In a Corner of Ohio, Lessons of 2016

Real Clear Politics ^ | March 13, 2016 | By Salena Zito

[Hojczyk]

The bakery's display windows along Cambridge's main street are filled with sugary treats; people travel hours to buy its famous tea cookies. Stepping into this iconic southern Ohio bakery is pure happiness.

Behind the counter, Jody Lawry, Barbara Larrison and Barb Wheeler greet customers warmly and cheerfully banter with each other.

All three are stunned to learn that two support Trump and the other “feels the Bern” of Bernie Sanders' candidacy.

“Wait, you like Trump too?” Lawry asks Larrison as Wheeler admits that Sanders has her vote.

“We never talk about politics here,” Larrison says. “And to be honest, people are cautious to admit if they like Trump because the media makes you feel as though that is something to mock.”

This is just a small portrait of one corner of Ohio. Yet this state and this country are flush with towns like this that are largely ignored by Washington. Economic pressures and cultural forces will continue to grind away at their way of life — and, if we don't find a way to work toward some economic and cultural touchstones that bind Main Street to Washington, our great divide will not only continue but will expand.

[mabelkitty]

Welcome to America.

[Pontiac]

Economic pressures and cultural forces will continue to grind away at their way of life — and, if we don't find a way to work toward some economic and cultural touchstones that bind Main Street to Washington, our great divide will not only continue but will expand.

She recognizes the problem but draws the wrong conclusion.

Washington and our being bound to it are the problem.

Getting Washington and the Federal Government out of our lives is the solution.

The Federal Government is bleeding the people dry and making it impossible for us to work for our own benefit, to start a business, to improve our property or generally to be prosperous.

If the founders were alive today they would be drafting a Declaration of Independence.

[Nextrush]

Many columnists and websites that are considered ‘conservative’ really shill for the Republican Establishment and want to find some fix to sucker us into supporting the Republican Party at election time.

[relictele]

They also have an annoying habit of writing patronizing articles about any location outside the Acela corridor.