I don’t think you know what the term banana republic means. A rust belt town with an American middle class (even in an economic depression) doesn’t qualify. They are in no way dependent on a single corporation.
I disagree. SOME rust belt towns are not dependent on a single corporation. Other rust belt towns are and when that company ceases operations there, the town experiences rapid decline.
If you disagree that some rust belt towns are dependent on a single corporation, I think you are either using a different definition of dependent than how I read the original comment use it, or you are not aware that towns where a single factory employs a significant portion of the towns population exist.
In banana republics, the citizens have no mobility compared to US citizens so the dynamic is completely different.
The fact that people in these towns can continue to live in them and easily telecommute like any other US citizen or even physically commute to the nearest major US city means that the citizens are not dependent on a single industry.
If you disagree that some rust belt towns are dependent on a single corporation, I think you are either using a different definition of dependent than how I read the original comment use it, or you are not aware that towns where a single factory employs a significant portion of the towns population exist.