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It may be time for West Virginia to Turn Back to Blue [1]

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Date: 2023-11-19

It may be time for West Virginia to consider turning back to blue.

One of the biggest paradoxes in American politics is the fact that West Virginia votes solidly Republican. Everything the Republicans do hurts most of the people in West Virginia, yet they still (mostly) vote red.

I’ve been a stealth Democrat living in West Virginia for almost 12 years now (registered as Independent to avoid scrutiny). I was born in Chicago and lived in the northern Illinois suburbs for 28 years. I then migrated to the Front Range of Colorado and lived around Boulder, Lyons, and Longmont for almost 30 years. West Virginia is an amazing place that would benefit from an influx of “settlers” from places like Colorado, Oregon, California, etc. Land and property taxes are cheap, and there is huge potential for progressive, blue-voting people to move here and start farms and businesses. The population here is so small that it wouldn’t take long for the political balance to tip.

I think people here would vote differently if they really understood that Republicans don’t care about any of the issues that make a difference in their lives. I wrote this editorial letter to try to express some of those ideas to my fellow West Virginians. I haven’t sent it out yet, and it needs work, but I think it’s getting close to how I want to say these things.

(Begin attached editorial)

It may be time for West Virginia to consider turning back to blue.

West Virginia supported Democrats from the 1920s, during the Great Depression, all the way until 2000. Some of the reasons for this include the fact that Democrats have always supported unions, and have always been the party that would step up to help people in need.

West Virginians love the outdoors - the lakes and rivers, the different types of forests, the wildlife that can be observed, photographed, or harvested. Protecting the rivers so that we can eat the fish is very important to Democrats.

Republicans put the needs of corporations above those of the citizens. They allowed the coal companies to destroy huge natural areas in central and southern West Virginia by allowing mountain top removal and valley fill. They would allow a factory to dump polluted water into a river and kill all the fish, because it would allow the factory to make a higher profit. In recent years, Republicans have tried to eliminate many of the laws that protect our wildlife and our air and water. It makes no sense for West Virginians to vote for a party that does not do everything it can to protect our priceless rivers and forests.

Fact: Everyone who lives in West Virginia (and the whole US) who is on Medicare would have had dental, vision, and hearing care now except that the Republicans voted against it. Our so-called Democratic Senator Joe Manchin joined the Republicans and cast the deciding vote to block these benefits. Why? Because it is not Manchin's or the Republicans' priority to help people who need help.

West Virginia has many senior citizens, and many people who have worked hard their whole lives at demanding physical jobs. Many of us suffer from disabilities caused by work, disease, or old age. Everyone deserves to live decently, especially in their old age. Republicans want to make life even harder for old and sick people by reducing their benefits.

The only thing Republicans have delivered is huge tax breaks for wealthy people. Hardly anyone in West Virginia benefits from these tax breaks, except maybe Joe Manchin and Jim Justice. When Republicans are in power, they are not interested in helping you. They are only interested in helping rich people. These wealthy people pay Republican politicians to vote against the very things that would help you and your family. They are definitely not helping the average West Virginian.

Why don't we give the Democratic Party another try? It worked well for us for over 70 years. We're not getting any benefits from the Republicans, even though they promised to save coal and do a whole lot of other things that never happened.

Stop believing the false promises of the Republicans. Vote for a party that cares about everyone, and believes that all people deserve to live decently in the US. Vote for Democrats, because they will protect your unions and make sure that West Virginia gets its fair share of Federal funds to fix our highways, bridges, and water sources. Democrats will make sure that you and your family will not go hungry if you are unable to make ends meet. We live in the richest country in the world, and none of us should suffer because of lack of food, shelter, or medical care.

We can afford giant aircraft carriers and fleets of bombers, so we can definitely afford to take care of people in our own country who are not able to make much money for whatever reason. You shouldn't have to be rich to enjoy the benefits of living in this rich country.

Democrats want to make sure that people do not suffer needlessly in the US. They want to take care of the sick, the elderly, and the poor. They want children to grow up in a safe environment, with enough to eat and a good enough education to have a chance at success. Democrats believe in helping weak and vulnerable people. Doesn't this sound like what the Bible teaches? Can Republicans truly claim to be Christians when they want to mistreat so many different kinds of people? Democrats already know how to be kind, and how to share our bountiful resources with those in need. Republicans want you to suffer if you haven't been able to make yourself rich.

Democrats are far more interested in doing the things that West Virginians want and need. They want to keep Social Security, expand Medicare, and make sure children don't go hungry anywhere.

Do what's always been best for West Virginia and vote Democratic!

(end editorial)

Well, let me know what you think, especially any West Virginians out there. Do we have a chance to Turn Back to Blue?

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/11/19/2206763/-It-may-be-time-for-West-Virginia-to-Turn-Back-to-Blue?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web

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