Mr. Pretlow, the San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi mountains were my home for most of my life (and my kid’s dad had a family ranch up near Redding). I lived in the San Fernando Valley for a while (horrible place and culture) and moved to Venice, then back to the mountains (Southern Sierras) for the next 30 plus years.
Californians are so concentrated in sprawling cities in the southland, coastal and bay area, most Californians have no idea that the rural areas of their state are still functioning like colonies ruled by corporate masters.
Technically known as "internal-colonies" rural Californians have kept Republicans in power at the national level for decades (think Ronald Reagan, and congressman Bill Thomas, Kevin McCarthy and Devin Nunes).
Like all colonies, very little of the wealth rural workers produce stays in their pockets and even less comes back via taxes or various government programs. As a result, rural Californian's are in a constant struggle with poverty. Unfortunately, corporate masters use wealth "extracted" from resource rich rural California, to live high on the hog – and fund Republican campaigns all across the country.
This is my fourth year in farm country here in Kentucky. I just got home from dropping off a friend at the airport and once again I'm amazed to find that Lexington has become my favorite American city (and I've worked in dozens of different cities many times).
I am particularly impressed by Kentucky's state government partnerships with its university and educational system. Just last month, Kentucky became No. 1 in the country for adult mental health services AND No. 1 per capita for recovery treatment beds. That feat was Governor Beshear's response to the opioid crisis shoved down the throats of Kentuckians by Big Pharma. When announcing this feat, Governor Beshear said, “We [Kentuckians] are truly living out our faith and values – second chances aren’t just the right thing to do, they are what we are called to do.”
Other than its coal regions, I've seen no signs yet, that Kentucky is an "internal colony". In fact, a couple years back, the response to the coal miner strike here in Kentucky suggested change was on the way... and... last week.... Volkswagen employees in Chattanooga, Tennessee, voted overwhelmingly to join the United Auto Workers union.
When I mention unions around here, people get excited and start telling stories about the good old days. When older people start remembering their union days, the effect on the young is visible. Near as I can tell, they see hope again.
Why urban, suburban and exurban conservatives insist on identifying as small town, rural, country people, baffles me no end. As you might expect, the conservative craze over Jason Aldean’s Try that in a Small Town drove me batty. Thinking you might enjoy Tennessee’s comedian, Trae Crowders, take on that controversy, here’s a link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRgTPyTFPMM Crowders’ shows sell out when he’s on tour.
In 2020, Tyler Childers, released his Long Violent History album and shined a bright light on real rural Americans. I’m thinking you might find Childers' message and the lyrics of interest – so here is a link to the message https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ3_AJ5Ysx0 and the lyrics are pasted below. Childers is talking about Breonna Taylor and BLM.
Mr. Pretlow something new is emerging in rural America. My friend that left this morning is from California, where we worked together for 35 years on rural issues (esp. land-use and labor policy). We spent four days together and still didn’t have enough time to share all our notes.
Lyrics – Long Violent History
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_I3Rp1CQak
It's the worst that it's been since the last time it happened
It's happening again right in front of our eyes
There's updated footage, wild speculation
Tall tales and hearsay and absolute lies
Been passed off as factual when actually, the actual
Causes they're awkwardly blockin' the way
Keeping us all from enjoyin' our evening
Shoving it's roots through the screens in our face
Now, what would you give if you heard my opinion
Conjecturin' on matters that I ain't never dreamed
In all my born days as a white boy from Hickman
Based on the way that the world's been to mе
It's called me belligеrent, it's took me for ignorant
But it ain't never once made me scared just to be
Could you imagine just constantly worryin'
Kickin' and fightin', beggin' to breathe
How many boys could they haul off this mountain
Shoot full of holes, cuffed, and laid in the streets
'Til we come in to town in a stark ravin' anger
Looking for answers and armed to the teeth
30 aught sixes, papaw's old pistol
How many, you reckon, would it be, four or five?
Oh, would that be the start of a long, violent history
Of tuckin' our tails as we try to abide?
Oh, would that be the start of a long, violent history
Of tuckin' our tails as we try to abide?
Sometimes I get carried away in the comments, and clearly, this was one of those times. :)
