Think Tank discusses fear and loathing in rural America
Nov 1, 2019, 2:00 PM
(Getty Images Photo/Mario Tama)
(Getty Images Photo/Mario Tama)
I read an article recently that has haunted me. It described a county in rural Arkansas and the public uproar that ensured over hiring a new head librarian at $25 an hour. There was a Facebook firestorm. The pay rate was seen by many as “a waste of taxpayer money.” Even more shocking was the beliefs underlying these objections. There was widespread hostility to the very ideal of education; comments abounded not only about this “waste” but also on the uselessness of education itself.
It’s not hard to see where such beliefs would take you. Hostility about “racial minorities on welfare” are well known in rural America, but these folks also were incensed about “lazy urban professionals.” As a result of the latter, even programs designed to help rural economic development can be opposed because they involve hiring often highly educated “bureaucrats” (defined as any educated expert) and other outsiders.
Almost 100% of the economic growth in this country for at least a generation has come from metropolitan areas. The economies of non-metro areas and small towns have stagnated. And the hostility towards both education and government involvement in economic development would seem destined to keep it that way.
Anyone need to be told who these folks voted for and why?
This is the subject of this week’s Think Tank. When I started to think about these issues, I realized that I did not even know anyone from a background like this. Maybe even didn’t know anyone who knew anyone from such a background. So, I searched for someone who had a personal background and perspective that could help me understand this mindset.
I will discuss these issues with Snowden Bishop. She is a radio host on a program that is widely broadcast in rural America and her own background is from small town America. I promise an interesting discussion. And one, I am sure we will return to in the future.
The Think Tank airs on KTAR News 92.3 FM on Sunday at 1-2 p.m. and repeats at 9-10 p.m.
Podcasts are available after each show is broadcast.
