There's absolutely nothing to be done. Most of those small rural towns -- and I grew up in one -- have zero reason to exist besides inertia. There's fewer ski

There's absolutely nothing to be done. Most of those small rural towns -- and I grew up in one -- have zero reason to exist besides inertia. There's fewer skilled workers there every day, a combination of: * stupid, uneducated people / skilled people moving to population and manufacturing centers * devastation of unions which, whether you like their politics or not (I do!) often ran comprehensive training programs * the deskilling of the blue-collar workforce in America in order to boost corporate profits by outsourcing manufacturing * a decline in infrastructure, including a reasonably educated workforce, teachers + schools (see eg in WI Scott Walker cut many teachers salaries by north of $10k/year. Totes weird they keep losing skilled teachers, eh?) but also roads, power, etc Even if we were to fix the deliberate policies pushing outsourcing of manufacturing, I still see no reason it would return to places like rural Wisconsin. It would end up, rather, eg on the outskirts of Chicago, because of the same reason tech employees concentrate: you go to where there are skilled employees. Plus networks of supporting manufacturing businesses are close, good transportation and infrastructure, etc. And unlike tech, which may or may not eventually get serious about remote work, manufacturing can't do that. NB: This isn't the answer I would prefer, but it does have the benefit of being the truth. Also, while Democrats have not been a shining light in terms of supporting good jobs for people without a college degree, voting for Republicans is a pretty astoundingly stupid response.