When a friend asked about politics and the prospects of Democrats in Georgia, I thought of Jimmy Carter.
Until about 1990, people in rural and urban areas tended to vote alike. Since then, rural areas have voted increasingly Republican. Urban areas have voted increasingly Democratic.
My county is heavily Democratic. But it’s been a while since most people in rural counties thought that the Democratic Party had ideas that were good for them.
That’s sad and ironic. Democrats do have some ideas about how to relieve the suffering of farming communities. Just ending the war would help with the prices of fuel and fertilizer.
I think rural folks would be willing to listen to some new ideas. But when the messages are delivered by … well, pick your favorite Democrats and compare them to Carter. Carter had a kind of credibly among rural voters because he was a farmer. Even people who doubted his politics would give him the benefit of the doubt and listen.
The role Carter played in his community was genuine, rather than theatrical. When he was 95, he was still teaching Sunday school in Plains. People would come from all over to go to Sunday school, even if they weren’t religious, much less Baptist. The newspapers said that about 10 people showed up for the adult Sunday school class — unless Carter was teaching. Then the crowd would jump to 500. People arrived at the church early and tailgated in the parking lot, just to get a seat.
The idea of people tailgating for Sunday school is jarring — especially when you consider that Carter’s politics were unpopular in rural Georgia.
I’m not arguing for going back in time or glorifying old ways. I just wish the Democratic Party could find some candidates who speak rural.
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