Why does everybody assume that the 2k people living in my town don’t want any of that stuff?

I did grow up sort of rural. I do know what it’s like to have fewer people, fewer amenities. But my town always managed to vote for at least good school funding.

But it is all politics. I started from conservative attitude and have gone much more progressive over time. Part of that is moving to a more progressive city and seeing how well it works. But most of my life it’s been “you deserve the same benefits that I have”. The same quality education, connectivity, infrastructure, all the modern amenities that make up a good quality of life. But I keep voting for that when it seems like rural conservative areas are the ones voting against it, those who would most benefit, are most against. Most of my life I could understand where they’re coming from, most of my life I could see the logic. I just can’t anymore. The modern conservative/progressive divide just doesn’t make any sense. Maybe part of it is money. In my conservative phase I cared a lot about being fiscally responsible and there was never enough money to go around. But now I have a better idea where the money comes from. It’s my money. I live in a major city that is the economic life blood of the region in a blue “donor” state that gives more to the nation than it takes. I’m voting to spend my money on your buses, your internet, your renewable energy, your education and job training so we can all benefit and I don’t understand why conservative people shit all Over that.

I also used to be conservative for strong family values, but that really seems performative and inconsistent with what I consider family values. Don’t be all self-righteous with your family values that really don’t seem to value families.

Why should I not complain about that?

You should complain. You deserve better.