The Left Behind: Decline and Rage in Small-Town America

by Robert Wuthnow

Part of the moral fabric in rural communities is a kind of stubborn resilience. The same people who want Washington to get out of their lives also usually feel an obligation to stay put and try to make things turn around. Defending their values means more than lashing out or hunkering down. It also requires doing what they can to keep their communities vibrant. It necessitates meeting new challenges and adapting to changing conditions, even when the changes seem threatening.