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As we at My Rural America began this website, we had only one goal.
- To fill the news gap existing in rural America. This gap is well documented by the Kellogg Foundation, the Pew Institute and our own studies, too. Rural citizens do not have easy access to the information we need to educate ourselves about whether rural America's "bread & butter" issues are supported ... or not! ... by our national elected representatives who vote about our rural "kitchen table" almost every day in Washington.
Research shows that often the only information easily available in rural communities is what elected officials say about their own votes, as sometimes heard on the radio and other times reprinted from the representatives' own press releases.
Thus, our original goal -- to become an independent verifier, showcasing additional detail about legislative actions and votes, adds light to key votes that really matter. For example, a continuing story developed by My Rural America is about the difficulty of getting disaster assistance to farmers for drought.
- In short, our coverage shows both neglect to the issue and that the need is ongoing:
- 2006: the Republican Minority had locked up the bill for two years -- an unprecedented action since disaster assistance usually gets bipartisan support;
- 2006: Rep. John Barrow (GA) tried to fix the problem with a discharge petition that would have forced a floor vote. Dems gave him 195 signature and Repubs offered
- However, 218 signatures were necessary. Farmers remained without assistance; (4) 2007: Dems passed funding for disaster assistance early in the year;
- 2007: See story: The Perfect Drought on this blog 10/27-07 -- Georgia Republicans catch on ... drought in Georgia matters.
- 2008: Visit US Drought Monitor to see about whether your state will be in need next.
Unfortunately, there are all too many stories like this. Local newspapers don't have the resources to tell you who votes ... and who does not vote ... in support of rural America. Re -- drought: If you were represented by conservative Representatives Frank Lucas in Oklahoma, Barbara Cubin in Wyoming, Henry Bonilla in Texas, Jerry Moran in Kansas, you should know that they betrayed you on drought ... no effort but lots of town meetings and press conferences. They simply did not act. Bonilla is gone now and Cubin soon will be, but Moran and Lucas are running again.
Over time, with the presidential caucus and primary season upon us, we expect to add continuing news about the presidential candidates' positions and commitments to rural America. To do so, oOur first big challenge is to find information ... easy with the Democrats who have both campaigned with platforms for strengthening rural America, but difficult to do for Republicans who have not addressed rural America in their platforms so far.
Although subject to change as new information becomes available, we've made the decision to base our comparisons for Republicans on President Bush's record combined with the Republican Minority who endorse his proposals to Congress vs. the record of all three Democratic sources, i.e., the Democratic Congress's actions and the plans of both Democratic candidates -- Senators Clinton and Obama.
Before My Rural America opened its doors, we researched Rural America's needs, and here's what we found:
- Home Broadband Adoption Lags Behind -- PEW Internet and American Life, 2-26-06
- Study Finds More News Media Outlets , but Less News Covered -- Kellogg Foundation ... The State of the New Media 2006, 3-14-2006
- Rural Citizens Have Less Than 4 Percent Chance to Read How Their Elected Member of Congress Votes -- My Rural America Action Fund Study, 9-1-05
Now Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has testified to the U.S. House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, saying that the challenges in rural America do not singularly center on economics.
Governor Sebelius frames it this way, "First and foremost, rural communities have lost their ability to constructively call their citizens to a common table to discuss their future."
Using the coffee shops as an example, she emphasizes how rural Americans have lost the skills necessary for productive and progressive communications, since many times the only information available is misinformed, discouraging or very negative.
Sebelius also points to rural America's media, saying, "The small community newspapers -- which 40 or 50 years ago served as a 'conscience of the community' -- are no longer serving that purpose and in many cases have disappeared altogether. So called 'local' TV broadcasts originate from hundreds of miles away, and supposedly 'local' radio stations are increasingly owned by nationwide conglomerates that pipe in programming from the other side of the country."
My Rural America applauds Governor Sebelius. She's gotten it right, emphasizing how for rural development to be effective, it must begin with leadership development, strategic planning and communications.
Communications!! That's this new blog's goal -- to increase communications, to offer facts about what happens in Congress and in local communities while we give rural Americans the opportunity to speak out.
We invite you to participate.
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