EDITOR’S VIEWPOINT/Green Acres, are we there?
The differences in Americans can no longer be defined as North vs. South or East vs. West. The genuine differences are not based on the soil people stand on, but rather how many people are packed on top of that soil.
The culture and politics permeating urban communities are distinctly different than those found in small towns or rural areas. The results of the 2000 presidential election punctuated that point. Most residents of big cities voted for Gore, while most of small-town America voted for Bush. The lines of demarcation in politics are as clear as the Mason Dixon Line.
Because city people moving to the country might not be fully prepared for the differences between rural and urban living, several communities have adopted a set of guidelines called the Code of the West to help the newbies cope. The idea started in Larimer County, Colo., in 1996 and has spread to communities in Washington and Montana, among others.
I’m not sure why there would be any confusion about the changes you might encounter by moving from the city to the country. Did we all forget the lessons from Oliver and Lisa Douglas’ experiences on “Green Acres?”
Who could forget the wisdom of Fred and Doris Ziffel and their mentor, friend and pet, Arnold the Pig? And if the Hooterville crowd didn’t make it clear enough that me and my friends belonged in the city, then Uncle Joe (who’s a movin’ kinda slow) from “Petticoat Junction” cemented my fate.
Nevertheless, based on my extensive television training, I feel confident that I could handle living in the country if my family ever decided to move into the interior spaces. After reviewing a few Codes of the West, I’m even more convinced that my city boy experiences have prepared me for any of the challenges found in the piney woods. For example, the Code of West warns of:
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Road problems (I’ll match your road problems with our potholes and raise you rush-hour traffic.);
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Water issues (What urban area doesn’t face massive water problems?);
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Electricity access (We may have it, but can you say “blackouts?”);
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Dangerous animals (Wild boars vs. city rats. Tough choice.);
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Open-range laws that allow farm animals to roam (We’ve got a few things roaming our streets we could do without, too.);
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Open hunting areas (We’ve really got you on this one.); and,
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Objectionable odors from animals and manure (With enough carbon monoxide, who notices?).
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But just when I was ready to pack it all up and buy a farm, I found the real reason why I prefer city life. It was in the first line of a version of the Code of the West written for cowboys: A smart ass just don’t fit in a saddle.