I also grew up in Missouri, though I live in Kansas now, and I know several people who fit that description.
The thing that kills me about Missouri is that it used to be a competitive state for moderate Democrata, but the rural chunks of the state fell victim to right wing populism during the Tea Party wave in 2010 and now there’s a whole generation of Missourians whose defining political characteristic is rancorous hate for “liberal” city people. Kansas’ politics aren’t great, either, but at least the rural voters care about farm issues here… In Missouri, particularly south of I-70 where the only real industry they ever had was lead mining, all that’s left is the hate they’ve been fed from right wing assholes.
I also grew up in Missouri, though I live in Kansas now, and I know several people who fit that description.
The thing that kills me about Missouri is that it used to be a competitive state for moderate Democrata, but the rural chunks of the state fell victim to right wing populism during the Tea Party wave in 2010 and now there’s a whole generation of Missourians whose defining political characteristic is rancorous hate for “liberal” city people. Kansas’ politics aren’t great, either, but at least the rural voters care about farm issues here… In Missouri, particularly south of I-70 where the only real industry they ever had was lead mining, all that’s left is the hate they’ve been fed from right wing assholes.