Revitalizing Rural America

Caius Z. Willingham makes the case that rural economic issues have only been superficially addressed during the 2020 presidential campaign so far—to the detriment of the candidates and the country.

As the Iowa caucus approached, presidential primary candidates feverishly wooed rural voters in Iowa with packed itineraries that scoured every corner of the state. Many campaigns have released rural policy platforms that largely focus on the struggles of family farms, healthcare affordability and access, and broadband. Despite the urgency of these issues and the importance of the rural economy to the wellbeing of all, the hours of televised debates have only superficially addressed the complex and varied challenges facing rural communities. This oversight means that proposed policies remain underdeveloped and will likely drop off the radar during the general election and the victor’s policy priorities after inauguration.

The above excerpt was originally published in Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. Click here to view the full article.

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