7 Comments

Great topic, Michelle. Let's hope Walz proves to be part of a new (broader) path forward for progressives. If the DNC doesn't have a long-term plan for rural America, they certainly need one. One book to put on your radar is Dirt Road Revival, by Chloe Maxmin and Canyon Woodward. Chloe, from down the road here in midcoast Maine, is a remarkable young politician and activist, having co-founded Divest Harvard and then winning two races for the Maine state legislature in a red rural district. The book - which, to be clear, I haven't read yet - lays out the problems with ignoring rural voters and some solutions for how to win them back. I'm not sure to what extent they address conservation, but the politics of the book may interest you. [book here: https://www.dirtroadrevival.com/] [doc trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoefL39iAKU&t=166s]

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Thanks for the recommendation, Jason! I've heard of Dirt Road Revival and your note motivates me to track it down. Chloe sounds terrific. I've been so heartened this year by the wonderful candidates running for state and local office from my part of WA—most of them women, all of them rural-savvy.

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I'm biased because I'm acquainted with her, but Dr. Sarah Taber, who's running for Agriculture Commissioner in NC, is a passionate voice for the good that progressive rural policies can do.

https://taberfornc.com/

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Thank you for this, Michelle. Rural progressive voices are too consistently ignored, and it's great to see them recognized!

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Thanks, Michelle. You prompted me to do some digging. I found that he's done a good job on PFAS, my "special interest", comparable to Washington if not quite up to the standard set by Michigan. No one seems to be doing enough on nitrate, not even Washington. There's a 1400-pound cow in the room that no one wants to talk about. I'll be spending some time in the Yakima Valley this summer. Nitrate is one of the issues I'll be writing about. And yes, rural progressives exist!

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Glad to hear that Walz has done a good job on PFAS, John, and that Michigan is focused on it. Maine is ahead of the curve, I think, but the curve is still pretty lame. We have generations to go before a true reckoning with PFAS.

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The notion of rural literacy seems especially useful--and all too rare.

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