At least when it comes to politics. Here’s Paul Waldman making an important point:
What exactly are the small-town values that are supposed to be not only so admirable, but also so useful for governing? If you ask their advocates, you’ll usually get answers that are vague to the point of meaninglessness. In small towns, we’re told, people tell the truth, they work hard and they lend a hand. All of which are good things, but there’s no evidence that those virtues are any more common in small towns than in big cities or the suburbs (and when politicians praise “small towns,” they’re definitely not talking about the suburbs).
There are undoubtedly things that distinguish the small town from the city — and when it comes to the demands of governing, the distinctions favor the lessons one can gain in urban environments.
If you grow up in a city, you’ll learn to navigate a complex world. You’ll deal with people of diverse backgrounds, languages and religions — just like America. You’ll negotiate with their desires and interests, because when you’re all packed together, you have no choice. And you’ll learn to react to change. [WaPo]
The position of myth is important in any culture, and “small town America” is a key American myth. It’s important to understand the power of myths, and the flaws that commonly accepted myths can carry.
Of course, people often hate it when their cherished myths are questioned, as often their adherence to those myths are part of their position in the power structures they value.
