I live very close to all of this. Not in the same community, but close. For the person who said idiots electing idiots...
Like I said I do not live in the same community, it's a rural area. While I do not like everything that goes on in Missouri, just because I live here does not make me, or many others in Missouri idiots. I don't believe I was prejudged under your statement.
I have lived in this part of the state for the better part of my life. Many things happen here, that it don't agree with. I can only explain what I believe to be part of the reason that people from this part if Missouri are like they are.
My father was the mayor of Galena MO when I was young. It is in stone county, very close to where the mayor of topic is from. I read the city ordinances in disbelief. I refuse to use the "N" word, and I'll try to tell as closely as I remember, as to this day I find it offensive.
Note: the last public hanging in MO was in Stone County Mo(Galena) and was of a man of color. Yeah, they are actually proud of that!
Anyway, no "N"can sleep within the city limits. No prostitutes shall be seen during day light hours.
Those are the two that have stuck with me, not so much that they were at one time laws, but that they still exist in the ordinances.
As an adult, my brother was, perhaps still is, very active in the KKK, thus our estrangement.
This part of the state lays claim to not only being in the Bible Belt, but being THE BUCKLE.
Please don't misunderstand me, I believe in our rights. With that being said, Springfield is headquarters for Assembly of God Church. It's a well known fact that Springfield has very few people of color per capita. Surrounding communities have virtually NONE. Many people move away as diversity is just not accepted here. It's carried down generation to generation. Racists because their parents were and the parents before were. They know no better. Those who know no better, do no better. I am by no means defending these opinions. I live here as I have family here. Can you imagine what providers go through should they get arrested? Public shame. Yes, we are in the hills of Missouri, and although Springfield would like to think that it is fairly liberal, I'm afraid that the term hillbilly still pertains to many.