Donald Trump decided to engage China in a ruinous trade war in which American farmers were, as one would predict, the most prominent victims. He responded to the plight of these supposedly rugged individuals by giving them handouts and thus increasing their dependence on the state. In spite of this, rural areas voted overwhelmingly for the thrice-married former casino owner from New York over a bland, avuncular Democrat. Why?
It isn’t because farmers have an issue with big government; they have relied on federal programs for years. It’s the culture war, of course. Rural residents view the GOP as the party of self-reliant, hardworking, oppressed white Christians, and the Democrats as, well, the opposite.
It has to be pointed out that this kind of cultural and political division is hardly just an American phenomenon, as anyone versed in European history can tell you. The difference between America and Europe is that our federal system gives a disproportionate amount of influence to rural residents, so their opinions matter more here than elsewhere.
What can the Democrats do to resolve this problem, short of amending the Constitution to reallocate power? They can put more emphasis on rural redevelopment plans and infrastructure. They can pick candidates who look and sound like farmers. Above all, they can throttle down the culture war, and make it clear that white Christians have a valued place in their vision of America.
The bottom line, however, is that most of this will only be effective on the margins for the foreseeable future. Converting rural America is going to be a hard slog, with Trump, Fox, and the rest of the right preaching the gospel of division every day.