Are you a micropolitan?

No doubt you know of cosmopolitans, and have your opinions about them. But you may not be familiar with micropolitans, a large population of Americans whom the national media ignores. Who are we?

Micropolitans are people who choose to live in rural and small-town America, and also share a deeply-held set of democratic ideals. Some of us moved here late in life; others have lived here continuously since birth; still others grew up here, moved away and returned in mid-life. But we all recognize that small-towns offer a unique environment in which to achieve our full human potential. In particular, we cherish the following values and seek to promote them in our own lives and communities:

• Strong social solidarity with our neighbors
• Commitment to democracy, both in local government and in the work place
• Responsibility towards the natural world, which we hold in public trust for future generations
• Respect for our neighbors, regardless of their appearance, family background, economic standing, education, or party affiliation
• Recognition of the diverse ethnic backgrounds of our neighbors, which give our micropolitan regions their unique character

While recognizing the good, micropolitans also reject the bullshit narratives about small-town life propagated by some media elites and certain politicians. We’re not afraid to be frank and honest — the touchstone of a true democracy — at the expense of a false “politeness”. We know better than anyone the problems our communities face, and we strive to improve them. Micropolitans reject such anti-democratic values as racism, the degradation of our land and water by profit-seekers, and the selling off of public assets to private interests and corporations. And while we admire self-sufficiency, we recognize that this value in its most extreme form is a fantasy: at many points in our life, we must rely on our neighbors.

Micropolitan is a little blog with a big goal: to give a voice to this group of people we call micropolitans. We seek to promote micropolitan values, and we’re not afraid to take a rhetorical sledgehammer to opposing values and the politicians who espouse them. The world headquarters of Micropolitan is located in Northern Michigan, where Lakes Michigan and Huron join hands, and so our commentary often reflects this setting. Micropolitan is written primarily for other micropolitans — though we hope it is also of interest to metropolitans living on those “other” coasts. We know all about you, cosmopolitan elites! You dominate our TV screens, magazines and news sites. Wouldn’t you like to know about us?

Dare we to dream? Micropolitan aims to change the narrative of small-town America. If you share our goals, value good writing, and would like to contribute your perspective to the cause, please contact Micropolitan. Let’s collaborate, and together write the world we want.