Look at the electoral map. Blue around most large urban areas, red everywhere else. Even in KY Louisville, Lexington and NKY are blue but not the rest of the state. In Jefferson County since merger there is a very clear divide between the former City of Louisville and the rest of the county.

 

 

 

Why does that divide exist and what can be done to lessen it?

Edited November 11, 20169 yr by All Tell

Different interests. Different jobs. Different education levels. Different diversity. Everyone votes parochially and that map proves it. That divide will always exist and I don't necessarily see a major problem in it. I don't think it is fixable or even needs to be fixed. People in urban areas care about manufacturing. People in the country care about agriculture. Nothing can change those interest levels.

Look at the electoral map. Blue around most large urban areas, red everywhere else. Even in KY Louisville, Lexington and NKY are blue but not the rest of the state. In Jefferson County since merger there is a very clear divide between the former City of Louisville and the rest of the county.

 

 

 

Why does that divide exist and what can be done to lessen it?

 

 

I knew this divide was large even before the election but as we saw the maps of individual states it really resonated just how wide this chasm is. Certainly, one of the big takeaways from this election was the urban-rural divide. Substantial topic for discussion. Good topic, AllTell.

Look at our state flag. This was a known issue at the formation of our state. A 200+ year old issue.

I knew this divide was large even before the election but as we saw the maps of individual states it really resonated just how wide this chasm is. Certainly, one of the big takeaways from this election was the urban-rural divide. Substantial topic for discussion. Good topic, AllTell.

 

Glad to see you back, Science. I've seen your name at the bottom as you have been surfing but not commenting. This had to come as a shock to you. I'm looking forward to getting your take on things.

I don't know about the rest of rural America but I can speak for my section.

Breathitt County is probably the most Democratic county in Kentucky, I think around 90% registeration. When a Democrat nominee for president gets clobbered in that county it's news. Bill Clinton won the county big in both his victories. But Hillary alienated the coal industry with her anti-coal statements and that sealed her fate in east Kentucky.

People wonder why I tend to believe in localism despite being a Democrat. This is why. Maybe we need local solutions in state government on the off chance that the needs of Jefferson County and its nearly 800,000 residents are different than the needs of Breathitt County and its 13,000 residents. And maybe, just maybe, Kentucky and its 4.5 million people spread out across a great swath of space -- for the most part -- has different needs than the 9 million people crammed into what's basically one giant suburb between New York and Philadelphia.

 

It's time to develop real solutions for different groups of people and different parts of the country that just need different things.

 

I've grown very tired of waiting for the Kentucky Democratic Party to realize this and I KNOW that the national party doesn't give a hoot about it.

 

All of a sudden we have a party for the cities and another party for everywhere else... that's a problem. When the Democrats were a farm and labor party 60 years ago, they could get away with a lot more. They've abandoned that completely. Now, it's tough to say who abandoned who first, but that's beside the point.

 

I'll be the first person to admit that I supported Hillary because I didn't think this country would elect an avowed socialist from Vermont... but if the Democratic Party can't rediscover its populist roots, I don't know that this worldview will ever change.

Glad to see you back, Science. I've seen your name at the bottom as you have been surfing but not commenting. This had to come as a shock to you. I'm looking forward to getting your take on things.

 

 

Yes. Just wanting to gather my thoughts and digest all this just a bit. I'll come back out of my shell soon.

People wonder why I tend to believe in localism despite being a Democrat. This is why. Maybe we need local solutions in state government on the off chance that the needs of Jefferson County and its nearly 800,000 residents are different than the needs of Breathitt County and its 13,000 residents. And maybe, just maybe, Kentucky and its 4.5 million people spread out across a great swath of space -- for the most part -- has different needs than the 9 million people crammed into what's basically one giant suburb between New York and Philadelphia.

 

It's time to develop real solutions for different groups of people and different parts of the country that just need different things.

 

I've grown very tired of waiting for the Kentucky Democratic Party to realize this and I KNOW that the national party doesn't give a hoot about it.

 

All of a sudden we have a party for the cities and another party for everywhere else... that's a problem. When the Democrats were a farm and labor party 60 years ago, they could get away with a lot more. They've abandoned that completely. Now, it's tough to say who abandoned who first, but that's beside the point.

 

I'll be the first person to admit that I supported Hillary because I didn't think this country would elect an avowed socialist from Vermont... but if the Democratic Party can't rediscover its populist roots, I don't know that this worldview will ever change.

 

You should seriously consider running for office, not sure which office, but someone with your perspective may be able to do some good.

People wonder why I tend to believe in localism despite being a Democrat. This is why. Maybe we need local solutions in state government on the off chance that the needs of Jefferson County and its nearly 800,000 residents are different than the needs of Breathitt County and its 13,000 residents. And maybe, just maybe, Kentucky and its 4.5 million people spread out across a great swath of space -- for the most part -- has different needs than the 9 million people crammed into what's basically one giant suburb between New York and Philadelphia.

 

It's time to develop real solutions for different groups of people and different parts of the country that just need different things.

 

I've grown very tired of waiting for the Kentucky Democratic Party to realize this and I KNOW that the national party doesn't give a hoot about it.

 

All of a sudden we have a party for the cities and another party for everywhere else... that's a problem. When the Democrats were a farm and labor party 60 years ago, they could get away with a lot more. They've abandoned that completely. Now, it's tough to say who abandoned who first, but that's beside the point.

 

I'll be the first person to admit that I supported Hillary because I didn't think this country would elect an avowed socialist from Vermont... but if the Democratic Party can't rediscover its populist roots, I don't know that this worldview will ever change.

 

I promoted a 3rd populist party on bgp a few months ago and was laughed at.

Yes. Just wanting to gather my thoughts and digest all this just a bit. I'll come back out of my shell soon.

 

Good to have you back Science. I mean that.

People wonder why I tend to believe in localism despite being a Democrat. This is why. Maybe we need local solutions in state government on the off chance that the needs of Jefferson County and its nearly 800,000 residents are different than the needs of Breathitt County and its 13,000 residents. And maybe, just maybe, Kentucky and its 4.5 million people spread out across a great swath of space -- for the most part -- has different needs than the 9 million people crammed into what's basically one giant suburb between New York and Philadelphia.

 

It's time to develop real solutions for different groups of people and different parts of the country that just need different things.

 

I've grown very tired of waiting for the Kentucky Democratic Party to realize this and I KNOW that the national party doesn't give a hoot about it.

 

All of a sudden we have a party for the cities and another party for everywhere else... that's a problem. When the Democrats were a farm and labor party 60 years ago, they could get away with a lot more. They've abandoned that completely. Now, it's tough to say who abandoned who first, but that's beside the point.

 

I'll be the first person to admit that I supported Hillary because I didn't think this country would elect an avowed socialist from Vermont... but if the Democratic Party can't rediscover its populist roots, I don't know that this worldview will ever change.

Well said.

 

I am a conservative, in part, because I believe that government services should be provided and financed on the most local level possible because that makes politicians more accountable for the results of their actions. It is much easier for an individual to unseat a school board member or a mayor than it is a U.S. Senator.

You should seriously consider running for office, not sure which office, but someone with your perspective may be able to do some good.

 

I agree. You would make a good one, whichever ticket you are on.

You should seriously consider running for office, not sure which office, but someone with your perspective may be able to do some good.

 

Couldn't agree more on your perspective Getslow, but don't go in the Swamp. There's bad things in there!

Good to have you back Science. I mean that.

 

ty. I'm in therapy. Hopefully, will be back to a whole person before long.