White rural America voted for this in the 80's. Remember "Farm Aid" in the first wave of farming economic consolidation after the industry was deregulated.

Their racism convinced them that "Black Controlled" urban areas would collapse and rural WHITE areas would flourish. So, they voted on austerity budgets because they didn't want to pay for social programs to help "welfare queens".

They voted against the programs that would have helped them. Now they're bitter and angry.

They still VOTE.

Watch the 1988 movie "Betrayal" for a sense of the Rural zeitgeist in the 80's. The overt racism is surprising by today's standards.