Louisvillian here. Rural ky began voting republican nationally maybe around Clinton. Then began voting state wide republican a few governors ago. Our democratic governor Beshear only won by 5,000 votes and the republican Bevin, might have been as looney as 45. Too many are racists and hate big cities. (Began realizing this in the 1960s.) These people live in areas where minorities don't exist. There's no diversity. Social media has given them a voice and 45 a leader. These people have guns. They block legal alcohol sales, but buy their alcohol from bootleggers or the next county. They play the state lottery but won't approve money raising gambling. And yet every six years they re elect McMitch who they don't seem to realize lives in Louisville in one of the most liberal parts of the state, the original Highlands. I guess I would say maybe you can go after rural areas elsewhere but forget about ky. Ellen
I don't know anything about Kentucky except that it sounds a lot like rural North Florida where I grew up in the 60's and 70's where race relations were front and center after desegregation. Two very different cultures were told to mix immediately and without any instruction or real guideance. There was anger, resentment and violence on both sides but I honestly did not see the racism that many speak of where a white person believes that they are superior to a black person. I was actually confused when I read that Abraham Lincoln believed that whites were superior to blacks. Ignorance? Of course. Neither whites or blacks really took the time that it requires to learn about each other's culture in real time not text books. History from early education text books are not the best tools for race relations in my opinion. I can remember how I loved the library to find out more about history than in my text books. So I might disagree in context with the assesment of all whites in rural America are racist. Yes they own guns for protection and for hunting. I have shot numerous rattle snakes, moccasins and coyotes's that attacked our cattle, our pets and even ourselves (I have many stories). All of our freezer meat was from vension, wild pork (how many know how to make bacon) ducks, turkeys, doves and quail. We made syrup from sugar cane. We were very self sufficient in terms of food because we also grew huge gardens. We knew that food does not come from the grocery store! Rural America has a different culture than urban America. Yes. It is a fact. Both rural and urban people are ignorant and prejudiced. I once had a neighbor from Chicago. If we have to use that term racist then people in Chicago are very racist but I do not like using that term unless we are going to look at an individuals actions. Words are cheap. Actions require effort and sacrifice. I don't have any experience with bootlegging, lottery tickets and gambling but I believe bootlegging is more about a culture than most people understand. I can tell you that I use to make wine from home grown grapes or any other fruit. Now I just make jams and jellies
I have no explanation for McMitch except that he has learned how to manipulate people for his personal brand of power. Florida has the same type people in DeSantis, Scott and many others. I think they all misrepresent the people who vote for them...
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