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IDENTIFYING THE DRIVING FORCES

While Dillman's identification of the Information Age as being the driving force for change in rural American to the end of this century is valid and while we may not, yet, agree on shape this will/should take, we must be careful that we do not obscure five or six other forces which are also important. One force, related to the Information Age, in other technological breakthroughs, such as biotechnology, which promise super milk cows, super sows, and super corn seed that will fertilize itself. The growth of fruits and vegetables by hydroponics is already with us. This developing technology has mind-boggling implications.

The second force is the dominance of Metropolitan America. Cities have the population, resources and power to rape and pillage rural America if they wish.

The third force is transportation. Rural America, as it now exists, was oriented toward railroads for transportation. This era is passing and being replaced by interstate truck and air transportation. This change is having tremendous impact on thousands of small towns. And as Dillman indicated, the future of rural communities is tied to fiber optics.

The fourth force is the development of a global economy. Several of Dillman's issues reflect this change for rural America crops, agricultural enterprises and extractive industries. Farmers and other rural-based enterprise operators must have some competitive advantage over producers in other parts of the world if they are going to survive. Rational, bottom-line, competitive decisions will make or break rural-based enterprises in this new era. If Brazilian producers of a commodity like wheat can grow it more cheaply than producers in Kansas, they will get the business. Obviously, this has serious implications for much of rural America.

The fifth force is values. Something is missing in metropolitan America--a sense of community. Eventually, the need for fulfilling this value may override the rationalistic values that drive the global economy. At least conflict between the two may come. During the age of the mass society, we focused on rural America becoming more urbane, but we have only recently begun to recognize a counter trend--what some have called "the red necking of urban America." Case in point: the wide acceptance of "Country and Western" music in major cities. There are real tensions here, and they bear watching. To my mind, the desires to "be country" is driven by a deep-set desire to experience fellowship in community with others.

And the sixth force is governmental policies, which are reflected in funding, goals, and programs. For example, policies related to 1990 agriculture will have a tremendous effect upon the shape of rural communities during that period of time simply because policy drive change (e.g., investment tax policies fueled dramatic change in hog production in the mid-1970s). There is a very real need for USAmerica to decide what it wants rural America to be, much as it did early in the 1900s, and develop appropriate policy. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a clear vision as we approach the 21st century. I believe that pastors can play a major role in articulating a vision.