While this thread is on the topic of stereotyping, I'd just like to point out that the entire Midwest is not on this rapid decline. If you look at Metro Detroi

While this thread is on the topic of stereotyping, I'd just like to point out that the entire Midwest is not on this rapid decline. If you look at Metro Detroit, the area's still one of the richest in the country and is thriving. In fact, the metropolitan areas in Michigan were the only parts that went blue. I appreciate that the author specifically mentioned he/she was from the rural Midwest. It seems like we need to establish more metropolitan areas in the Midwest (also better define the boundaries of that region) so that service jobs can be created there. Manufacturing allowed factories to be built anywhere. As it currently stands, it seems like service jobs require a large urban area.