Sorry to butt in, but I just read an interesting piece at wapo.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/08/a-new-theory-for-why-trump-voters-are-so-angry-that-actually-makes-sense/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_2_na
It apparently predates the election by just a tiny bit, but seems to be spot on with what I have also observed in rural america.
Just putting it here because the question of "why" still seems to be getting asked. Fits in very nicely with my position of "people are fed up with the ineffectiveness, inattention, and hysterionic shit of the left." For why trump had a groundswell there.
Thing I'd have to disagree with the most, obviously enough, is that statement near the beginning that the folks weren't hoodwinked, heh. They absolutely were, but it's a hoodwinking that's been building for decades.
Probably said it before, but, again. That these folks thought they weren't given attention and weren't getting effective aid wasn't something unknown. That's why so much policy, so much of the message coming specifically from the DNC, was aimed firmly at the groups in question. That these folks didn't have enough exposure to life outside their sphere and formed opinions accordingly, isn't some kind of revelation. Folks've been trying to figure out how to crack that for years, to little avail. It's a situation, with however much intent there was behind it, that the GOP and conservative elements in general have been engineering for years. They've stopped and strangled efforts to help these communities, and then told them it was the hand extended or right there with 'em what did it. Fed a lie, or at least a delusion, and it worked. Y'can't really get someone to listen or notice when they're refusing to hear or see. Still got no clue what to do about that except lie to 'em and say and do shit they will.