One of the reasons Buckeye State Rural installs progressive billboards on rural routes in Ohio is so that people in those communities know they're not alone. Do billboards, yard signs, or protests change minds instantly? Probably nope. Can they encourage someone to take an action like attending a meeting or calling their toadying representative? Maybe.
As a lifelong Democrat and IA born and off and on raised person, the party has really sucked at countering the GOP bullshit. Now is the time to increase the engagement with rural areas for those representing,or hoping to represent and also the time for urban big microphone Dems to travel and learn. Rural areas are amazing for the farming, the people, the environment and a new perspective on life. They deserve our understanding, support and respect. Also - they may be rural but they aren’t stupid so study up before the journey!
Thanks so much for this letter of support and encouragement!
Indivisible Seneca brought out 120 people in the cold wind at a rural intersection (the "blinking light" in Ovid) for No Kings. That is a place people assume is just red. If you look at who holds public office, you'd think that there is no opposition to what Trump is doing. That does send a signal to the local community.
We can do the followup, which involves the face to face conversations. We can trigger those conversations with thing like lawn signs or sensible questions at town board meetings. Building a progressive majority here is probably not in the cards, but a presence is certainly possible. And we can influence the elections that lead to power in a democratic society.
More of this practical guidance is valued. There is surprisingly little available. Most is useful for other audiences.
I live in Greenville, Ohio, which is in Darke County. It’s the reddest county in Ohio, going for Trump last time by 82%. I have been holding signs and protesting the regime an hour daily since 2/12/25. The tide has completely changed. We had over 200 at the most recent
One of the reasons Buckeye State Rural installs progressive billboards on rural routes in Ohio is so that people in those communities know they're not alone. Do billboards, yard signs, or protests change minds instantly? Probably nope. Can they encourage someone to take an action like attending a meeting or calling their toadying representative? Maybe.
As a lifelong Democrat and IA born and off and on raised person, the party has really sucked at countering the GOP bullshit. Now is the time to increase the engagement with rural areas for those representing,or hoping to represent and also the time for urban big microphone Dems to travel and learn. Rural areas are amazing for the farming, the people, the environment and a new perspective on life. They deserve our understanding, support and respect. Also - they may be rural but they aren’t stupid so study up before the journey!
Ovid NY, village pop 550, had 120 people out in a wind chill of 11 degrees.
https://www.reddit.com/r/50501/comments/1s6g9ne/country_people_protesting_in_ovid_ny/
Just loved your whole piece. Great ideas.
https://substack.com/@scottschrader860650/note/p-209525442?r=8udqpd
Thanks so much for this letter of support and encouragement!
Indivisible Seneca brought out 120 people in the cold wind at a rural intersection (the "blinking light" in Ovid) for No Kings. That is a place people assume is just red. If you look at who holds public office, you'd think that there is no opposition to what Trump is doing. That does send a signal to the local community.
We can do the followup, which involves the face to face conversations. We can trigger those conversations with thing like lawn signs or sensible questions at town board meetings. Building a progressive majority here is probably not in the cards, but a presence is certainly possible. And we can influence the elections that lead to power in a democratic society.
More of this practical guidance is valued. There is surprisingly little available. Most is useful for other audiences.
I live in Greenville, Ohio, which is in Darke County. It’s the reddest county in Ohio, going for Trump last time by 82%. I have been holding signs and protesting the regime an hour daily since 2/12/25. The tide has completely changed. We had over 200 at the most recent
No Kings.
Protesting on behalf of illegal immigrants is crazy work.
https://torrancestephensphd.substack.com/p/no-kings-or-running-on-trump-derangement