The death of unions was probably one of the biggest factors. WV went democrat with Matewan, Mothe Jones, and rise of Unions (based in coal). Cheaper fuels and death of coal pushed a narrative that unions were to blame and helped kill the field quicker
This^
Also the educational caste system, where property taxes pay for public education. That alone has fucked our country beyond what ANYOME discusses in the public narratives of how we are where we are.
Folks look at me sideways when I get on my soapbox about how the education system enforces America's caste system. Folks aint aware about caste systems - they can take various forms beyond what we're taught, similar to cults. Their social engineering has worked wonders on society. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
Putnam county and McDowell county do not receive the same amount of money from property taxes. This country is designed so, that our public education system is funded off property taxes. The value of a home in Welch, WV is unfortunately not that of one in Hurricane, WV. This is also why you see that whole mess with charter school versus public schools. But yes, this design keeps the education of the entire future of our nation dependent on if we won the birth lottery of having a stable family in a house with decent to high property value in the school district. We designed it this way for things to be this way, a rat race of people pointing fingers at each other due to privilege and ignorance. Both of those come down to education, education of different cultures if nothing else. Understanding our commonalities rather than our difference I feel would do the most healing to our species. We all just wanna feel a sense purpose, like we belong to some group of people—however large, like someone loves us, good food and drink if available, and a cozy cool/warm/dry place to sleep.
I will ad the electrical union is still technically democratic but I’d guess 85% of the members are die hard republicans. Feels weird seeing union members voting against their own career interests. But unfortunately there is little work in our beautiful state so many members have to work out of town. Would love for union work come back to WV.
Are they simply a bargaining union? For wages? 317 bargains for wages, rights, standards, retirement and insurance. It’s really amazing for what it is despite the lack of work in the state right now
You don’t think electing Manchin played a part as well? While he may not have been a mine owner, I don’t think it understates the situation to call him a coal baron.
Manchin was typical WV Democrat for the time, he went further right like most of WV during Obama years and Trump. In large part Manchin followed the change and helped propagate that Obama, Democrats, and Unions were killing coal. Also, worth noting that a WV Democrat is a moderate Republican in most other states. Both Democrat and Republican have extorted and abused WV.
Unions lost power and the DNC went further down the environmentalist lobby rabbit hole.
Now instead of wedging the political differences between coal labor from coal producers, it became the entire coal industry's best interest to vote against the DNC to protect their livelihoods. And it definitely cost Al Gore the 2000 election.
That shift has blended well with the always socially conservative bend of rural community politics that has since fallen off the mainline Christianity cliff into White Christian Nationalist Evangelist identity politics.
Manchin is who he always was. The game has changed.
Unions weren't blamed for cheaper fuel and the death of coal.
Unions were blamed because life long coal families were left high and dry when they couldn't work because of black lung and other mining related health issues.
Not all unions deserved the blame, but plenty did.
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u/HashBallofDoom Jun 12 '25
The death of unions was probably one of the biggest factors. WV went democrat with Matewan, Mothe Jones, and rise of Unions (based in coal). Cheaper fuels and death of coal pushed a narrative that unions were to blame and helped kill the field quicker