Chart: Urban-Rural Divide
Folks living in rural communities have become increasingly vocal about the deterioration of their way of life. Understandably so.
Flyover states are often overlooked by policies crafted to support economically dominant coastal regions. Meanwhile, they've watched globalization pass them by as jobs were replaced by machines or overseas workers. They blame city elites, immigrants and foreigners for their misfortunes, and gravitate to those who promise a return to the 'good old days'.
Politicians have long used this to their advantage by misdirecting fear and anger to scapegoats, as opposed to the true source. Cheap labor didn't steal American jobs - corporate executives drove the decision to dismantle labour power, automate and offshore. All in pursuit of higher profits, funneled to executives and shareholders. Old fashioned corporate greed, one might say.
Really though, this isn't new. The urban-rural divide has long existed in many forms. Put aside blame and ethics, and you're left with a rural population passed over for generations.
The following chart illustrates this.
In the early 1900s, the standard of living in America was rapidly improving as new technology was introduced. However, the experience wasn't evenly distributed. Infrastructure - water pipes, electrical wires, gas lines - is easiest and cheapest to build in dense areas. Consequently, dense urban cities were the first to benefit from essential modern conveniences like flushing toilets.
Of course, rural populations understandably took this inequality as representative of America's priorities. The characterization of urban favouritism has since passed down for generations and continues to this day.