To summarize your argument, the rural-urban political divide is driven by self-selection and environmental factors, where right-leaning individuals deliberately choose rural areas to avoid left-wing influences, while urban areas reinforce left-wing views through higher education, workplace policies, and cultural pressure.
This is a novel argument, one that I have not seen discussed a lot. If this is the truth then great.
But I am worried that it is not true. I am worried that what is really happening is that Billionaires are taking advantage of less educated voters by convincing them to vote against their self interests. They do so by shifting their focus to the "values and cultural issues" of the moment. In the past, it was gay marriage and abortion; today, it's trans kids and DEI. Once these issues dominate the conversation, little attention is paid to the real priorities and actions of these billionaires: Cuts to funds that research cancer (the topic of this thread), cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare programs, cuts to education, cuts to development assistance to the poorest in the world and so on, all to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.
This is a novel argument, one that I have not seen discussed a lot. If this is the truth then great.
But I am worried that it is not true. I am worried that what is really happening is that Billionaires are taking advantage of less educated voters by convincing them to vote against their self interests. They do so by shifting their focus to the "values and cultural issues" of the moment. In the past, it was gay marriage and abortion; today, it's trans kids and DEI. Once these issues dominate the conversation, little attention is paid to the real priorities and actions of these billionaires: Cuts to funds that research cancer (the topic of this thread), cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare programs, cuts to education, cuts to development assistance to the poorest in the world and so on, all to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.
If you're interested in this angle here's a book I can recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Whats-Matter-Kansas-Conservatives-Ame...