Thanks for this Cheryl. I also feel frustrated by the lack of engagement by Democrats in rural Iowa. They seem to have no real ideas to improve the lives of farmers or of rural communities. To see Grassley tout himself as a friend of the farmer and to win when during his time in office we have lost HALF the farms in Iowa...that is a sad state of affairs.
You and I attempted to meet several times through the Boone County Democrats "Discussion" Facebook page.... with no success. You were interested in obtaining a "VOTE NO" yard sign.
Our efforts to keep Iowa from becoming only the 4th state in the union to adopt the horrendous gun measure died, along with most of our Democratic candidates' efforts.
John Norwood would have been a wonderful Secretary of Agriculture.
I find the rural Iowa vote situation such a dichotomy in that the GOP does nothing really to help farmers, other than maintain the government handouts to them... termed so nicely as "subsidies".
But l'est we forget, the Iowa GOP does nothing to further attempts to save our water and earth either, which helps most farmers ignore both of those crises.
During the 1980 farm crisis, we saw the beginning of the end to the "family farm" as we'd always known it. Since then, the majority of farms have become huge and either owned by extended families or corporations.
I do not believe Iowa will ever return to a "swing state" status. I believe Barack Obama's wins were aberrations.
I'm not at all certain there is anything Iowa Democrats can do regarding obtaining the rural vote.
I believe that Iowa is a very "old" state and that the adage "wave a bible in one hand and a gun in the other and they'll follow you anywhere" defines the state I was born and raised in.
And once was very proud of.
I've been involved in Democratic politics since John F. Kennedy won my heart as a small girl. As a college freshman, I worked for Bobby Kennedy's campaign and have been active ever since.
That said, the last seven years have taken a toll. I wonder if this past election is a foreteller for future elections. Will this past election be the last time we will be able to save our democracy? Will women continue to lose their rights? Will my gay friends and non-white friends lose theirs?
Regardless, I appreciate your article and your thoughts. But it just seems there's a lot - too much - on our Democratic plates besides agriculture.
This is very interesting. I grew up on a farm in Indiana that we still own and that is operated with longtime partners. Land prices are, and have been for some time, exorbitantly high and largely affordable only to outside investors or the few locals who already own large acreage. Many fewer people live in the countryside; it’s emptying out. This seems to be a different, or spin-off, problem. It seems irreversible. What could stop this? Are high interest rates the root cause?
Thank you, Joy. I'm glad to hear from you! It is a very complex issue, and my column only scratched the surface. Yes, land prices do make it very difficult for beginning farmers. The countryside is emptying out, and this is linked to larger farm operations as well as a lack of employment opportunities in small towns. Child care is a problem, as we've all heard, during the Pandemic. But it never has been easy to find in rural America. Reorganization of schools and open enrollment tend to favor larger communities, and these drive families to either move from the small towns, or else switch their support or business to the communities where they work, or their children go to school. High interest rates won't help farmers or small businesses. But rates have been low for some time, and yet the trends you mention have remain entrenched. Thanks for your interest!
Great piece, and I agree that Dems need to do a better job reaching out to rural area on economic issues. But I'm curious what you mean by "de-emphasizing cultural and lifestyle wedge issues."
Are you talking about abortion? Fetterman was unequivocal: "A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is sacred and non-negotiable. Period."
Are you talking about schools teaching CRT, or allowing trans kids to participate in K-12 sports, or having litter boxes in classrooms for "furries?" These are not central parts of any Dem agenda that I'm aware of, they're simply propaganda from the right as they forcefully try to divide people and provoke a response.
The Dem coalition is anchored by marginalized people: Blacks, Latinos, women, LGBTQ folks. While trying to win over marginalized white, rural people (many of whom are evangelical protestants), I think it's critical for Iowa politicians not to abandon those who are being scapegoated by Republicans even as they seek to broaden their coalition.
So glad you are part of this group. As someone who spent her formative years in the middle of the farm crisis and who cringe ms every time I see perfectly beautiful topsoil turned into ugly developments, I was right there with you. I’m ordering the book and putting you on my “never miss” list.
Cheryl, this is outstanding. I just cross posted it to my paid subscribers. Thank you!
Excellent history and insights....thank you!
Thanks for this Cheryl. I also feel frustrated by the lack of engagement by Democrats in rural Iowa. They seem to have no real ideas to improve the lives of farmers or of rural communities. To see Grassley tout himself as a friend of the farmer and to win when during his time in office we have lost HALF the farms in Iowa...that is a sad state of affairs.
Thoughtful, smart piece about Iowa.
Hello,
You and I attempted to meet several times through the Boone County Democrats "Discussion" Facebook page.... with no success. You were interested in obtaining a "VOTE NO" yard sign.
Our efforts to keep Iowa from becoming only the 4th state in the union to adopt the horrendous gun measure died, along with most of our Democratic candidates' efforts.
John Norwood would have been a wonderful Secretary of Agriculture.
I find the rural Iowa vote situation such a dichotomy in that the GOP does nothing really to help farmers, other than maintain the government handouts to them... termed so nicely as "subsidies".
But l'est we forget, the Iowa GOP does nothing to further attempts to save our water and earth either, which helps most farmers ignore both of those crises.
During the 1980 farm crisis, we saw the beginning of the end to the "family farm" as we'd always known it. Since then, the majority of farms have become huge and either owned by extended families or corporations.
I do not believe Iowa will ever return to a "swing state" status. I believe Barack Obama's wins were aberrations.
I'm not at all certain there is anything Iowa Democrats can do regarding obtaining the rural vote.
I believe that Iowa is a very "old" state and that the adage "wave a bible in one hand and a gun in the other and they'll follow you anywhere" defines the state I was born and raised in.
And once was very proud of.
I've been involved in Democratic politics since John F. Kennedy won my heart as a small girl. As a college freshman, I worked for Bobby Kennedy's campaign and have been active ever since.
That said, the last seven years have taken a toll. I wonder if this past election is a foreteller for future elections. Will this past election be the last time we will be able to save our democracy? Will women continue to lose their rights? Will my gay friends and non-white friends lose theirs?
Regardless, I appreciate your article and your thoughts. But it just seems there's a lot - too much - on our Democratic plates besides agriculture.
This is very interesting. I grew up on a farm in Indiana that we still own and that is operated with longtime partners. Land prices are, and have been for some time, exorbitantly high and largely affordable only to outside investors or the few locals who already own large acreage. Many fewer people live in the countryside; it’s emptying out. This seems to be a different, or spin-off, problem. It seems irreversible. What could stop this? Are high interest rates the root cause?
Thank you, Joy. I'm glad to hear from you! It is a very complex issue, and my column only scratched the surface. Yes, land prices do make it very difficult for beginning farmers. The countryside is emptying out, and this is linked to larger farm operations as well as a lack of employment opportunities in small towns. Child care is a problem, as we've all heard, during the Pandemic. But it never has been easy to find in rural America. Reorganization of schools and open enrollment tend to favor larger communities, and these drive families to either move from the small towns, or else switch their support or business to the communities where they work, or their children go to school. High interest rates won't help farmers or small businesses. But rates have been low for some time, and yet the trends you mention have remain entrenched. Thanks for your interest!
Great piece, and I agree that Dems need to do a better job reaching out to rural area on economic issues. But I'm curious what you mean by "de-emphasizing cultural and lifestyle wedge issues."
Are you talking about abortion? Fetterman was unequivocal: "A woman’s right to make her own health care decisions is sacred and non-negotiable. Period."
Are you talking about schools teaching CRT, or allowing trans kids to participate in K-12 sports, or having litter boxes in classrooms for "furries?" These are not central parts of any Dem agenda that I'm aware of, they're simply propaganda from the right as they forcefully try to divide people and provoke a response.
The Dem coalition is anchored by marginalized people: Blacks, Latinos, women, LGBTQ folks. While trying to win over marginalized white, rural people (many of whom are evangelical protestants), I think it's critical for Iowa politicians not to abandon those who are being scapegoated by Republicans even as they seek to broaden their coalition.
So glad you are part of this group. As someone who spent her formative years in the middle of the farm crisis and who cringe ms every time I see perfectly beautiful topsoil turned into ugly developments, I was right there with you. I’m ordering the book and putting you on my “never miss” list.
Thank you so much for your encouragement!
Edit: who cringes. Where’s the edit function on these darn replies?