Rural Rage Debunked and the other side of the fascism debate w Danny Bessner
Apr 10, 2024
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Danny Bessner challenges the use of 'fascism' in American politics. The podcast discusses debunking 'White Rural Rage' and the dangers of liberal elite discourse. They explore the complexities of defining rural areas and the potential threat of political violence. The conversation also touches on billionaires seeking validation and impact through media platforms.
Mischaracterizations of rural areas as violent and anti-Democratic may stem from ideological biases rather than intentional misconduct.
Academic criticism reveals discrepancies in expert opinions about rural Americans, raising questions on accurate portrayals.
Manichean and apocalyptic framing hinder nuanced understanding of rural America, perpetuating biased narratives and fear-mongering.
Perception of right-wing violence debunked, emphasizing the need for a nuanced understanding of rural communities to avoid misallocation of resources and misleading narratives.
Deep dives
Misrepresentation of Rural America
The podcast episode discusses a book titled 'White Rural Rage' by Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman which argues that white rural Americans pose a threat to democracy due to their supposed support for violence and anti-Democratic viewpoints. However, a detailed fact-check revealed numerous errors in the book's citations and identified mischaracterizations of rural areas as urban or suburban. The misrepresentation of rural America suggests a lack of understanding of the structural forces that shape these communities.
Potential Biases in the Author's Perspective
The author reflects on potential motivations behind the inaccuracies in the book 'White Rural Rage'. Despite persistent errors focusing on portraying rural Americans as potentially violent and anti-Democratic, the author considers whether these misrepresentations stem from ideological biases rather than intentional misconduct. The episode highlights the impact of ideological framing on academic works and the tendency to otherize certain groups based on preconceived notions.
Academic Critique and Expert Opinion
The podcast episode delves into the academic criticism and expert opinions surrounding the book 'White Rural Rage'. Despite significant errors and factual inaccuracies identified through extensive fact-checking, some individuals uphold negative stereotypes about rural communities. This discrepancy raises questions about the role of expertise and research in forming accurate portrayals of diverse populations.
Impact of Manichean and Apocalyptic Framing
The conversation examines the implications of manichean and apocalyptic framing in shaping perspectives on rural America. By categorizing rural Americans as the 'other' and perpetuating narratives of fear and threat, the podcast episode reveals how such ideological frameworks can hinder a nuanced understanding of complex social dynamics and contribute to biased portrayals of certain communities.
Academics perceive limited research interest in rural Americans
Many academics view the study of rural Americans as a limited area of research due to a perceived lack of live research questions and interest in this group. The small field of rural politics reflects this sentiment, indicating a gap in academia regarding compelling research inquiries about rural Americans. The documentary 'Hillbilly' on Hulu sheds light on societal perceptions, highlighting how rural individuals, such as hillbillies, serve as outlets for acceptable rage in certain contexts.
Misleading portrayals of rural areas and hillbillies
The discussion revolves around the stereotypical portrayal of rural areas and hillbillies in media and academic discourse. The podcast challenges the narrative that demonizes rural residents, suggesting that acceptable outlets for rage in society often target groups like hillbillies. The notion of different societies having their version of 'hillbilly' is explored, highlighting the underlying biases and misconceptions associated with rural populations.
Concerns over right-wing violence and societal perceptions
The episode delves into the perception of right-wing violence and its societal implications. The focus on rural areas as potential sources of extremist activities is debunked, with insights from studies indicating that urban settings are more prevalent in such contexts. The danger of misallocating resources and perpetuating misleading narratives about rural communities is emphasized as a significant concern, urging a more nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding political violence and extremism.
Today, we have a packed show with our guest Danny Bessner of the American Prestige podcast. Danny argued the other side of the fascism debate and expressed why he and others believe the word is not appropriate to describe what’s happened to the American right.
And Danny stuck around while we discussed Tyler’s debunking of the book “White Rural Rage” and why the type of liberal elite discourse we have right now might eventually be politically catastrophic (while also just being gross.)
As always, if you would like to support the show, please help us out with a $5 a month substack subscription.
Thank you!
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