What happened to this once great state?

[JPPaverage]

We are bordered by Illinois. Bluer than blue, Minnesota, fairly blue, and Wisconsin, which has problems but is at least purple. We won't mention Missouri or Nebraska. But anyway, there are plenty of progressives near here. But this state is deep red. It's almost like we sank into a wedge between Alabama and Mississippi. I don't like it. We've had some decent Governors, although not for many years. The Democratic party has no real candidates for Governor except maybe Rob Sand. Maybe. Our dictator, er, governor and her cohorts are waging war on education, women's freedoms, poor people, immigrants, and on and on. I used to love this state. But not anymore.
Sorry if I sound like Danny downer.

[griffi94]

1. Fox News happened.

[OAITW r.2.0]

3. And they believed it.

Even though Fox says they are an entertainment company. So. make video sets, like the real news orgs....then hire bullshitters to deliver your Republican message.

[griffi94]

6. It happened incrementally.

They got where they are now over 25 years.
They wouldn't have believed all this BS all at once.

[OAITW r.2.0]

8. True, this.

[slumcamper]

10. Limbaugh did plenty damage too. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

2. The way I feel about Ohio. Many decades ago, I loved that state.

[FreeWheatForever]

4. Michigan, My Michigan...

https://www.metrotimes.com/news/michigan-named-top-state-to-live-and-work-in-the-us-33837397

[Srkdqltr]

5. Everything Trump touches ................well we know how that goes.

[perfessor]

7. Illinois is not "bluer than blue."

Chicago and some collar counties are very blue. Rural Illinois is the ass-crack of the Bible Belt.

[progressoid]

9. Spouse and I were discussing this today.

So many things have gone wrong. I have no idea how we get out of this mess. It is frustrating as hell. I know a lot of people who have been fighting the good fight for a while and they too are frustrated and exhausted.

[emulatorloo]

11. 1) media normalized astroturf Tea Party 2) Koch Bros flooded the airwaves w sewage about Democrats

and elevated the likes of Senator Breadbags and Marionette Miller-Meeks. 3) Trump gave people permission to be completed unhinged and CT driven.

[rurallib]

12. AM radio in the '90s that had a near monopoly in Iowa due to Clear Channel

which owned all the major AM radio stations. In a car or on a tractor Rush And Sean were your day long companions.

Add in the new Terry Branstad in 2010 which the Iowa media treated like a king who could do no wrong (Reynolds gets the same treatment) and Voila! we have an oligarchy.