DISQUS

Kevin Bondelli's Youth Vote Blog: Communicating with Rural Youth

  • Lorraine Gore · 1 year ago
    I stumbled on this blog from Brazen Careerist. I just wanted to thank you for posting this blog. My family is historically rural and poor and as an oppressed group are often forgotten in the political process.

    I think you are absolutely right! Something that I think is an issue, especially in political/socal justice issues and trying to talk to rural folks about them is that when talking to them you can't use really academic language. We don't want to be talked down too, but we do want to be talked to on a level that we can comprehend what you're saying. I honestly think this is a big reason that rural areas are so conservative. Conservatives have gotten very good at reaching rural folks with talking points, simple language (many times talking down to us), while liberals use more academic language in our discussions. In small towns where many if not most will not attend college--academic language is pretty pointless and counterproductive.

    Anyway! Thanks again for reaching out, a liberal voice in rural areas is definitely needed!
  • Kevin Bondelli · 1 year ago
    Thank you. It is definitely important that we take the time to look at the best ways to reach out to rural communities and to actually follow through with them.