Rural America is the New Inner City

The Wall Street Journal shows that by many key measures of socioeconomic well-being, rural America is much worse off than the inner cities.

For more than a century, rural towns sustained themselves, and often thrived, through a mix of agriculture and light manufacturing. Until recently, programs funded by counties and townships, combined with the charitable efforts of churches and community groups, provided a viable social safety net in lean times.

Unfortunately, not anymore.