You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country, But He'll Probably Move Back

A June, 2007 study of rural U.S. voters by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner reveals some things about folks living in the country. Over 48% have achieved bachelor's or post-grad degrees. Over 85% have cable or satellite television service. 67% use Internet at home, and 43% have high-speed Internet service.

Even though the TV network experts on both coasts have never cared much for flyover country, the national elections since 2000 have caused them to question long-held truisms about people who live in rural America, "could rural Americans actually understand the sophisticated issues debated daily in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.?"

Apparently, we do.

Surprise. Americans living in the country actually do know what's going on. They are well educated and fluent in electronic technologies. They are affluent by world standards, and only 17% depend on agriculture directly. Yes, we own more guns than our metro brethren. Yes, more of us go to church than city dwellers. And yes, we are ethnically over 85% Anglo.

As the pundits are discovering the hidden promise of red-state voters, they are also discovering a far more sophisticated American than they ever expected. Doesn't surprise us. We don't live in post-rural Texas because we are stuck here and can't get out. We live and work here as an educated and well-considered choice.