The resulting map shows huge swaths of deeply disadvantaged locations across the nation’s 3,000 counties, places that are mostly located outside of the largest U.S. cities yet which share some traits: A history of resource extraction, unequal educational opportunities, a breakdown of social bonds, violence and local corruption.
The “colonies” described in this study are the heart of rural, red, America. If you want to see conservative politics in action, this is where you find it.
Car dependent, nothing but fast food, poor infrastructure, few jobs, zero entertainment, a severe lack of healthcare facilities, bad schools, and more.
Rural America is being left behind and it’s because they keep voting for Republicans who absolutely do not care about their well-being.
Because those of us who could vote with our feet DID. Stop blaming those left behind. If you improve those areas, a lot of us would go back home and you’d see the politics change.
Are the voters not responsible for the people they elect? Why should they be free of blame just because they can’t afford to move away?
I live in Ohio and you can definitely see this if you focus in on the state. Cleveland has a massive medical industry but the rural parts of the state it’s like a completely different world.