Explaining Rural Conservatism: Political Consequences of Technological Change in the Great Plains | American Political Science Review | Cambridge Core
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Explaining Rural Conservatism: Political Consequences of Technological Change in the Great Plains

cross-posted from: https://lemmit.online/post/2668759

Rural areas in the US tend to be conservative electoral strongholds. However, it wasn’t always the case. The shift happened in the post-WWII period when technological changes enabled the rise of c…

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The original was posted on /r/science by /u/smurfyjenkins on 2024-04-15 15:45:02.

Original Title: Rural areas in the US tend to be conservative electoral strongholds. However, it wasn’t always the case. The shift happened in the post-WWII period when technological changes enabled the rise of capital-intensive agriculture and the rising power of agribusiness who favored Republican policies.

  • bassomitron@lemmy.worldEnglish
    211·
    8 months ago

    Yes and no. Republicans haven’t done jack shit for the majority of rural folks anymore than democrats have. The problem is Republicans got to them first via social media and readily available news outlets that are popular in those regions, convincing them that all their problems are being caused strictly by liberal politicians, as well as veiled/not veiled bigoted accusations against other demographics (e.g. immigrants, gays, trans, etc). Ironically, democrats in recent years have tried to win them back by bringing green tech to lots of plains states (e.g. wind farm boom) as well as more jobs (e.g. infrastructure bill), but this is ignored because the GOP are better at psyops than democrats.

    • BakerBagel
      15·
      8 months ago

      Not just ignored, but rural folk around here are convinced that wind farms are going to destroy the county, give everyone brain cancer, and take away all the jobs. People are vehemently against any wind and aolar farms around here.

      • bassomitron@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        8 months ago

        Very true, I was going to add that in but felt I’d be going off topic to my original point, haha. But yeah, GOP’s handiwork convincing them of all that. It’s effective, too, because it makes any positive thing that Democrats do automatically bad/a conspiracy.