single popular election for President for 30+ years I won’t be holding my breath sit that.
I think there are plenty of progressives in your district, judging by the primaries. It’s just that they don’t put up signs or drive around in ridiculous gas-guzzling trucks.
The Democratic Party lost much rural support when it stopped representing the interests of family farmsteads, which led to a lot of suicide and loss as hard-working families were forced from their land by banks and corporate farming.
Tethys @ 5
Rural areas in Sweden with negative population growth and poor economy provided support for our local xenophobe party. When people see no way out they vote for whovever promises to have the keys to a better future. It is the same with populist movements all over the world.
@ Birger
I should have included the phrase DFL- which is the Democratic Farm and Labor Party. Many Farmers began voting Republican after they were thrown to the corporate wolves like Monsanto back in the 80s.
In America, there is also the influence of right-wing radio that is deliberately targeted to rural demographics, and Churches are often the primary social outlet in small communities, so they often have a rather skewed view of current political events.
“Have you studied the history of farmers’ and labor movements at all, my dude?”
Given that ‘dude’ in the sense of ‘dude ranch’ can be a somewhat derogatory term for an Eastern city boy who vacations on a ranch and thinks he knows what he’s doing, while actually being squarely in the ‘doesn’t know enough to know how little he knows’ territory… that particular word choice seems very appropriate in the third panel. All the better for the fact that the person it’s being used on is probably unaware of that meaning.
I grew up in a small Midwestern farming and manufacturing community in Illinois.
Looking back, I was taught about a surprising number of progressive ideas and philosophies in my High School.
My teachers encouraged me to read, study and think as opposed to my mother, who wanted me to quit school at 16, get a job and support her. Instead, I was awarded a four year tuition scholarship at the age of 16.
The Jesuits at St. Louis University taught their own brand of Progressivism. I met my husband there 50 years ago, and we learned many of our Progressive ideas from them, and we’re both thankful that they taught us how to learn, question and think for ourselves. We may be seeing some Midwestern progressives like myself, who are finally being noticed.
The trouble is that it’s hard to feel that way when just about every house and farm you drive past has a Trump sign in their front yard.
I think it’s always complicated, everywhere. When I lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, folks that I hung about with tended to think of Flagstaff as the solidly liberal stronghold in the north of a sea of red. But in 2020, Coconino Co voted 60%-40% Democrat. Which is solid… and still means that 4 out of 6 people you meet walking down the street voted for the other guy.