URGENT!! The Need to Root Out Disinformation in Rural North Carolina
Kyle ParrishIntroduction
There is rampant disinformation in rural North Carolina. Rural communities in North Carolina, like many across the country, are grappling with a range of challenges—from economic hardship to healthcare access and infrastructure deficits. However, these issues are often worsened by the spread of disinformation, particularly through conservative media channels. Many rural politicians in North Carolina, aligned with the Republican Party, have promoted policies that fail to address the real needs of their constituents, instead focusing on divisive social issues. This blog explores the impact of disinformation in North Carolina’s rural areas, how conservative policies have harmed these communities, and why residents should seek alternatives that can genuinely improve their lives.
The Impact of Disinformation in Rural North Carolina
Misleading Narratives on Healthcare
North Carolina’s rural areas are facing a healthcare crisis. Access to hospitals, clinics, and affordable insurance is shrinking, yet many conservative leaders continue to block measures that could improve healthcare for rural residents. One key example is the refusal to expand Medicaid in the state, a policy that would help provide coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents. Despite clear evidence that Medicaid expansion benefits rural areas, conservative politicians have spread disinformation, suggesting it would bankrupt the state or introduce “socialized medicine.”
Example: Rural hospitals in North Carolina are struggling to stay open, with closures disproportionately affecting low-income and elderly populations. Expanding Medicaid could provide financial relief to these hospitals by covering more uninsured patients. Yet, conservative lawmakers have fought against expansion, leaving rural communities without adequate healthcare options. This has left many rural North Carolinians believing that Medicaid expansion would hurt them, when it would actually bring immediate benefits to their communities.
Economic Disinformation and Job Creation
Rural economies in North Carolina, particularly in the mountain and agricultural regions, have been devastated by the decline of traditional industries like manufacturing and tobacco farming. However, rather than focus on new industries that could create sustainable jobs, such as renewable energy or technology, many Republican leaders continue to promise the return of textile jobs or manufacturing plants, despite global market trends showing that these industries are shrinking. This disinformation distracts voters from pursuing real solutions that could diversify their local economies.
Example: Western North Carolina’s dependence on fading industries has left many towns in economic decline. Rather than investing in sectors like clean energy, which could provide new jobs and attract younger workers, some politicians continue to tout industries that are unlikely to return at scale. Wind and solar energy could provide North Carolina’s rural communities with an economic lifeline, but these opportunities are often ignored due to conservative focus on outdated industries.
The Harm of Conservative Policies in Rural North Carolina
Education and Public Services
Rural schools in North Carolina are chronically underfunded, partly due to conservative policies that prioritize tax cuts over public investment. By promoting tax reductions, which disproportionately benefit wealthy individuals and corporations, state lawmakers have made it harder for rural areas to fund education, infrastructure, and healthcare. This results in fewer resources for teachers, outdated textbooks, and limited extracurricular programs for students in these areas.
Example: In counties like Madison, Ashe, and Graham, rural school districts have struggled to maintain their educational standards due to budget cuts. While tax cuts were framed as a benefit for all North Carolinians, the reality is that many rural schools have been forced to consolidate, leading to longer commutes for students and fewer educational opportunities. The push for privatized education through vouchers also threatens the future of public schools in rural areas, as funding is diverted to private institutions that may not serve the local community.
Infrastructure Neglect
Rural areas of North Carolina are in dire need of infrastructure improvements, including road repairs, bridge maintenance, and, most critically, broadband internet access. However, conservative lawmakers have consistently blocked or underfunded infrastructure bills, leaving rural communities isolated and unable to compete economically. Without broadband internet, rural residents struggle to access telehealth services, online education, and remote work opportunities.
Example: Broadband access remains a significant issue in rural North Carolina, with counties like Yancey and Mitchell lacking reliable high-speed internet. This digital divide puts rural communities at a competitive disadvantage and limits the potential for economic growth. Investments in broadband could transform these regions, but political leaders who prioritize small government over meaningful infrastructure investment have stalled these projects, leaving residents disconnected.
The Role of Climate Change and the Devastation of Hurricane Helene
Conservative Climate Change Denial in North Carolina
One of the most damaging forms of disinformation in North Carolina’s rural areas involves the denial of climate change. Many conservative politicians in the state downplay the role of human activity in global warming, framing it as a hoax or natural occurrence. This narrative prevents meaningful action on climate-related issues, which disproportionately impact rural North Carolinians, especially those living in coastal and mountainous areas prone to extreme weather.
Example: Hurricane Helene brought devastating flooding and destruction to parts of Western North Carolina. The storm, intensified by warming ocean waters, ravaged rural communities, destroying homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Despite this, many conservative leaders in the state continue to ignore the connection between climate change and extreme weather events. Instead of investing in climate resilience or renewable energy that could mitigate future disasters, the focus remains on short-term fixes or denial that anything can be done.
Impact on Rural Communities in Western North Carolina
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene was a wake-up call for many in Western North Carolina, where communities were left grappling with damaged infrastructure, lost homes, and disrupted economies. Conservative disinformation around climate change keeps many rural residents unaware of the policies that could protect them from future devastation. Investments in green infrastructure, flood defenses, and renewable energy could help rebuild and strengthen these communities, but as long as climate change is dismissed, the region remains vulnerable.
Why Rural North Carolinians Must Seek Alternatives
The False Narrative of Party Loyalty
Rural voters in North Carolina have long been loyal to the Republican Party, largely due to cultural and social issues. However, the policies that conservative leaders support often do more harm than good when it comes to healthcare, education, and economic growth. By focusing on divisive social issues, conservative politicians distract from the real challenges facing rural residents, such as job loss and poor healthcare access.
Example: In Western North Carolina, Republican leaders have garnered support by emphasizing issues like gun rights and immigration, while failing to address the lack of healthcare access or the economic challenges facing local communities. As a result, rural voters continue to elect leaders who do not prioritize their economic or social well-being.
The Opportunity for Progress
North Carolina’s rural communities have the potential to thrive, but they need policies that prioritize healthcare access, education, infrastructure, and climate resilience. Democrats and progressives have proposed solutions that focus on expanding Medicaid, improving broadband access, investing in renewable energy, and funding public education. By embracing these alternatives, rural North Carolinians can build stronger, more resilient communities.
Example: In states where Medicaid has been expanded, rural hospitals have seen improved financial stability, and more residents have gained access to healthcare services. North Carolina could see similar benefits if leaders pursued policies focused on the real needs of rural residents rather than divisive social issues.
The Role of Citizens in Rooting Out Disinformation
Stay Informed and Question Leaders
Rural residents in North Carolina must critically evaluate the information they receive and question their leaders. By attending town halls, staying engaged with local news, and seeking out independent sources of information, voters can ensure that their leaders are working for the good of the community rather than for their party’s agenda.
Leverage Independent Media and Social Media
Disinformation can spread quickly through traditional media channels, but independent media and social platforms offer opportunities to challenge false narratives. By using these platforms to share factual information, residents can raise awareness about the issues affecting rural North Carolina.
Conclusion
Disinformation is harming rural communities in North Carolina by promoting conservative policies that fail to address healthcare, infrastructure, and economic needs. Whether it’s Medicaid expansion, broadband access, or climate change, the needs of rural North Carolinians are being neglected by leaders who prioritize party loyalty over practical solutions. It’s time for rural citizens to hold their leaders accountable, seek out alternatives, and demand policies that will genuinely improve their lives.
Call to Action
It’s time to reject disinformation and demand that North Carolina’s rural leaders work for the people, not for their party. Get involved in your community, question your leaders, and vote for candidates who will prioritize your needs over partisan politics.
Resources – Want to Learn More??
- Brookings – The Growing Divide Between Rural and Urban America
This article explores the deepening divide between rural and urban areas in the U.S. and how policy decisions have contributed to the challenges faced by rural communities.
Read more here - KFF – The Rural Divide: Challenges in Rural Healthcare
This article from the Kaiser Family Foundation outlines the key challenges in rural healthcare access and how disinformation about healthcare policies is impacting rural America.
Read more here - The Guardian – How Misinformation Affects Rural Voters
This piece explores how misinformation campaigns in rural areas are shaping political views and harming the prospects for progressive policies to take hold.
Read more here
