I've come to similar conclusions but not for the exact same reasons. In my state (and it seems, most others), the cities are progressive and forward-thinking (

I've come to similar conclusions but not for the exact same reasons. In my state (and it seems, most others), the cities are progressive and forward-thinking (renewable energy, climate change is not a hoax, equality, education is good, universities are generally good etc) and the rural areas are essentially the opposite, and the divide is growing under Trump. Anything progressives are for the rural areas are against almost by default. The main thing holding cities from progressing further is that the state is so gerrymandered (or has been, they redrew the maps but will likely be similarly bad just in different ways) that the rural (conservatives) control the state government almost entirely. As a result, cities abilities to govern themselves has been reduced. I'm not happy with the way things are going but its also difficult to see them changing. Those in progressive areas vote for more education funding, more access to higher education, better access to healthcare - all things that benefit rural areas as much or more than populated areas (cities generally having better paid, better educated and therefore more healthy people). Where I grew up (in an extremely rural area), diabetes, obesity, heart disease etc are extremely common and access to quality healthcare is lower. What needs to happen is some kind of reconciliation or at least a recognition that we have essentially matching values despite what those who would like to keep us divided might say. The fact that wearing my NPR shirt is seen as basically the same thing in conservative areas as an Infowars shirt would be seen in liberal areas makes me question how likely any of that is.