There’re lots of differences between rural US and rural UK but I think I see one thing the same - politicians viewing the country from the city and not seeing it for what it is. Everything has to be accessed online, push up fuel prices to get people on public transport - but broadband doesn’t exist in the villages and when there’s only one bus a day (if you’re lucky) … I hope the world is moving in your direction, Jess, even if it’s doing it in sandals.
In a city outside of Orlando, FL, they recently discontinued all buses. Took out the bus benches. They instead are going to use vans. Not sure how its going.
I lived in Overland Park and they did just that when they flipped that district for sharice davids. If KC and St. Louis voted, it wouldn’t matter what the rural voter did. That whole state went with Laura Kelly because of sherice Davids. By the way, the goodwill on 135th will have some great hiking boots! And opks is blue! Go Jess!
What a remarkable op-ed by a remarkable writer/woman. You drew me in the very first line I'd ever read and keep me coming back. I also appreciate your kindness, your thoughtfulness, your acceptance of others. No small things in todays climate, or ever. Clearly you are someone who is good at what you do, but you know, you are good at who you are, too. Thank you. We need to hear from more good humans. It's been pretty dark.
You are so right; rural voters do care. No, I'm not one, but my grandparents were either farmers or small-town Americans.
I grew up in Fairway, KS, just a few miles closer to downtown KC than OP. When I was a kid, Olathe was a faraway place that you had to take the highway (2 lanes!) to get to. LOL!
I guess my point is that people care greatly. Sometimes, they need help clarifying what truly matters to them. That's difficult because there are many competing sources of "correct" that contradict each other. That then results in the "loudest" or "flashiest" voice being heard.
As far as I know, one-on-one is the best way to counteract that voice.
Democrats have written off rural America in a few ways. As you say, they don't even run candidates most of the time. Here in my red Congressional district, they do run candidates, but not the ones that are relatable and can win. Last go round during the primary season, there was a very good woman rancher in the mix. But she couldn't raise the money to continue. (Money in the system is another, though related topic.) Instead, the state and national Dems put their support behind a wealthy businessman from Aspen, who outspent the Republican by about 5X and still lost. If they won't come out and have listening sessions, show people where their interests intersect, and quit trying to force things into communities where they don't really fit, it will be a long time before they win out here.
Great point about having a candidate people to whom people can relate. In my current district, someone will run who appeals to a small percentage of voters, not someone who can win.
I grew up in rural eastern NC. The little towns in my consolidated high school district have been decimated over the years by big changes in agriculture and manufacturing. Thriving little towns with vibrant, but small, commercial districts are in the past. The arrival of Walmart in our county didn’t help, as people would drive up to 25 miles to save pennies on the dollar, not considering that the time and expense of driving added to the cheap price of goods.
Many of the problems our communities face are “wicked” problems. “Wicked” problems have no one cause, and no one solution. They take collaboration and imagination to solve. The Republicans are not interested in solving problems for the common good, ex. immigration. They just want to line their own pockets. Screw everyone else.
I always appreciate your posts, Jess. You provide important information that I do not get from any other source. However, if I may, I do have one quibble with this one. Six million misguided Californians voting for the Convicted Felon Candidate is rendered meaningless by the Electoral College. If our President was elected by the popular vote, then every vote would matter.
Yes, thank God. The majority of Californians voted for Kamala. It’s just a number I like to point out to show that we really can’t put this at the feet of rural Americans. I appreciate you.
You always touch something I feel. I moved to rural Missouri in 1986 and love the area and the people. But I also get frustrated with my neighbors. Thank you for helping me see them again. Your insights are plain sense, but I forget. This gives me hope.
I love reading your newsletter. I know I live in a bubble here in New England and don't understand what so many others are dealing with. Thank you for bringing your reality to those of us who need and want to understand.
Do it…there may be pickleball courts closer to where you live. usually a great circle of friends will evolve. I started in about 2012 in our small town in CA…made long time friends there and 2 couples became neighbors when we moved to AZ, and more friends from Canada, then friends of friends, etc! But I digress….always grateful for your point of view on rural voters. I share your newsletter with my AZ neighbor from MO and she is grateful too…she’s a blue in a sea of red also.
I had never heard of REI. But I get my wool socks from WalMart. My big kick now is flannel lined jeans. When its zero out and 6 AM I am very glad I have them.
The ones from Wrangler are $60. But Menards has them for $20. I go out every morning to load up my wood furnace. But not tomorrow morning. Spring weather.
Thank you for standing for the most vulnerable folks in red states! I’ve seen the effect everywhere everyday in rural Arkansas. Here is stat that shows how corrupt the republicans are.we are the only state to extend Medicare for pregnant mothers & babies & the highest in maternal & baby mortality in the USA! Our public schools are barely hanging on by a thread, access to healthcare,fresh groceries, transportation we’ve been abandoned by republicans they only cater to the likes of Walmart & Tyson!
I so much agree with you about the news desert. Every AM or FM radio that was playing on combines and pickups from the days of Goldwater was tuned to religious or rightwing channels. Rush Limbaugh was a 3 hour rant every day. He talked about feminazis and welfare cheats and liberals that are after your money because they look at taxation as necessary, but it is a scam in order to take your money and use it to indoctrinate your kids. Reagen told the US that the government was the enemy and Limbaugh loved to preach that sermon. Then in the 90s, Clinton signed the Communications Act so that Rupert Murdoch could get his propaganda Fox News channel on every TV set in the nation. During the 90s you could not go into a waiting room, bar, health club or almost any public place that had a TV droning in the background without Fox News plugging their right-wing propaganda. Most local broadcasting networks are controlled by Sinclair, which is also a right-wing supported media conglomeration. It is tragic, but understandable, if you only get information from such a limited source and with death of NPR, it is even harder for them to get unbiased information. You are a gift because you are out there working to show them that they continue to vote against their own interests. I absolutely honor your efforts.
With Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans built a new message delivery system for their message - 24 by 7, 365 days a year.
The Democrats need a new message delivery system. Instead they keep using the same playbook (a few months before an election, fund raising, consultants, advertising, phone and text banks) and keep losing (unless something really dramatic happens).
I wish Democrats would focus on building a new message delivery system (probably with the internet and 2 way communication) instead of refining a message, that never gets delivered to anyone except a tiny portion of their base.
A copy of the Republican message delivery system won't work, but there are other options that need to be explored.
Control the media, control the mind. Manipulation is Trump's superpower. Most big media now is owned by large corporations. The business world has learned that it's in their best interest not to fight Trump, but to get on his good side. And he will allow them to do whatever to profit bigly. So most of them have fallen in line.
In this relatively short piece you hit numerous points worth comment.
Your stump speech must be phenomenal.
I’ll just mention two.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how women have often taken the lead in organizing and leading the fight against fascism.
And, in a big generalization, the right has created a lot of rural American’s suffering , while too many on the left think the rural population itself is to blame for the situation.
The years my family lived in rural Missouri have been a gift that’s lasted a lifetime and have informed not just my political views but my outlook on life.
Postcards, CALLS, text banks, donations to pay for radio ads and media ads. Every campaign and state-level blue organization has these set up during campaign cycles. Check Mobilize for opportunities near you.
Recreational Equipment Inc. Anyone can shop there, but if you join as a co-op member ($30 for life) you get dividends back based on purchases throughout the year. Plus they offer classes, etc. Been around at least from the 70s that I know of, maybe longer. (Link here says since 1938. Wow.)
REI use to have great gear at great prices. Not any more. I haven't shopped them for many years because they got out of my price range. And I'm pretty sure you won't find REI in rural areas.
True. I joined when I moved to Seattle in 1994. The stores upscaled since then, but seemed to fall into some financial difficulty during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. You can buy online, sometimes at great sales.
Jess, how can I buy you new boots? 🥾
Oh, I have a pair picked out. I just haven’t pulled the trigger yet. Thank you, friend.
Maybe we should call our even in April, "Boots on the Ground, with Jess Piper".
before you pull the trigger, check online for used in what you want.
I’ve had great luck with buying hiking books and apparel. There’s a lot of people who clean out their closets multiple times of the year (not me),
and outdoor gear seems to get turned over quickly.
Any chance of your being the Minneapolis area for a look-see this summer?
Be sure to buy a lifetime REI membership. It's not expensive and will eventually pay for itself. I've had mine for nearly 40 years.
Take her up on it, Jess. And, if I can help, Naima, let me know by adding a comment here plus a way to reach you "all the way out there in N.M."
love you for offering something so needed for dear Jess!
A gift certificate to REI?
There’re lots of differences between rural US and rural UK but I think I see one thing the same - politicians viewing the country from the city and not seeing it for what it is. Everything has to be accessed online, push up fuel prices to get people on public transport - but broadband doesn’t exist in the villages and when there’s only one bus a day (if you’re lucky) … I hope the world is moving in your direction, Jess, even if it’s doing it in sandals.
In a city outside of Orlando, FL, they recently discontinued all buses. Took out the bus benches. They instead are going to use vans. Not sure how its going.
Amen!
I was thinking the same thing! At the very least sending a gift certificate. I've sent them to friends before.
I lived in Overland Park and they did just that when they flipped that district for sharice davids. If KC and St. Louis voted, it wouldn’t matter what the rural voter did. That whole state went with Laura Kelly because of sherice Davids. By the way, the goodwill on 135th will have some great hiking boots! And opks is blue! Go Jess!
Yessss. Sharice proved that a gerrymander doesn’t always work.
What a remarkable op-ed by a remarkable writer/woman. You drew me in the very first line I'd ever read and keep me coming back. I also appreciate your kindness, your thoughtfulness, your acceptance of others. No small things in todays climate, or ever. Clearly you are someone who is good at what you do, but you know, you are good at who you are, too. Thank you. We need to hear from more good humans. It's been pretty dark.
"What a remarkable op-ed by a remarkable writer/woman."
I wholeheartedly agree!
We are making some inroads to getting people on the ballot in SE Missouri, but it is hard locally. Thanks for always being an inspiration.
I have been so excited to watch folks filing in Missouri. It makes me absolutely giddy.😂
You are so right; rural voters do care. No, I'm not one, but my grandparents were either farmers or small-town Americans.
I grew up in Fairway, KS, just a few miles closer to downtown KC than OP. When I was a kid, Olathe was a faraway place that you had to take the highway (2 lanes!) to get to. LOL!
I guess my point is that people care greatly. Sometimes, they need help clarifying what truly matters to them. That's difficult because there are many competing sources of "correct" that contradict each other. That then results in the "loudest" or "flashiest" voice being heard.
As far as I know, one-on-one is the best way to counteract that voice.
Thanks for doing what you do!
Democrats have written off rural America in a few ways. As you say, they don't even run candidates most of the time. Here in my red Congressional district, they do run candidates, but not the ones that are relatable and can win. Last go round during the primary season, there was a very good woman rancher in the mix. But she couldn't raise the money to continue. (Money in the system is another, though related topic.) Instead, the state and national Dems put their support behind a wealthy businessman from Aspen, who outspent the Republican by about 5X and still lost. If they won't come out and have listening sessions, show people where their interests intersect, and quit trying to force things into communities where they don't really fit, it will be a long time before they win out here.
Great point about having a candidate people to whom people can relate. In my current district, someone will run who appeals to a small percentage of voters, not someone who can win.
I grew up in rural eastern NC. The little towns in my consolidated high school district have been decimated over the years by big changes in agriculture and manufacturing. Thriving little towns with vibrant, but small, commercial districts are in the past. The arrival of Walmart in our county didn’t help, as people would drive up to 25 miles to save pennies on the dollar, not considering that the time and expense of driving added to the cheap price of goods.
Many of the problems our communities face are “wicked” problems. “Wicked” problems have no one cause, and no one solution. They take collaboration and imagination to solve. The Republicans are not interested in solving problems for the common good, ex. immigration. They just want to line their own pockets. Screw everyone else.
I always appreciate your posts, Jess. You provide important information that I do not get from any other source. However, if I may, I do have one quibble with this one. Six million misguided Californians voting for the Convicted Felon Candidate is rendered meaningless by the Electoral College. If our President was elected by the popular vote, then every vote would matter.
Yes, thank God. The majority of Californians voted for Kamala. It’s just a number I like to point out to show that we really can’t put this at the feet of rural Americans. I appreciate you.
You always touch something I feel. I moved to rural Missouri in 1986 and love the area and the people. But I also get frustrated with my neighbors. Thank you for helping me see them again. Your insights are plain sense, but I forget. This gives me hope.
I love reading your newsletter. I know I live in a bubble here in New England and don't understand what so many others are dealing with. Thank you for bringing your reality to those of us who need and want to understand.
I wish I’d known you’d be here. That Chicken and Pickle is within walking distance of my house.
Oh my gosh. That place is so fun. I can’t imagine having that in my backyard. I would definitely be into Pickleball.❤️
Do it…there may be pickleball courts closer to where you live. usually a great circle of friends will evolve. I started in about 2012 in our small town in CA…made long time friends there and 2 couples became neighbors when we moved to AZ, and more friends from Canada, then friends of friends, etc! But I digress….always grateful for your point of view on rural voters. I share your newsletter with my AZ neighbor from MO and she is grateful too…she’s a blue in a sea of red also.
I had never heard of REI. But I get my wool socks from WalMart. My big kick now is flannel lined jeans. When its zero out and 6 AM I am very glad I have them.
Recreational Equipment Inc. I think it's a Pacific Northwest company. It's been here for years.
Like I say, I had never heard of them before now. Looking them up, I can see why. $379 for a tent that holds one person. Those are scary prices
I had a friend that used to buy the flannel lined jeans at Aldis!
The ones from Wrangler are $60. But Menards has them for $20. I go out every morning to load up my wood furnace. But not tomorrow morning. Spring weather.
Thank you for standing for the most vulnerable folks in red states! I’ve seen the effect everywhere everyday in rural Arkansas. Here is stat that shows how corrupt the republicans are.we are the only state to extend Medicare for pregnant mothers & babies & the highest in maternal & baby mortality in the USA! Our public schools are barely hanging on by a thread, access to healthcare,fresh groceries, transportation we’ve been abandoned by republicans they only cater to the likes of Walmart & Tyson!
I so much agree with you about the news desert. Every AM or FM radio that was playing on combines and pickups from the days of Goldwater was tuned to religious or rightwing channels. Rush Limbaugh was a 3 hour rant every day. He talked about feminazis and welfare cheats and liberals that are after your money because they look at taxation as necessary, but it is a scam in order to take your money and use it to indoctrinate your kids. Reagen told the US that the government was the enemy and Limbaugh loved to preach that sermon. Then in the 90s, Clinton signed the Communications Act so that Rupert Murdoch could get his propaganda Fox News channel on every TV set in the nation. During the 90s you could not go into a waiting room, bar, health club or almost any public place that had a TV droning in the background without Fox News plugging their right-wing propaganda. Most local broadcasting networks are controlled by Sinclair, which is also a right-wing supported media conglomeration. It is tragic, but understandable, if you only get information from such a limited source and with death of NPR, it is even harder for them to get unbiased information. You are a gift because you are out there working to show them that they continue to vote against their own interests. I absolutely honor your efforts.
With Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans built a new message delivery system for their message - 24 by 7, 365 days a year.
The Democrats need a new message delivery system. Instead they keep using the same playbook (a few months before an election, fund raising, consultants, advertising, phone and text banks) and keep losing (unless something really dramatic happens).
I wish Democrats would focus on building a new message delivery system (probably with the internet and 2 way communication) instead of refining a message, that never gets delivered to anyone except a tiny portion of their base.
A copy of the Republican message delivery system won't work, but there are other options that need to be explored.
Control the media, control the mind. Manipulation is Trump's superpower. Most big media now is owned by large corporations. The business world has learned that it's in their best interest not to fight Trump, but to get on his good side. And he will allow them to do whatever to profit bigly. So most of them have fallen in line.
Vigorous writing is concise.
In this relatively short piece you hit numerous points worth comment.
Your stump speech must be phenomenal.
I’ll just mention two.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how women have often taken the lead in organizing and leading the fight against fascism.
And, in a big generalization, the right has created a lot of rural American’s suffering , while too many on the left think the rural population itself is to blame for the situation.
The years my family lived in rural Missouri have been a gift that’s lasted a lifetime and have informed not just my political views but my outlook on life.
Thanks Jess.
Jess, thanks for your hard work. How can blue states help?
Postcards, CALLS, text banks, donations to pay for radio ads and media ads. Every campaign and state-level blue organization has these set up during campaign cycles. Check Mobilize for opportunities near you.
Postcards@tonythedemocrat.org . We are writing for another judge in WI right now.
What's an REI store?
Outdoor store
It’s a camping specialty store.
Recreational Equipment Inc. Anyone can shop there, but if you join as a co-op member ($30 for life) you get dividends back based on purchases throughout the year. Plus they offer classes, etc. Been around at least from the 70s that I know of, maybe longer. (Link here says since 1938. Wow.)
https://www.rei.com/about-rei
REI use to have great gear at great prices. Not any more. I haven't shopped them for many years because they got out of my price range. And I'm pretty sure you won't find REI in rural areas.
Thank you! Must be a regional thing, because I never heard of them in North Carolina.
Cary, Durhan, Raleigh, Pineville, Greensboro, Charlotte and Asheville in North Carolina.
I think they got their start in Seattle.
True. I joined when I moved to Seattle in 1994. The stores upscaled since then, but seemed to fall into some financial difficulty during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. You can buy online, sometimes at great sales.
They’re everywhere if you’re interested in outdoor sports.
We have them in Virginia. I think they are all over the country.