The REAL problem in WV

[pkz]

First off let me say...I am a proud WV'an and I am saying this because ONLY a lifelong Mountaineer can say it and get away with it.
Even I would cringe if an outsider said it as a generalization. ;)

West Virginia's problem is not racism, it is ignorance.

I do mean the kind of ignorance that has been inbred. They do not WANT to change, they do not embrace new ways, new things or current fads.
Seriously, some are just now catching up to the late '80s and '90s. Think big hair, jeans with holes in them on purpose.
Satellite TV and cable could have opened some eyes, but not when the favorite shows are American Idol and My Name is Earl

Internet? still not available in rural areas. No contact with the outside world. Seriously, word of mouth and local news is it, in some places.
The glass is half empty here. The most rural areas are literally brainwashed into thinking the move up is the head of the holler.

West Virginia IS small town America, everyone knows someone that knows someone, all politicians are related to you or your neighbor.
A small close knit bunch. Nepotism is very common. Loyalty has been forever bought by those with power. That power came from fear or money.
Coal mines were the catalyst for both, fear borne of ignorance is a powerful tool and a weapon, as well.

About racism~ I formed a theory long ago. All cultures develop a system to define themselves. Most choose a lower class to make themselves seem the superior one.
A guy from New Jersey would think a redneck, hillbilly, or hick way lower than him on the totem pole.
In the northern part of the state, the people look down on the southern Scot-Irish hill folks. They talk different, even have a dialect all their own.
To some in the north, one can get no lower than to be part of the southeastern armpit of the state. (not my words, common regional speak)
Those are the folks use racism to feel superior. The poorest of the poor, looking to feel better about themselves.

I am not happy about the focus on my state now. I cannot excuse the cultural difference in this state, you have to be from here to understand.
And...sometimes that is not even enough.

I can plow a garden, shoot a gun, and look as redneck as any gal at the county fair, but I am also a college educated middle class white woman with internet access and I am well read, I also clean up pretty darn good.

I am ashamed of the Clintons now. I am ashamed of any West Virginian that would buy into their talk.
The Clinton message of late is one that will keep us divided and will continue to divide Appalachia from the rest of our country.

Obama has a message of change, a platform of uniting us once again.

I am a proud Obama supporter from the mighty State of West Virginia!

[Richbru]

1. West Virginia doesn't matter...

Obama will lose to McCain in November.

[helderheid]

2. Nice.

:sarcasm:

[L0oniX]

3. And you will most likely be helping that effort by voting for McInsain huh?

[Richbru]

8. My vote is not important

the democratic party has nominated the weaker candidate and they know it. Enjoy your supposed good times while you can.

[Youphemism]

10. Since you don't think your vote is important...

You may as well cast that vote for Obama. Given that you're sure he's going to lose anyway, you won't have to take any responsibility for it. If you turn out to be correct, at least you'll be able to say it wasn't your fault.

There's no downside here.

[L0oniX]

11. Your vote isn't important? Wow you must mean you are going to vote for McLame.

[cliffordu]

13. Man, I loves the fucking PIZZA!!!

When I cannot get any PIZZA, I loves me some of that POPCORN!!!!

:popcorn:

[Egnever]

5. You hope ! right?

[NJSecularist]

7. You are correct. Another state down the tubes with Obama as our nominee. n/t

[Leftist Agitator]

21. How much is HRC paying you to troll for her?

Make sure you get paid upfront, I hear she's had trouble paying the bills.

:eyes:

[nomorewhopper]

4. The fate of WV is a self fufilling prophecy

I come from a place where the decaying steel mills and crumbling infrastructure are rampant.

If you grow up there, like in WV, and you want to go to college, get a degree, or have a chance to pursue your dreams - YOU LEAVE. The regions retention rate among young adults is abysmally low. This basically forces out anybody with a "change minded" personality, and it leaves a high percentage of the people who consider things to be just fine thank you very much.

I don't think its racism. Its the type of place custom designed for a Clinton win, no outsiders and an aging population (due to lack of new arrivals and youth migration away from the area). Its a cultural thing more than anything. The people of WV look at people like Obama, or the California crowd with absolute befuddlement. The entire prosperity of the 1990s and 2000s really just passed them by altogether.

[pkz]

12. You are sadly right.

My four kids are college educated professionals.
All four left WV and live in four different parts of the country.

My husband works in New Jersey and I live here, keeping the home fires burning.
That northern income was necessary to educate the kids just to have them leave home :(

[Botany]

6. West Virginia is the home to one of the nicest roads in the world Rt. 219

I love it and the area. But you are right a lot of the people
are proud of not "having to think." The loss of power of the
UMW also makes the state harder to vote democratic. Even
though many people in W.V. will vote against their own
economic self interest because "their pastor" warns them about
Gays & "Bible Haters."


Also one problem in W.V. is that so much of the population
is older .... many have to leave to get work.

[nxylas]

9. Is that the "Mountainer Expressway"?

That certainly is a spectacular stretch of road.

[ProSense]

14. Is anyone going to give you credit for insight?

Thank you.

The one thing people should consider is that being racist has nothing to do with being from or living in WV (it's a state, not a state of mind). There are racists in every state of this union.

Years ago, the arguments being made against WV could easily have been made with the same intensity against any number of states where attitudes have now shifted as people have become more enlightened (this is one of those words that means something good, but people often find offensive).





edited typo

[Blue_Roses]

22. I love that

"it's a state, not a state of mind..." awesome and it should be a bumper sticker! (is it?) :bounce:

[ProSense]

25. Thanks.

Don't know if it's a bumpersticker, but its generic so it could be applied to any state.

[theboss]

28. Oh...I disagree....West Virginia is more of a state of mind than a state

West Virginians aren't relly united by a central government in Charleston (which has always been worthless anyway). It's united by a culture and a mindset.

[marions ghost]

15. thanks for a balanced viewpoint

I:loveya: West Virginia

If you really want people to change, don't put them in a box.

[pkz]

16. I am sick of being in a box

I am sick of being a demographic!

I bet I have said that a thousand times the last month.

[Aloha Spirit]

18. Awww, well please don't go all contrarian on us and vote Nader, okay?

And thanks so much for your post.
I spent several summers growing up in WV, and I cherish those memories.
This state-by-state focus is good for the country, getting us to all look at each other a little closer, occasionally learning something.

For example, I can now find Guam on a map.

[pansypoo53219]

17. HEY! my name is earl is a hilarious show.

and west virginia is so beautiful and their people think it is just fine to destroy it to get coal easy.

[windbreeze]

19. An Astute Post...Thank you..n/t

[Harry Monroe]

20. Hey, I love "My Name is Earl"!!

So, that makes ME ignorant??

BTW, it is one of the funniest and wittiest sitcoms out there. I don't watch much TV at all, but I never miss "Earl". I cannot stand "American Idol" or most of the idiotic and vapid "reality" shows out there.

[pkz]

23. watching Earl is not ignorant

I could have worded it better I guess....most here watch TV for entertainment only, not for information, that is the ignorance part. They pick their entertainment over public television or cable news shows.

[Harry Monroe]

26. I watch "Earl" for entertainment

...but if you watch enough, you may also learn something about ignorance and prejudice. The characters are simply caricatures of many stereotypes. Earl has a message about Karma and helping your fellow human being.

I simply think despite the characters they portray and the situations they encounter, it has some of the smartest and funniest writers in the business. And would the ignorant and bigoted want to watch it, knowing there is an interracial marriage in the show??

It is simply the most hilarious, entertaining and smartest sitcom on TV right now, IMHO!!

On Edit: I don't know you, but perhaps the show embarrases you because it hits a little too close to home in its portrayal of rednecks and lowlifes?? They never actually give the location of Camden County away, but from the town names they use, I'm sure it is in Maryland, a stone's throw away from WV. BTW, I get offended also when my native city, New Orleans, is portrayed in many television shows, because they NEVER get our accent right and they usually portray us as party loving buffoons. I have often been mistaken for a native of the NYC area (Brooklyn or Long Island); our accent is actually similar to the accent of those areas. I CANNOT STAND when they portray us as speaking this faux Cajun accent that I've NEVER heard in my life!!

[pkz]

29. My husband loves the show

I am an info-geek.

I just do not watch TV for entertainment, it does not offend me, I just usually get my entertainment right here on DU!

[Shakespeare]

24. Very good, thoughtful post. Thanks. n/t

[theboss]

27. Here is the bottom line: nothing good has EVER happened in West Virginia

Can you think of the shining event in our history? The moment that gave us national glory? Or the moment that changed the history of the state in a positive way?

We are probably the most exploited state in the country. All economic and social trends bypass us.

Civil rights? Didn't really impact us.
Third wave immigration? Didn't affect us.
Internet revolution? Can't say it touched us.

So...take that as you will.

[razors edge]

30. Yep, Robert Byrd is about as good as it gets. n/t

[Tatiana]

31. Thank you for that insight into the state of WV!

I admit, it seems like a truly fascinating state.

[Lyric]

32. I'm a proud multi-generational West Virginian and a current Mountaineer

and I think your post is full of shit. My family's poor. They believe Clinton can heal the economy better than Obama can, plain and simple. Plus they dislike the bullying tactics of Obama's supporters--one of which actually accosted my domestic partner and I on campus three weeks ago and called us racists because we were wearing our Hillary '08 stickers.

Your view is the MINORITY around here, and your interpretations about why the rest of us don't trust Obama are nothing more than biased, insulting conjecture.

[pkz]

34. My family was poor

I do mean pooooor, like a dozen ears of corn was dinner for a family of five poor.
But I will tell you this, poor does not mean dirty or mean. We were taught that soap is cheap enough and manners are free. Calling my opinion FOS is your opinion, you are entitled to it.

Like most in this country, we faired better than our parents as they faired better than their parents.
I am middle aged, my childrens' generation will not have this opportunity in this state.
The idea that Hillary can heal the economy better than Obama is moot, they are running on the exact same platform, almost....Bill got a lot of telemarketer jobs to move to India, do you remember when WV was the telemarketing capital of this country? One on every block, not so long ago.
The Clinton era of riches for everyone is so over, no more internet startups for all that profit and consumer spending. Gone.

Biased, insulting conjecture? moi? voice of the minority?

Exactly, the minority in this state that has turned their backs on yet another Clinton fable and is backing Obama.
What did the Clintons' ever do for the people of WV?

IMO~ Supporting O is a wise choice, especially now that the Clintons are in this state calling WV'ans out on their ignorance.

[WA98296]

33. Thank you for your post!

[janet118]

35. Hey, what's wrong with My Name Is Earl?

I'm an Obama supporter AND faithful Earl watcher.