Well, yes — Dear Rural Readers. Of course, you knew. We all know that life exists in the fly-over states of Middle America, even though many of those planes only fly over us.
Micheline Maynard writes in the Washington Post, “Phoenix is not the same as Des Moines, and it is not the same as Nashville and Cleveland and Cincinnati and Detroit. They’re all different places, but they are all part of this country“… and “all have a lot of power in determining” our future.
Fortunately, the coastal people are finding out we’re different, too. Generally, we all want the same things, but we talk about them differently, use different examples, and, dare I say it? We’re not so esoteric and bound by fancy words. We’re practical. As long ago, Kansas newspaper editor William Allen White once declared, “Only force and repression have made wrecks of the world.” We understand.
“Force and repression” can be profound words; they make me think of election deniers. How long will it take to realize that Joe Biden won roughly the same number of votes that Trump did in his 2016 election, which Trump called a “landslide”? How long will it take to understand that January 6th was not a picnic?
We’ve only got 42 days until the election, so let’s remember: This election is quite unique. It is not so much about Democratic policies vs. Republican policies, but rather, this upcoming election on November 8th, and likely again the election in 2024, is about: DO YOU WANT A DEMOCRACY? Or would you rather live in a land of dictatorships, oligarchies, and theocracies? See Russia, North Korea, China, and Iran as prime examples.
If you prefer democracy, even though it can be messy, think about who the independents and undecideds you know are and start talking with them, e.g., here’s some scoop on Republican Senate candidates in three key states. Trump has endorsed all three, who are in very tough races. Each has failed to recognize the truth of the 2020 election publicly.
- Iowa Voters? Do you know that incumbent Senator Chuck Grassley flat-out lied about his failure to support the $35 cap on the cost of insulin? The lie came soon after the Des Moines Register had chastised him in an editorial for his lousy vote. Or, do you know that Grassley likely believed that VP Pence would not show up for the vote he was in charge of on January 6th? We’re still wondering: Who told Chuck? When was he told? Grassley planned to take Pence’s place. Why? Read more: What Did Grassley Mean?
- Ohio Voters? Senate Candidate J.D. Vance once wrote a book called Hillbilly Elegy. To better understand Vance, look past his brag about Yale Law School and his becoming a venture capitalist and think thoughtfully about his book. At first, it seems like a “rags to riches” breaking out of the culture of Kentucky’s hills; but look again, it is so packed full of stereotypes and dog whistles about class, race, and gender that it’s almost a traffic jam. Politico reviews the book by interviewing an Appalachian who says Vance is “… Dangerous (and) So Is His Book.”
- Pennsylvania Voters? Senate Candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz is a television star from Turkey who seems to live in New Jersey. So far, Oz has built his campaign on botched criticisms of his opponent. His lack of PA-speak keeps getting him caught in what he doesn’t know about the basics of life – the name of the biggest supermarket, how Pennsylvanians usually prefer veggies to crudites and think it is not nice to make fun of someone’s health. But why is he running? And why doesn’t he run in his own state of New Jersey? Oz answers, “To cure our country’s ills.” Well, that’s lovely. But what does he mean? Hint … no one seems to know. Even Trump Thinks Dr. Oz Will’ F–king Lose,’ Sources Say
Iowa, Ohio, and Pennsylvania all saw their Republican Primaries nominate deeply flawed candidates for Senate this year. Two states – Iowa and Ohio, are in Middle America, but all three have commonalities. The three voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 and then flipped to vote for Trump in 2016. Pennsylvania returned to the Democrats in support of Biden in 2020.
Americans have a lot at stake on November 8th, 2022, and Middle America – the Midwest breadbasket states plus the Eastern “rust belt” states, can be expected to carry much of the decision-making load. Will they choose democracy? At the moment, polls are leaning “yes.”
My Rural America will present the Democratic candidates for Senate in these three states in another Op-Ed soon to follow. Truly, Flyover no more. Middle America is having a moment. Micheline Maynard, writing for the Washington Post, is correct. It is a critical moment.
Barb Leach is the Founder and President of My Rural America Action Fund, a skilled political leader, and a native of Atlantic, Iowa.