Keepin' it Rural

There has been some talk around here about the value of Howard’s 50 State Strategy that gets candidates to run in all offices

“Not only is this the best way of distributing the party’s message, but it ensures the engagement of the youth that is so vital to the party’s long-term health and vitality.” Says Craig a poster on FM. “People that want to write off the South or any other part of this country bother me. By doing this, we’re telling young people to stay at home, sit on their rear ends, and allow the government to do whatever it wants. By doing this, we validate apathy.”

I couldn’t agree more. I am on vacation this week back to the homeland to visit family and friends for my birthday week – yes it’s a whole week – and it prompted me to really think about how things have changed in terms of the way we do outreach with Dean’s 50 State Strategy, how effective it is, and how it impacts the up and coming voters.

First of all, while I would agree that the 50 State Strategy is brilliant, it’s poorly implemented. I see a number of states that run their own operations continuing upon the same path. Its not just a 50 State Strategy – it’s a state wide operation within each of the 50 States. Its great to have increased funds – more engagement from the national party. More of an urge to fuel outreach to all areas of the state but I see many states who still lack a state-wide strategy – which is the whole point of the 50 State Strategy to begin with.

Youth outreach isn't even attempted by state parties – Youth Outreach in rural areas??? Fo-getaboutit! I know a few weeks ago the California Democratic Party had a smackdown between them and the Rural Caucus who finally drew the line and said that the party can’t be about LA and San Francisco any more or they’d continue to lose state seats, Congressionals, not to mention local offices and continue the cycle of anti-democratic sentiment.

Ever seen an electoral map of California? 55 Electoral votes went to Kerry in the 2004 Election. But seriously, think about all those red red red counties and how many elected officials at the state, county, and city level are republicans. Think about kids who grow up not really ever seeing a democrat campaign in their area.

Welcome to my upbringing. I was so excited when I heard about the 50 State Strategy. I imagined that rural outreach would be done, Instead what I’ve seen is a number of funds be allocated from the national party to states who still focus on urban epicenters. We already have a problem with the state parties communicating to young people. Young people in rural areas – forget about it.

But the rurals are the ones that need outreach the most. It is the one place the party can build a coalition of new supporters simply by giving an alternative.

Think democratic values aren’t needed in Rural America. Think again – the future of agriculture is in the toilet. 2nd and 3rd generation farmers are dying and their children aren’t picking up to take the next step. We acquire more of our food from outside our boarders than at any other time in our history. Most kids who grow up in Kansas and Oklahoma don’t stay after they graduate. And the ones that do rarely go into more traditional jobs in rural areas. With the tech-generation the plow isn’t as sexy as it once was – whether its motorized or not.

Rural development is a joke. Its nothing but corporate hog farms and Tyson plants spilling hormone laden chicken sh*t into Oklahoma rivers and streams – or worse super centers – or distribution centers for super centers. Factories are dead. The High Tech Corridor is in California because – after all who the hell wants to build a Google Campus in Western Kansas – ain’t no Ikea out there!!

FDA gives rural development grants – but no one has any interest it seems in actually using this opportunity to acquire cheap and often times free land out in the middle of BFE nowhere to build your own town and influence a state’s economic and political profile. But its not just about Google – there is a whole new world of green agricultural possibilities and rural communities can hold on to the next generation in their towns by looking into the future and examining new ways to develop their rurals themselves.

“These types of investments have proven successful for agriculture in the past. Just look at what an emphasis on biofuels has done for the grain industry, or the success of farmers markets and how that success has helped strengthen the connection between farms and the people who depend on them for healthy, nutritious foods. These investments also must focus on retaining agricultural and rural youth in next-generation businesses, attracting new, non-traditional residents to farming, pursuing new capital, and meeting the demand for fresh products that support healthy diets.” Thus sayeth the AmericanFarm

Enter the importance of outreach from the democrats to the rurals. Otherwise you end up with this guy:

Is Google going to relocate to an area that is represented by this loon? No – the only people that locate their companies to places like that are people that are giving this guy kickbacks. Pharma, oil, and probably Tyson.

So, in a way its this vicious circle.

“Rural Maine, from Oxford County in the west, north to Aroostook and "down east" to Washington County, faces several economic challenges. Incomes are lower and unemployment and poverty rates higher than in prosperous southern Maine. These gaps have perpetuated a decades-long exodus of rural youth, leaving behind a rapidly aging population.” Bangor Daily News

So clearly it isn’t just about factory or corporate jobs. This week my Congresswoman was endorsed by the Pharmacists Association because she’s worked on helping rural pharmacies from closing and defecting to the nearest WalMart 2 towns away.

Simple jobs like health care workers, nurses, new IT jobs that can help bring broadband to rural areas and give greater access to technology and communication. Encourage local radio stations to start up – Parks and Rec, community collages… the possibilities are endless. But not unless you have a Representative with progressive vision and lets face it most areas are held by Republicans with no interest in changing things or retaining our young people.

I don’t have any fancy answers. But my Step One would be for state parties to engage in a little rural outreach. The California Party needs to get past their dream of beating Arnold Schwarzenegger and look at problem areas. Engage the plans of the Rural Caucus. And rural states that still for reasons passing in understanding don’t want to play outside of Wichita and Kansas City? I mean… come on now. The DNC hired faith based outreach people to go into specific states – can someone explain to me why rural outreach people aren’t also needed?

“Hi. I’m Hank. I’m the Head Redneck over at the CDP! Ya’ll wanna Bud – lets talk about rural development?” Hell, ‘round these parts I’d be kin ‘ta half of ‘em. Clearly, I start to talk like this the more I’m around my family. Only first day back home…. Pig’s on the stick - have a great week ya'll!