People from the city regions with their urban ideas can make it difficult or disrupt the way of life for those who live rural. What do I mean by that?
In my view there are two primary contributing factors:
Cities Control Political Direction
1. The cities constitute the political direction of a region. Even a state. This widely affects laws and regulations for everyone.
City Ideas Upon The Rural Natives
2. Urbanites who move to the hinterlands (or have a second home there) often bring their city ideas with them. And usually those ideas are diametrically opposed to that of the natives.
It’s evident that people living in most large cities maintain a very politically liberal outlook. I asked that question a few years ago in an article titled why are so many big cities in the united states – liberal?
Culture
Mostly, it’s a ‘culture thing’. People in the city are brought up a bit differently versus the upbringing in rural regions. Some out of necessity.
Dependency
Cities are 100% dependent. Everything needs to be brought in. People in large cities have more of a mindset to depend on others. Many of those who live rural are also dependent these days, although to a lesser extent. They have options to be more self reliant if they choose to (e.g. more land, more ‘know how’ in the region).
Population Density
High population density demands greater control, laws, enforcement, and regulations. Low population density regions comparatively require very little (though unfortunately affected by many of the same controls enacted by the cities).
Government
It seems the bigger the city the more government dependency for many things such as public transportation, law and order, and many other services (including handouts). Cities require more ‘group think’. Rural living requires little government involvement. There’s much less crime, fewer services (which demands more self reliance), and not much need for ‘group think’.
Attitudes
City regions breed dependency and the attitudes thereof. Rural regions demand some extent of self reliance, which breeds personal responsibility. It is ingrained in the character of the population.
There are lot of differences and some of them quite major. City people are more about control. Again, some of that is out of necessity. For that matter, in my estimation ‘the left’ is more about control. Power. It breeds from the cities.
Congressional District Maps
Rural America is not really being effectively represented.
The district maps are supposedly drawn up to balance population versus congressional representation. If you live in a region like where I live, the geographical rural area is very large compared to the small region which contains the ‘big city’.
The problem is, much of the money comes from the city. And people won’t get elected if there’s not enough money. Politicians will cater to the city regions where the money is. The city regions are notoriously left/liberal. Therefore rural representation (typically conservative) continues to diminish in my view.
Campaign finance reform? Right. I’m not holding my breath on that one. It’s always about the money. It will continue to be about the money. The big money comes from the cities. The cities breed leftist ideas.
Rural Paradise Being Overrun
This is happening a lot. People who either move away from their leftist city, suburbs, or regions, they are bringing their attitudes with them.
City dwellers and the regions thereof tend to have more money. Some of them buy vacation homes or 2nd homes in ‘rural paradise’.
Personal Example
I happen to live in one of those ‘rural paradise’ regions (at least in my own viewpoint) and have witnessed this happening here. In fact there’s one particular recent encounter that actually inspired me to write this article…
I live in the mountains. We have one of the best regions and trail systems for snowmobiling in the nation. It’s part of the motorized sports winter culture here, similar to our ATV trails during the summer.
Without giving too much away, I am integrally involved with maintaining a portion of snowmobile trail system near the Presidential Range in New Hampshire. A beautiful scenic area.
Anyway, one little slice of our trail system shares a private roadway on one of these scenic roads with crazy views of the mountains. The road has been slowly developed with some beautiful homes/cabins along that view. Well, one of those places was bought by a leftist couple from Connecticut. They apparently bought it for the view, NOT for the culture of the region.
They have taken it upon themselves to harass us and complain about snowmobiles going up the road (shared by all the homeowners there), even though our club has also shared that road’s right-of-way for many years. I have interacted with them and they are in a word, ‘nasty’.
So Typical…
It’s so typical of those who bring their politics with them from the city. They will not conform. They will not integrate or assimilate. No. Instead they try to change the way the natives live. It’s unbelievable.
They often have very loud voices in that they will complain to the entire hierarchy trying to get their way. Some of them enter the system of government and start making changes. It’s like a cancer.
Where Is It All Headed?
You tell me. I don’t know…
There are lots of profound ideological differences between people today. It seems to be an increasing challenge to ‘get along’. Maybe there’s just too many people. It really is about that, isn’t it? When it comes down to it, it’s population density and the sheer number of people living in proximity. Life can be quite different between the city dwellers and the country folk…
This article was gladly contributed by author Ken Jorgustin from modernsurvivalblog.com.
You may also like:
Is It Legal To Go Off The Grid In Your State?
This Homemade Device Can Power Up Your Entire House 7 Days In A Row (Video)
How to “Winterize” Your Pipes and Prevent Damage
How to Build a 44-Day Stockpile for Only $2.40 a Day
Snowmobiling isn’t part of your culture
I’ll say this : If is was not for us monied lefties who formed and sit on nature presevatory boards YOU would not have preserved areas of woodlands.
I am involved with preserving the woodlands of the finger lakes.( 120 acres – just last week) Keeping McDonalds, billboards and hillbilly shacks from spoiling the area and the view,
It is not 1700 anymore – wake up. Take a clue from the only decent Republican in history-Teddy Roosevelt. More population of humans = more management of natural resources.
You are a typical left wing city moron you have no idea what your talking about. I’m just leaving it there you people are cancer and will always be tell we the hard working farmers and ranchers starve your asses out you puke!!
It most certainly is part of our culture dipshit!!
What a joke. “We don’t want those damn liberals with their fancy book learnin’ and ideas ’ ruinin’ our simple small town lives!” You preach a self-sufficient life but fault those who seek it for themselves who weren’t born into your little local tribe.
Demographics change. People move. Why not try treating them like people rather than immediately writing them off as hopeless/helpless others?
Yeah and truth be told as far as campaign finance reform goes you can thank the very conservative Koch brothers and their unlimited wealth for supporting Citizens United. Just saying. And as far as representation goes I think a state like NH having a population equal to a quarter of the population of say LA, while California has a population 40x that if NH points out that representation is definitely skewed and not towards urban areas. Those urban areas while they may be “dependent” on rural areas for food (which are often dependent on immigrants for labor), that those rural areas are dependent on those larger urban areas for economic growth and the taxes (from people without fair and accurate representation) that your rural areas depend on for state funding of social services like schools and hospitals. So yeah your arguments need a little work. That said I just moved to a more rural area from a big city and I am respectful of my neighbors and do not try to inject my politics. If I stay and settle down over the next 5 years than maybe I’ll feel like it’s my right but until then I’ll vote.
Read the jackass James dumb or days post! These people are coming to our small towns with that very attitude! that we are just dumb hillbillies, that should be so happy and thankful you smug leftist college brats came to our rescue and saved us poor illiterate rednecks! No move in and enjoy our ways! our culture that’s why these towns are the way they are! We just hate when you move in all smug,mean and rude and treat us like we’re idiots!! If you like the way the big cities are then stay there! Don’t move here and complain about the stink of farms and bitch about the animals how they are abused and miss treated which is all BS! If it wasn’t for farms and ranches everything would be developed and taken over by the rich realtors and developers. All are welcome but come with a little respect that’s all!
What a bunch of small-minded horseshit
Your specific example is more a story of rich people rather than “left” people. Your article reads like youre a very close minded person.
You angered some of those ‘nasty’ liberals in the above comments, I guess. haha 😉. I get your point. And it really should concern rural areas. City folks just don’t have the same ideas about life. Another example is that of living mask-less. I get the most hateful nasty screaming comments in the city. In my rural area, no one cares if I choose to live mask-less, even if they are wearing a mask. The only person who has been inhumane toward me is a blue hair harry legged girl who I can guarantee is of the newly transplanted new-liberal (love everyone but hate those people) variety.
I think people jump to conclusions when they see someone without a mask. Why do you specifically choose not to wear one? If it’s a political statement then could you understand the anger it would generate from others? To you it’s a symbol of pride, but to someone who understands the science of the pandemic and how safety protocols have been shown to limit the spread, your actions can be interpreted as selfish. Masks are not just to keep you safe, but to keep those around you safe as well. By not wearing one it can be interpreted as a big “F*** you” to the welfare of everyone else around you, which is incredibly selfish. If your choice in not wearing a mask is simply because “The Gumment can’t tell me what to do”, then maybe it shouldn’t be surprising when you are met with outrage.
I understand that the feeling is lax concerning mask wearing in rural areas, but when you travel to a more densely populated location, one where it is much more likely to come in contact with the virus, wouldn’t you want to mask up to prevent bringing it back to the community and the ones you love?
Your views are myopic and I think your views are very selfish also, by not considering the impact on the young and impact on our common humanity. I’ll explain.
I don’t wear a mask because my conscience tells me not to. That simple. And others should listen to their own conscience and not be forced into positions that lead them to betray their conscience. That’s freedom.
I also do it to remind others they don’t have to wear one and that they should not be forced to be nasty hateful folks. And it works quite well. I see people take off their masks when I’m there (maskless) and have convinced many to follow their conscience and not to wear them no matter how many people like you attack their conscience.
There can be no laws made to make us wear medical devices in public and cover our air holes—But if laws are made to do so, we should break them for the love of future generations. I disagree with your scientific conclusion as do many distinguished scientists and doctors around the world but !! >> the question should have never been whether a mask could slow the spread of this cold virus, it should be a judgment call on the collateral damage of masks and lockdowns. That is the only question we should be concerned with right now. You seem to be very selfish and not care about the many will die from the collateral damage to communities, businesses, and our psyche. By your logic, I should be screaming at people because their choice of supporting masks and hence lockdowns, will eventually kill many many more than this cold virus has.
I’m sorry if my reply came off as being judgmental. I was only seeking to gain insight on your perspective. I never called you selfish, but pointed to how your actions could be interpreted as such.
If you were to visit someone else’s house and they had a no-shoe policy, would you insist on keeping them on because you see the rule as limiting your freedom?
I’m sorry, but I also can’t accept claims in support of acting on your conscience because “many distinguished scientists and doctors” feel the same as you. You wouldn’t believe me if I were to present you with hard facts and data in support of mask-wearing, so I have no reason to take anything from your response at face value.
I agree that the damage from lockdowns is significant and should be avoided, but the way to avoid lockdowns is by following CDC safety guidelines and wear the protective gear that has been shown to slow the spread of the virus. The claim that wearing masks causes psychological damage is malarkey. I teach young children, and even though they are still mentally developing, they understand the importance of wearing a mask.
What a mean-spirited article. One anecdotal example of a person protecting their personal property and you condemn millions of people who live differently than you. Sounds like you and your neighbors need to wake up and engage this family and understand their point of view while sharing yours. You’re all neighbors. Act like neighbors. For example, you don’t say how close to their house, this “trail” goes. Is it so close that snowmobilers endanger children playing in the yard? Pets outside in the yard? Does snowmobile activity wake them up? How does its location compare to proximity to other homes in the area? Offer solutions instead of judgement. After all, how would you feel moving to a new paradise and the locals suddenly tromped all over your property?
Albiet ,snowmobiling may not be an integal part of every rural culture the subject of which the writer expounds is very real . I too live in a rural area that for generations has survived virtually unchanged by the uglyness we now see enveloping us . The rich big city pukes creat an environment in their communities that know one can exist in for long . Most recently , these people panic disgusted at living conditions they largely created themselves with liberal left-wing idealogy and move into areas like the one I’m from . They buy site unseen , paying rediculously high prices for properties they have no idea how to maintain. In doing so they drive taxes so high that locals can’t afford to stay on land that has been in the family for generations. Not to mention this better than thou attitude they drag with them . Txting while driving , disrespectful and blatant disregard to others. Rather than integrating peacefully into our communities they bring with them the very politics and lifestyles they created in their former home states , trying to recreat that familiar in our untainted communities . Welcome to Montana now go home @
Having lived in Bozeman for the better part of a decade I get this line of thinking. I had many friends who worked in West Yellowstone at the Yellowstone Club and the stories of privileged wealth and opulence were enough to make your blood boil. I haven’t returned to visit in almost a decade but from what I’ve heard, Bozeman has become a sprawling city of strip malls and banks. It makes me sad. I don’t know who’s to blame for all of it. I think there are some fundamental issues with society that foster this idea of accumulating as much wealth as possible to the detriment of other people and environmental stability. I worked for the fish and wildlife department and had friends in the law enforcement side of things. Snowmobiling is a huge industry there and there is some serious hatred between snowmobilers and the privileged wealthy transplants who move there and want to ban snowmobiling.
I wish it were as simple as “why don’t we all just get along” but nothing is that simple these days. We’ve been conditioned to hate the other side so fiercely that reconciliation is becoming impossible.
What are your thoughts on the tax revenue that these wealthy transplants generate for the community? Is it not worth the headache of having to deal with them in the first place?
Want to chip in here, coming from Vermont, have seen the out-of-staters come up, buy property sight unseen, and now paying 25-50K more than what the property was listed for. Does it make it affordable for the average income earner, definitely not. On the other hand, have seen some large chunks of land in Maine purchased for preservation for the simpler way of life, enhancing the beauty of nature and keeping the more rustic appeal. Yes, they had money to do this, but they also realized the importance of quiet, respect and maintaining the simpler life. Regarding the snowmobile/ATV issue, before they bought the land one should of inquired about the right-of-ways established through many trail systems maintained throughout New England. Some towns actually allow for those vehicles to be on the roads at various times of the year and those drivers have more respect for safety than the damned idiots that want to talk, text and drive, or even do their hair and makeup in the morning as they rush past children awaiting buses or slower drivers. And finally, those new landowners do not know how to chop wood, shovel snow, and create huge economic issues for schools as all of sudden “Here we are” educate us with their multitude of children who are now “privileged” because of money.
I was born and raised in a big city and left 50 years ago. I have lived in rural areas ever since. It is important to be considerate of your neighbors. Be they city people or country people. I think the issue is more socioeconomic than political. Wealthy people expect to have maids and gardeners and think they are preserving an area they saw once or twice before moving in. They bring their sense of entitlement with them. Rural living is hard work. When things break down here either you figure out how to fix it yourself or live without what ever it is. Don’t move to the country and expect city services. Likewise it is hard to meet people when you are eyed with suspicion and resentment. It is important to ease into a community. You can have differing political ideas but if you build a McMansion that you have no ability to maintain, don’t gripe about your neighbors’ trailer house. Take a look around you and have some respect for the area you purport to love. I hate the noise of snowmobiles, but if a person builds a house next to a snowmobile trail don’t expect everyone else to stop using it because you now live there.
You’ve gotta wonder how Native Americans felt when colonizers came from Europe, refused to assimilate to the local customs, didn’t conform, and didn’t act very “neighborly”. I’m guessing the author probably descended from some of those colonizers.
Don’t call yourself native if your family hasn’t been there for at least 1000 years.
I was thinking the same.
Disappointing perspective piece coming from “self-sufficient”. Those who take on the role of teacher and then show disdain for the students don’t last long. I’ve heard this kind of rhetoric all my life living in rural areas and I’ve yet to see a rural area “changed” by those who come from “the city”. Pushing an urban versus rural narrative helps no one. Urban and rural areas have different strengths. I know plenty of folks who drive 1-2 hours from my hometown (one way) to a job that pays enough for them to live in the small town that they love. The author’s energy might be better spent on lobbying for infrastructure (roads and technology) that will make rural life better for those who love it.
Bigoted views are all the fashion these days (city slicker or country hick) and these being expressed by a well known so-called “Libertarian leaning” (reactionary) blogger are on par. No surprise he’s in New Hampshire (LOL). Reality is that young folks have run away from “country” towns to the city for reasons. Who’s the “big man” in your community or are you part of a commune.
https://www.americantrails.org/files/pdf/ohvbibliogVT00.pdf“
Another website/blog trying to make money by teaching a self sufficient lifestyle but don’t really want anyone to move to the areas that it can be achieved in. Why would someone write a post like that and then another blog reposts it. Prejudging people from where the come from or what they believe. Now that’s a neighbor that I want. The same thing happens in the city and that’s why people want to leave. It amazes me how the original author and this site really can’t see the hypocrisy of the post. I guess I will remove this site off my favorites and unsubscribe.
You’re missing the point.
*Some* people move to rural areas, saying that they are trying to escape “city life” — but in reality, they really do nothing but complain about people in the rural areas, and try to force those already in residence to embrace the city life the transplants are trying to bring to rural areas.
I grew up in the city, then the suburbs. It took a long time, but I finally reached my dream of moving to a rural area. When I got to my new home, I did my best to learn about the people and their lifestyle. I did not call them “hicks” or “hillbillies” or any other derogatory name. I learned how things are done here, and I did my best to fit in.
It takes an incredible amount of hubris to move to a new area, and expect the people who live there to kowtow to your expectations.
As another transplant commented to me, “When you move to a new area, you have to remember that you are a refugee, not a missionary.”
I’m also reminded of a line from a song: “When you call someplace Paradise, kiss it goodbye.”
Most recent local worst case scenario: Folks moved here from a suburban area of CO, complaining about how awful it is there. Turns out that, because of the difference in geography, the kids in the family started to experience environmental allergies. It happens to anyone moving from one type of climate to another.
The new “neighbors” decided that the best way to deal with their kids’ mild allergies was not to give the children time to acclimate, but rather to go scorched earth on their land, destroying most of the vegetation on their property. They would not listen to the locals who pointed out that, although they would remove the “offensive” flora on their own land, there would still be pollen and mold from the surrounding land, and (worst yet) the chemicals they used to destroy their land were washing into the creeks and watersheds on the adjoining properties.
This is why many rural people – including rural transplants – are irritated and occasionally horrified by the behavior of many of the urbanites moving in.
Lol. This article was clearly written by an urban conservative. I actually live in a small town. We welcome other opinions, the increased influx of money, increased home values. Many of us were able to upgrade our homes/ farms due to the increase in home value. I love the use of “hand outs”, I guess the writer is referring to me as well as most of my farming friends who can not survive without the help of the government.
Lefties fought and died for labor laws that conservatives try to skirt at every turn. Lefties fought for civil rights while conservatives balked at desegregation or women’s rights. Rural farmers get more welfare from the government than any city dweller outside of the exceedingly wealthy that evade taxes. We get it, you don’t want anyone to mess up your manifest destiny wet dreams. The hell is this even doing on a site like this? If you aren’t on board with helping your community and watching out for your neighbors than why the hell pretend to care about carbon footprints or anything else? Your on a self-sufficient website bitching about not being able to drive snow mobiles?? The hell kinda world do you live in that that’s a real problem? My wife has permanent lung damage from a virus that we’re lucky she didn’t die from, my friends are losing their jobs and fearing evictions, my neighbors fear for their lives because of the color of their skin and their nation of origin. You don’t have jack shit to complain about, get some perspective.
Good grief. More “right vs left” arguments.. Maybe only a few here realize in the end you’re all miserable meat sticks, and you’re going to die especially if you cling to these “Right for me, and not for thee” attitudes. Being a service member and working to ensure we have the right to do these things is great, however, watching you all complain about something you are extremely fortunate to have is agonizing. How hard is it to enjoy your freedom, be a neighbor, and mind your own business? Nah, these clowns think they can install a hierarchy in hopes to boost their validity. All these hypocritical shows of “empathy” and “selflessness” won’t do you any good. Comfort has allowed complacency, and complacency creates ineffectiveness. Something “marginally oppressed” groups or “tribes” does better than all westerners is work together. See the world, and learn from it.