West Virginia (and other rural states) have a problem too, our economy is in rough shape. As of today, and as for West Virginia, the 2016/17 budget deficit is two hundred and fifty million dollars. Why you ask? King Coal isnt quite what it used to be. Coal tonnage production is down to less than 100 million tons of coal. In 2012 it was 120 million tons of coal. Its projected that in 2017 WV coal operators will produce 68 million tons of coal. Coal mining jobs dropped in 2012 from twenty four thousand jobs to seventeen thousand jobs in 2015. This has lead to cuts in our budget, school closings, I think the increased unemployment has exacerbated our drug problem, etc. etc. So, our West Virginia voters turned to hope. Donald Trump told the voters of WV that he would get their jobs back. He'd make coal competitive again by getting rid of regulations. Never mind that according to the experts, it was natural gas that caused the decline in coal. Never mind that on Donald Trump's campaign website he is enthusiastic about natural gas, in fact on his website, under "energy" he says he wants to:
- Encourage the use of natural gas and other American energy resources that will both reduce emissions but also reduce the price of energy and increase our economic output.
His words, not mine, check out his website, I put the web address at the bottom of the page. He is promoting the use of the resource that did the most harm to coal, and West Virginians voted for him anyway, because he offered them hope that their way of life was going to come back, and the Democrat didn't, she offered changing with the times.
West Virginia coal miners want their jobs back. They dont want re-training to do another job, they want the jobs that they know how to do already, and many have family traditions of the fathers being coal miners, which they want to continue. They dont want to move to other states to work other jobs, they dont want to go back to school. So, when told that rolling back regulations will get them back to work, they are willing to believe it, to give that a shot, in spite of what the experts think. Thats why, I believe the state of West Virginia overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump.
West Virginia coal miners want their jobs back. They dont want re-training to do another job, they want the jobs that they know how to do already, and many have family traditions of the fathers being coal miners, which they want to continue. They dont want to move to other states to work other jobs, they dont want to go back to school. So, when told that rolling back regulations will get them back to work, they are willing to believe it, to give that a shot, in spite of what the experts think. Thats why, I believe the state of West Virginia overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump.
So, now, Donald Trump is President Elect, and has promised to roll back environmental regulations in the attempt to revive coal to its former glory, which I believe that he will. Again, the experts say this wont have the effect President Elect Trump thinks it will, that the prospects for coal production and coal mining jobs are pretty bleak in the coming years. So, in 2020, we will likely be facing an economy much like we have today, more school closings, the state government less and less able to fulfill its duties. We will also have communities looking for answers, people looking for jobs, and voters again feeling like politicians lied to them.
How can we help my neighbors, my home state? First of all, by not lying/misleading to the voters in 2018 and 2020. We have to speak about hard truths, hard decisions that have to be made. We also have to make the Democratic Presidential candidates in 2020 pay attention to West Virginia, to actually come up with other solutions, reforms that can help our state, suggest ideas on bringing industry to our state, by putting them West Virginia front and center in the primary election process. I think this may get President elect Donald Trumps attention as well, and he may look harder at our state, and ways to help us. Move the West Virginia primary election (or another rust belt state even) right behind New Hampshire, heck, before New Hampshire. That forces the entire field of Democratic candidates to pay attention to and take seriously the rural working class, and offer real ideas to help our economy and our people. It also gives the rural working class Americans a real say in who the Democratic nominee is, it gives West Virginians more of a voice, and not feel so neglected.
I could be absolutely wrong about this, maybe coal will bounce back, but the rural working class would still feel left behind in the Democratic process, so moving West Virginia (or another rust belt state) up to an early date in the process would still help people feel like their voices were heard, more than they are today by the Democratic party, and I think the Republican party as well to some extent. If you think I'm a little early in calling for this move, maybe I'am, but I also dont know how long these things take, perhaps if we wait much longer it would be too late.
So, say I'm right, this is a plan that could help both rural workers have more of a say and gets the political parties to support us better, what do we do about it? It looks to me, like our state legislature is the one who decides our primary season,
WEST VIRGINIA CODE
§3-5-1. Time and place of holding primary elections in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty
and thereafter; hours polls open.
Primary elections shall be held at the voting place in each of the voting precincts in the state, for the purposes set forth in this article, on the second Tuesday in May in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-six and in each second year thereafter..
So, I say we email our representatives in the state legislature and start the ball rolling. There is a link to the West Virginia state legislature, where you can find your delegate/senator, and email them this letter, or one you fashioned yourself, stating that moving the West Virginia primary forward for 2020 is a good idea.
To the honorable _______
West Virginia has had some rough economic times with coal on the decline in recent years. I feel, the federal government needs to be doing more to re-vitalize our states economy. One way West Virginia could get some much needed attention is to move our primary election to the front of the line, or thereabouts. This will get the national Presidential candidates attention, and they will want to answer our questions about how the federal government can assist West Virginia through these difficult economic times. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I'm just a regular joe, I dont have any expierence with making laws or interpreting them. I'm just a concerned citizen, like you. Everything I've written hear, may be a terrible idea, I dont know, but sending an email wont hurt. Also, this doesnt have to be West Virginia, if you live in another rust belt state, thats fine. Its just very evident to me that the rural American worker feels like they aren't representated in government, and we need to fix that.
I could be absolutely wrong about this, maybe coal will bounce back, but the rural working class would still feel left behind in the Democratic process, so moving West Virginia (or another rust belt state) up to an early date in the process would still help people feel like their voices were heard, more than they are today by the Democratic party, and I think the Republican party as well to some extent. If you think I'm a little early in calling for this move, maybe I'am, but I also dont know how long these things take, perhaps if we wait much longer it would be too late.
So, say I'm right, this is a plan that could help both rural workers have more of a say and gets the political parties to support us better, what do we do about it? It looks to me, like our state legislature is the one who decides our primary season,
WEST VIRGINIA CODE
§3-5-1. Time and place of holding primary elections in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty
and thereafter; hours polls open.
Primary elections shall be held at the voting place in each of the voting precincts in the state, for the purposes set forth in this article, on the second Tuesday in May in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-six and in each second year thereafter..
So, I say we email our representatives in the state legislature and start the ball rolling. There is a link to the West Virginia state legislature, where you can find your delegate/senator, and email them this letter, or one you fashioned yourself, stating that moving the West Virginia primary forward for 2020 is a good idea.
To the honorable _______
West Virginia has had some rough economic times with coal on the decline in recent years. I feel, the federal government needs to be doing more to re-vitalize our states economy. One way West Virginia could get some much needed attention is to move our primary election to the front of the line, or thereabouts. This will get the national Presidential candidates attention, and they will want to answer our questions about how the federal government can assist West Virginia through these difficult economic times. Thank you.
Disclaimer: I'm just a regular joe, I dont have any expierence with making laws or interpreting them. I'm just a concerned citizen, like you. Everything I've written hear, may be a terrible idea, I dont know, but sending an email wont hurt. Also, this doesnt have to be West Virginia, if you live in another rust belt state, thats fine. Its just very evident to me that the rural American worker feels like they aren't representated in government, and we need to fix that.
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-election/20161109/justice-optimistic-on-transition-to-wv-governors-office
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20161112/trump-win-wont-bring-coal-rebound-could-block-climate-progress
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20161021/hearings-set-for-van-schools-changes-closure
http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-business/20161016/while-politicians-focus-on-epa-experts-say-gas-to-blame-for-coal-decline
https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/energy/
http://www.register-herald.com/news/miners-have-high-hopes-for-trump/article_8eaf6825-2449-5546-a052-16cd82d4c55c.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/05/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-presidential-primary-works/
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=03&art=5§ion=1#05
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/opinion/the-coal-industry-isnt-coming-back.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F
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