Thread by @salstrange

I grew up in the South. Many of my family members lived in “rural areas.” So, let’s be clear about something. The dogwhistles about “coastal elites” are about diversity and education.

I know which of the family members I don’t communicate with are Trumpers. They’re the ones that tried to make me feel bad for knowing things. The ones who mocked my enjoyment of learning as a child. They’re the ones who resented the kid that read instead of encouraging her.

They’re the ones who shocked me as a child by using racial slurs around me I’d never heard before. And yes, even as a kid I recognized that they used them in front of me, but not my grandmother who would have stood up to them.

They’re the ones who threw temper tantrums when my grandmother refused to force me to go to church with them. They’re the ones who stood right there and said I was going to end up in hell.

They’re the ones we stopped visiting after that.

Obviously, that’s not all rural voters. But that’s the driving force behind the salt-the-earth politics of the GOP base. I know these people. Don’t bullshit me about this average Joe sitting in the diner worried about his mom and pop shop bullshit.

They love to say it’s because of “coastal elites” trying to tell them how to live. The reality is their resentment of not being able to impose their way of life on others. And no matter how much you try and accommodate them, they just resent harder.

When the media outlets and “nice guy” politicians use the “coastal elites” dogwhistle, those of us who grew up aware of those family members know exactly who is being pandered to.

It’s not “real America” — it’s RESENTFUL America. That’s why they champion bully tactics.

People worry about their jobs everywhere. People worry about their kids everywhere. Living in a bigger city doesn’t make you less concerned about any of the normal things those in the outskirts are worried about.

Only one party is trying to control the bodies of half the population. Only one party is trying to impose their will on who can marry. Or serve their country. Or use the fucking bathroom.

And it’s not the party always bitching and moaning about “coastal elites” trying to tell them what to do.

I have heath issues. The GOP is constantly trying to kill me or bankrupt me. I’m a woman. The GOP believes it has the right to crawl up my body and impose rules. I have undocumented friends. The GOP wants to put them in cages.

The GOP isn’t saving rural America. It’s looting the country for billionaires and using white resentment to do it. And the parts of rural America that support the GOP do not care. Their resentment matters more than anything else they pretend to care about.

They’re the minority, but the GOP has rigged the system to make them feel powerful — the same way all cheats feel powerful when they are getting away with something.

The GOP did its own studies years ago. Those studies told them they had to change and evolve policies to appeal to a more diverse and liberal electorate. Instead they doubled down on white supremacy, prejudice, and far right extremism. And they gamed the system.

I’m not a child anymore. I don’t feel guilty for being smart or having empathy. I know which people are trying to kill me and control me and which people just want to live their fucking lives.

So you can kiss my “coastal elite” ass with your bully tactics.

Dems don’t want to destroy rural America. Dems want them to have health care. Dems want them to have education. Dems want them to have everything they need. But Dems aren’t going to package it in white supremacy. That is off the table. Those days are over.