Hispanic Immigrants > Poor Rust Belt Americans

[Koharu]

Ugh, this thread is pretty disgusting.

Rural areas, at least the ones I'm familiar with, are populated more and more by a majority of people who are either employed in working-class jobs (retail, low-end manufacturing where it still exists, trucking, etc), the few farmers that there still are, elderly people who worked good jobs or farmed but now are basically stuck where they are, and low-income young folks who, for various reasons, were unable to leave the area, mostly due to money concerns.

The truth of the matter is that immigrants help each other. If you can make it across the border, you are likely to find a community of people who speak your language and are willing to house you and help you find employment. The community is supportive because it has to be. It used to be this way in many big cities for European immigrants, and then also in specific rural communities, as well, which is why you get clusters and regions of America that have specific historical backgrounds.

If a low-income American decides, hey, there's no jobs here, and pulls up everything and goes to another community where there are jobs, they're still not going to be able to afford housing. They may be lucky enough to end up in a homeless shelter, but there's likely not going to be a community to pull them in and keep them safe while they find employment. Social services are already beyond their limits and it's exceedingly difficult to get in line for assistance, let alone survive the line. If you have children (which at least in my community, many of the younger folks still in the area do, because quite often they got "stuck" in the community by having kids in high school or right after) or even just a spouse or partner, the difficulties of relocating expand exponentially.

Neither group is better than the other group. They are just people who are trying to live their lives as best they can. Immigrants are blessed in that they have support networks. Low-income rural folks are blessed in that they usually are people of a privileged class where they are located (not always, though).

These rural towns used to be so much more, and many of them were thriving, wonderful places, but the advent of a motorized country did them in (this is why most of rural and rust-belt America had populations that peaked sometime in the 50s). No longer did every city need a variety of shops; we could travel farther to get those specialized items, and while we're there we might as well get the less specialized stuff, too. Those who still live there are often trying to make something of what's left, or improve it. There's nothing wrong with that, and in fact, I find it remarkable. Of course, many others are just fighting to get by and are worn down by life. Being worn down by life isn't the motivator that possible death is. And many, many immigrants through the southern border are arriving because they literally fear for their lives.

So, neither group is better or worse than the other. People are people are people. Most everyone is just doing the best they can to get by, and using the resources that they know they have available. Trying to split up groups like this and face them off against each other is a disgusting tactic and just furthers the wedge.