I've lived all over the west side of the state my whole life. Grew up south of KC, spent my teens/early 20's in St. Jo, Late 20's in Carthage near Joplin, back in KC again now.
My wife and I plan on retiring around Carthage. Its enough city for us, good family oriented community, lots of cheap ass land to shoot on.
Because cheating is wrong. Its better to do our best to out the cheaters rather than become them.
Even if we lose because of it, we're still better. If we were to cheat it'll just be more fodder for the left to use as "evidence" of how "corrupt" we are.
They can be awful trash people if they want, we'll still win despite them. They feel they have to win because if they don't they'll be outed.
Or spend 4 years convincing people the country is full of nazi's and its OK to kill them for it without ever taking a moment to actually getting to know them.
Ironic seeing as how that's how the Nazi's got everyone to be on board with killing the Jews.
The left sucks the rest of the country dry financially. California alone is the 5th biggest GDP in the world, yet has fiscal net losses annually. They can't pay for their own crap and rely on the federal government to stay afloat.
Be sure you have somewhere to hold them in reach as well.
If you don't have plates don't worry about a carrier, the battle belt and a backpack takes a load to your body better for extended periods of standing or walking. Don't need to make things too excessive either: carry what you need like water, ammo and trauma kit.
Keep a basic kit somewhere you can grab it and go, or something nearby you can fight your way to your kit.
I live in an urban area, I'm not waiting to get fucked and look for help.
That's the thing, this is the last, most free place left and its being dismantled.
Feel free to shill for absolute authoritarianism though. I'm sure the social credit system will award you well for your efforts.