The Forgotten Backbone: How Red States and Counties Drive America's Economy

The Forgotten Backbone: How Red States and Counties Drive America's Economy

 By Bobby Darvish - darvishintelligence.blogspot.com

As an Iranian-American ex-Muslim who has embraced Christianity and conservative values, I've seen firsthand how the media and progressive circles distort reality to suit their narrative. One of the most pervasive myths that’s been spread is that blue states, particularly places like California, are the backbone of America’s production economy. But let’s set the record straight: it’s actually red states and red areas within blue states that drive America's food production and much of its economic engine.

Take California as a prime example. California is often touted as a liberal paradise, with its progressive policies, wealth, and tech-driven economy centered in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles. But when you look beyond these urban bubbles, you’ll see that it’s the red areas—the rural, agricultural heartlands of California—that produce the state’s food and keep its economy afloat. For instance, Northern California’s State of Jefferson, a region that’s been seeking independence from the rest of California for years, is one such red enclave. Farmers and ranchers in these areas produce the bulk of California’s food supply, and yet, their contributions are overshadowed by the media's obsession with the state’s tech giants.

Red Areas Make the Food

California’s Central Valley, often considered the breadbasket of the world, provides a massive share of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts that feed the U.S. and the world. Red counties like Kern, Fresno, and Tulare are home to hardworking farmers and ranchers who make sure our supermarket shelves are stocked. In fact, California produces more than one-third of the country's vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts . Yet, these are the same areas that are often ignored or demonized by the liberal elites in places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, who benefit from their food production without acknowledging where it comes from.

In contrast, liberal urban centers in California rely on industries that are more susceptible to economic fluctuations and global instability. The tech industry may be a big moneymaker, but it doesn’t feed the people. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, many tech companies had to lay off workers and scale back operations, whereas agricultural production continued because food is essential.

The State of Jefferson’s Push for Independence

The State of Jefferson, comprising counties in Northern California and Southern Oregon, has been fighting for secession for decades. Their argument? The state government in Sacramento, dominated by urban liberal elites, doesn’t represent their values or serve their needs. These rural, largely conservative areas produce the food, the water, and the timber that California depends on, yet they’re forced to abide by regulations and laws that cater to urban progressives. Water rights, for example, have been a long-standing issue. While farmers in Northern California are denied access to the water they need for crops, urban areas like Los Angeles waste millions of gallons on things like decorative fountains and swimming pools .

Northern Californians in red areas are sick and tired of being taxed to death to fund failed liberal programs in places like San Francisco, which has become a haven for homelessness, crime, and drug use. These communities understand that if left unchecked, liberal policies will drag the entire state into an economic collapse. That’s why the State of Jefferson movement is more relevant now than ever—it represents a last-ditch effort for hardworking, conservative Americans to preserve their way of life before it’s completely swallowed up by failed progressive experiments.

A Blue Island in a Sea of Red

Now, let’s get something clear: If places like San Francisco and Los Angeles were to split off and form their own blue state, they would quickly fall into economic ruin. These areas depend heavily on the productivity and resources of red areas. The tech industry alone can’t sustain them without the agriculture, energy, and water provided by the more conservative regions. What would happen if these blue urban centers had to rely solely on themselves? They’d become a dystopian socialist wasteland—dependent on government handouts, plagued by rampant crime, and with no sustainable way to feed their populations.

What the elites in these blue cities don’t want to admit is that they’re riding on the coattails of red-state and red-county producers. They demonize conservatives, yet without red America, they wouldn’t survive. The real divide isn’t just between red and blue states—it’s between urban elites and rural, hardworking Americans. And the latter, who live in red states and red areas of blue states, are the backbone of this country.

Conclusion

The myth that blue states drive America's economy is just that—a myth. It’s the red states and red areas within blue states that produce everything we rely on, especially when it comes to food and essential resources. The State of Jefferson, along with other conservative regions, is fed up with being ignored, overregulated, and underrepresented. These areas want their independence because they know they can stand on their own, unlike the urban blue areas that would quickly collapse without the resources produced by red America. It’s time we recognize the truth: red America feeds, fuels, and sustains the nation.

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Sources:

1. California Department of Food and Agriculture. (2023). "California Agricultural Statistics Review."
2. Western Water Association. (2022). "California Water Crisis: Impact on Agriculture."
3. State of Jefferson Movement. (2021). "A Case for Secession: Why Northern California Deserves Independence."
4. New York Times. (2023). "The Economic Divide: Red vs Blue States."
5. Fresno County Farm Bureau. (2023). "Agriculture in California: Feeding the Nation."