City vs. countryside

[Wilson23]

However fierce the culture war gets in America, it is unlikely to lead to civil war, because it does not break down along territorial lines. The divide is not between states but WITHIN states, between traditionalist rural areas and cosmopolitan urban areas.

Historically, when it comes down to the country vs. the city, the city usually wins and usually DESERVES to win. It was the modernist Hellenizers who deserved to win against traditional Jews in the Maccabean Revolt -- Hannukah stories tend to obscure that war's character as a civil war among Judeans.

 

[Wilson23]

The city deserves to win because that is where everything happens that matters. Newton could work out some equations in the countryside, but it took the Royal Society OF LONDON to make a scientific revolution.

 

[Saint_Ann]

Until the city runs out of food.

 

[Wilson23]

Until the city runs out of food.

That was Williams Jennings Bryan's thinking, and he was wrong about everything including Free Silver.

"You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard; we reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country."

 

[Saint_Ann]

That was Williams Jennings Bryan's thinking, and he was wrong about everything including Free Silver.

"You come to us and tell us that the great cities are in favor of the gold standard; we reply that the great cities rest upon our broad and fertile prairies. Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country."

You you what's wrong with cities? People.

 

[Wilson23]

You you what's wrong with cities? People.

But what's wrong with the country?

Not QUITE people.