Mark Haggerty, a senior fellow for energy and environment policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, wrote an opinion piece discussing the current narrative surrounding rural America and the impact of the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on these communities. Haggerty highlighted the diversity and importance of rural America, refuting the notion that these areas are in total decline and primarily white.
Haggerty emphasized the critical role that strong place-based institutions, such as schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, play in the success of rural communities. He criticized the anti-tax, anti-government movement advanced by the Trump administration and Project 2025, which seeks to weaken government regulation and services. In contrast, the Biden-Harris administration’s policies, such as the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aim to rebuild institutions and partnerships to address rural needs effectively.
Haggerty argued that Tim Walz, a candidate in the recent election cycle, understands the importance of government institutions and policies in supporting rural communities, while JD Vance offers a narrative that blames rural people for their own poverty. Haggerty praised the Biden-Harris administration for funding programs like Head Start and Medicaid and making historic investments in rural resilience.
In conclusion, Haggerty contended that while both Walz and Vance claim to advocate for rural America, only Walz has demonstrated a true understanding of these communities’ realities. The article serves as a call for a deeper understanding of rural America and a shift towards policies that support and empower these communities.
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