A Blue State’s Road to Red (West Virginia)

[theHandpuppet]

This is one of the better analyses of the political climate in WV and though it was published some months ago I had the chance to read it only recently. Comments most welcome.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2013/10/26/a-blue-states-road-to-red/
A Blue State’s Road to Red
A frustrated and angry West Virginia has been cutting ties with its reliably Democratic roots

(excerpt)
Ordinary West Virginians used to look to Washington with something close to reverence. It was a partner in good times, a lifeline in bad ones, a powerful ally against the big corporations that came for its coal and timber. By some measures, West Virginia relies more on federal money than any other state.

But increasingly, it also has become an extreme example of the hostility that shows up in every national poll when people are asked how they feel about the federal government. Many here now speak of Washington as an enemy that threatens their economy and their way of life, that traps them into dependency.

“Washington’s 100 percent against us,” said M.E. Walker, a retired road builder who lives in Pence Springs in Summers County. “They don’t like our jobs. They don’t like our attitudes.”

What’s happening in West Virginia runs against the tide nationally, and even more, against the pull of its own history.... MORE

[Purrfessor]

1. I think a good percentage on the shift in

attitude can be traced to the saturation of hate radio. There isn't much else for people to listen to on AM radio, particularly in places like WV.

[theHandpuppet]

2. I would agree that's a contributing factor

There is little to be had in terms of what I would call "blue" media sources though newspapers like the Charleston Gazette and radio stations such as WV public broadcasting do their part. Honestly, there are a lot of places in the mountains you can't even get radio reception.

TV, for the most part, does its worst to portray Appalachian people in a negative light, even if they have to create fake hillbillies for their shows. It's a total lack of respect.

One other factor I think plays a part in many Appalachian voters feeling disenfranchised is that the only time our candidates for national office notice we're alive is during the presidential elections and even then they don't bother to stop. How many years has Prez Obama been in office now? He's made how many visits to countries many Americans couldn't find on a globe compared to how many to Appalachia? I know what kind of messages that sends.