As a consequence, the heartland of America, filled with people who are often fundamentalist in religion, nativist in prejudice, isolationist in foreign policy, and conservative in economics, has constantly rumbled with an underground revolt against all these tormenting manifestations of our modern predicament.
In his book "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life," Richard Hofstadter discusses the sentiments prevalent among many people in the heartland of America. This demographic often embodies a strong adherence to fundamentalist religious beliefs, nativist attitudes, and a preference for isolationist policies in foreign relations. Economically, their views tend to lean towards conservatism, reflecting a broader discomfort with modern complexities and changes.
Hofstadter argues that these tendencies contribute to a persistent underground revolt against what they perceive as troubling aspects of contemporary society. This reaction highlights a pushback against the values and changes often associated with intellectualism and progressiveness, revealing a deep-seated desire to return to simpler, more traditional ways of life.
