People have been telling us country bumpkins for a long time what’s wrong with us. After awhile, you begin to believe it. “What’s the matter with Kansas?” William Allen White of the Emporia Gazette famously asked as William Jennings Bryan and the populists challenged the railroads and White’s mercantile class. White became the sage of the prairie and friend of Teddy Roosevelt by telling the rural riffraff to let the folks in Emporia, Topeka, New York and Washington determine their interests.
Perhaps major papers in WI, Mich WI, or Ohio, with their own share of rural white voters might print your stuff. When Iowa dramatically switched from Obama to Trump, many pundits and even the national Dem’s blamed Iowa’s aging, white population. Rather than digging into why voters switched and the failure of national D’s to have a message for rural and urban America, it was much easier to paint this whole state with the same brush. I am proud to be working with a bunch of progressive rural voters (ProIowa24)—the media and Demo Party can answer the question what’s wrong with Iowa, by asking my fellow progressives.
Art—I just started Rural White Rage. Now I don’t need to finish it. I wish I’d read your column first. At least it’ll save me some time. I’ll use it to finish Zone Of Interest which is based on an even more horrific event.
This choir member enjoyed this sermon/ history synapses. If only people could open their eyes and ears to the facts. Realizing that most of what holds credibility are feelings and perceptions. Bigotry is a big one. So much manipulation how to change things without resorting to the same play book?
Perhaps major papers in WI, Mich WI, or Ohio, with their own share of rural white voters might print your stuff. When Iowa dramatically switched from Obama to Trump, many pundits and even the national Dem’s blamed Iowa’s aging, white population. Rather than digging into why voters switched and the failure of national D’s to have a message for rural and urban America, it was much easier to paint this whole state with the same brush. I am proud to be working with a bunch of progressive rural voters (ProIowa24)—the media and Demo Party can answer the question what’s wrong with Iowa, by asking my fellow progressives.
Excellent, Art. Hope The Times picks up this one.
Art—I just started Rural White Rage. Now I don’t need to finish it. I wish I’d read your column first. At least it’ll save me some time. I’ll use it to finish Zone Of Interest which is based on an even more horrific event.
This choir member enjoyed this sermon/ history synapses. If only people could open their eyes and ears to the facts. Realizing that most of what holds credibility are feelings and perceptions. Bigotry is a big one. So much manipulation how to change things without resorting to the same play book?