Red Blue Road Trip - Van Buren, Missouri - Oct 31 - Part 12

[jhip87]

What evidence does anyone have that McCain would be more willing to promote issues important to the flourishing of small towns? Just compare the two candidates' economic plans; it's rather clear that the contrary is true.

[iheartmcg]

I also grew up Van Buren and I will be voting for Obama. Although most of the residents of this small community have a skewed reality when it comes to political choices, there are Obama supporters. Even though I don't agree with the social republicans there, I do empathize with them. You can't imagine the disconnect from the rest of the world when you live in a community like Van Buren. When I think of my hometown and all the families living below the poverty level it pushes me to vote.

[cntrygal98]

"the disconnect from the rest of the world"?

Are there no newspapers, television (cnn, etc.), internet, persons who have been educated and traveled to other parts of the world? To say that "most" of the residents have a skewed reality when it comes to political choices, is the height of arrogance. I suppose we should be thankful that you left so that you can vote to protect us poor ole ignorant folk.

[cntrygal98]

"the disconnect from the rest of the world"?

Are there no newspapers, televisions, internets, people who travel, are educated, etc? To say that "most" of the residents have a skewed reality when it comes to political choices, is the height of arrogance. I suppose we should count ourselves grateful that people like you go away and vote to save us poor ole ignorant folk.

[iheartmcg]

That's not what I meant at all. All I'm saying is that there aren't alot of minorities, or openly homosexual people, or people with different backgrounds, or people with different lifestyle choices like you have in a large metropolitan area. It's harder to think outside your own personal view points when everyone around you has the same ideals. I didn't mean it like I'm coming to save u with my vote or that people in VB are ignorant, I think there are wonderful people that live in VB.

[weepingforbrunnhilde]

Having lived both in Brooklyn and in small-town Iowa, I think you're talking about conformity.

Small towns (though not only small towns) tend to have an ethos of conformity rather than diversity.

It's not good or bad, it is what it is. Conformity carries both virtues and vices, as does the kind of diversity one finds in cosmopolitan cities.

[weepingforbrunnhilde]

It's not about better or worse, though I do think it's fair to say that people in small towns who don't go out of their way to learn about the world, are ignorant about the world.

"Ignorant" isn't a pejorative in this context, only descriptive. Some people speak several languages and are comfortable in many cultural settings, some aren't. Some in small towns are curious about other cultures, some are indifferent, some are resentful.

[evankristos]

I'm sick of these small town douchebags always citing 9/11--guess what? nobody's gonna attack your piece of shit town. Seriously. It's us in NYC that have to deal with that and guess what? We're voting Obama!

I wish these small town hicks would just secede from America. Backwards idiots.

[trsndrwd]

I grew up in this town, making me a small town douche bags you're referring to. In characterizing everyone from a small rural community as backwards idiots, youre acting as close minded as the people Im sure you claim to be against. For the record, I will be voting for Obama, but I welcome the opposite opinions, its a great way to learn something. Sure, there are few great thinkers locate in a town with a population of 850, but they shouldnt be discounted because of their location or ideas.

[evankristos]

Why do you think I discount them? Is it possibly because the candidates they support for President and Vice President have been calling those of us not in small town un-American? Lacking in patriotism? Without real values? Communists? Direct your criticism where it belongs-those ignorant folks in small towns who will overwhelmingly vote for the candidates that have insulted over and over again half of this country. Yes, douche bags. We're sick of them holding back the progress of this country.

[weepingforbrunnhilde]

I understand your grievance and the hurt feelings at being relentlessly dismissed as unAmerican, but in the interests of unity and conciliation, I would urge you to try to get a handle on your feelings and not lash out with such vitriol.

It's simply not productive.

If you honor the president-elect you've voted for, you'll honor his call to heed your better angels, for all our sakes.

One people, one planet.

[evankristos]

I love it when people ask liberals who support equal rights, racial equality, an end to homophobia, a woman's right to choose (and the list goes on and on), to reconcile with those who would restrict my rights. I am not Obama, so I feel no need to accept people who seek to deny me basic rights. I respect that Obama will have to make those compromises to govern. But I honestly have nothing but contempt for people who have put this country through these past eight years by voting Bush.

[bertmarx]

COUNTRY*

[bertmarx]

CONTRY ASSES!! DAMN!!!

[Pigseye]

Old people are afraid of everything. Republicans are old people.

Republicans are afraid of everything.

Republicans are really afraid of Obama.

[weepingforbrunnhilde]

Why is it that people who live the farthest away from plausible terrorism targets are the ones most concerned for their personal safety from terrorism?

Do these people really believe Bin-Laden has his eye on the Good People of Van Buren, MO?

What are they so afraid of?

[cntrygal98]

Are you so naive that you are not aware of why people in the heartland should be more concerned about terrorism. Yes, to get the publicity, they will go to a large city, but to do the most harm , they will attack the heartland.

[weepingforbrunnhilde]

What are you talking about?

Just asserting a thing doesn't make it so.

Would you care to marshall some evidence?

Again I ask, why should people in the "heartland" be so concerned? You've not even attempted to answer my question.

[widgit007]

How sad Bush and now possibly McCain have made the US less safe and wasted so many lives and yet the people paying the price for their dishonest, dangerous policies are so believing of their lies they still support them. How sad so many common people in the US support the republican agenda to exploit them and redistribute their wealth to the richest 1%.

[EmperorAtahualpa]

Holy fuck, Janet Jackson became white just like Michael!!!

[JassiusJay]

Haha the government don't supply you with money. Republican rule = more war.

[Hereticbooks]

..and you're all idiots...

[Socksee]

touché!