I’m working on a theory of small town/regional politics that I’ll probably write about in future. We are living in the era of “Government by Facebook Group.” Now, I know that Facebook is not the social media choice of everyone, nor are the communication changes we’ve seen done changing. But for rural Boomers, Gen Xers and elder Millennials, Facebook is a major source of community news and debate.
This is, mostly, not good. In these groups — as witnessed across social media platforms for almost 20 years — the loudest and meanest voices often smother opposing views. Groupthink sets in fast and people are easily swayed by simplistic arguments that sound good, but can’t really be implemented. An effective meme is like a bullet to the head of any serious conversation.
Small towns are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon. Social and cultural changes have forced them into dependence on this way of communicating. Local newspapers and radio stations are the most likely to have consolidated, closed or become subjugated by some external organization. Community gathering has become less common, reducing the “person to person” civic spirit that I remember growing up on the Iron Range.
You really notice this when it comes time to plan economic development for the future. Based on social media posts, people want big stuff. They want dumb stuff. Mostly, they want everything. How can rural places plan anything practical, stuff that might actually work? How can we prevent a Greek chorus of assumed failure from becoming self-fulfilling prophecy?
Today’s column (gift link) explores a largely unheralded state program that helps turn small town imagination into action. It’s not a magical source of money, but makes money easier to find by helping a community decide what it really wants.
Read “How to help struggling small towns turn ideas into reality,” in the Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 edition of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Aaron J. Brown is a columnist and member of the editorial board for the Minnesota Star Tribune. His new book about Hibbing Mayor Victor Power and his momentous fight against the world’s largest corporation will be out soon.
