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In the midst of the weird political coverage, a key story has been largely overlooked. Not only does the stock market continue to set record highs, but also, as Jim Tankersley of the New York Times reported, the so-called left-behind counties, distressed after the collapse of manufacturing in them, have “added jobs and new businesses at their fastest pace since Bill Clinton was president.” “That turnaround,” he notes, “has shocked experts.” More than 1,000 counties, mostly in the Southeast and Midwest, that grew at less than half the national rate in terms of both people and income from 2000 to 2016, have surged. From 2016 to 2019—mostly during Trump’s administration—those rural left-behind counties, which make up about 18% of the U. S. population, added 10,000 jobs. In 2023 alone, they added 104,000.

Tankersley notes that Trump overwhelmingly won the support of voters in these counties, but their circumstances did not improve during his administration. Under Biden, they added jobs five times faster than they did under Trump. Still, voters there appear to continue to back Trump.

Are they backing Trump because they care more about culture wars than their economic security? Or are they ill informed?

(Yes, I am @normalice posting anonymously because I want to give the right wing snowflakes who blocked me the opportunity to see key information they have created a bubble to avoid).

The fertility rate of a country or region is defined as the number of children an average woman has during her lifetime.

A fertility rate of around 2 is needed to maintain a stable population, essentially that replaces the mother and father; when they die, their children replce them. A rate more than 2 generally increases the population, and a rate less than 2 causes the population to decline.

The average global fertility rate is now about 2.3. Modern countries (shown in blue in the map) have fertility rates less than 2, which means their native populations will decline over time; immigration is needed to maintain (or increase) population. Third World countries (shown in brown in the map, especially Africa) have rates above 2, and their native populations are increasing.

Prior to the 1950s, almost every country had fertility rates well above 2. Since then, fertility rates have dropped rapidly in many countries. Many demographers postulate that the entry of women into the workforce (which started during WW II), and the rise of feminism, is a key factor in the decline in fertility rates. More women than ever in human history now have careers, which makes it difficult to have children. A career woman may decide to have no children, or maybe only one child, since it's so hard to balance raising a child with a career. Cost of living is also high, making it difficult for a couple to survive on just one income.

What do you think? Has feminism been a major cause in the decline of fertility rates in the world? Please vote in the poll and provide a comment/opinion if you wish.