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Social Apartheid in Bristol Virginia, Bristol Tennessee

By Lewis Loflin

Welcome to the third-world nation of Tri-Cities and Bristol VA/TN. Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee are at the center of Southern Appalachia, a banana republic, whose many bickering local governments waste more tax dollars with the least results of anywhere in America. They maintain a system best described as Social Apartheid.

No, this has nothing to with race, this region's minority populations are too small for that. If it were race, the government would put a stop to it. Those targeted are white, working class and poor whites that are locked out of almost everything. This system is rigidly enforced in local schools, zoning ordinances, government benefits, and on the job. In many cases better paying jobs are discouraged just to maintain low local wage scales, while many are forced into jobs that don't pay a living wage, then treated like garbage because of it. To quote Bill Deel, a retired English teacher in Clintwood, Virginia, "We're becoming more and more Third World here...The best and the brightest leave."

We will explore the real side of poverty and how government programs have mostly failed and benefited the rich. They failed because local government was given the money under the guise of "local control" and "community block grants" which ended up as golf courses, the arts, recreation, and public funding for shopping malls, corporate welfare for local business, and pork-barrel roads leading to nowhere. What we didn't get was jobs and education because the politicians, social scientists, and business leaders all attend the same country club. They failed because those in charge want them to fail. The only way they could be successful is for social change our community leaders oppose. Your college degree is all but worthless unless one "knows somebody."

To quote Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Governmental Studies: "The most corrupt region is Southwest Virginia - more indictments for political and public office corruption have happened in this region than all other parts of the state combined."

To quote Rex Todd of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based The Landmark Group, "Rather than have the working-class people sequestered on one side of town and the rich on the other side of town, the idea is to integrate people..."

To quote Washington County supervisor Paul Price, "The rich get richer, and the poor never catch up."
More here...

In an article entitled "Where Do All the Welfare Billions Go?" (Human Events, February 6, 1982) M. Stanton Evans points out:

One has to wonder how it is possible to spend these hundreds of billions to alleviate poverty and still have the same number of poor people that we had, say, in 1968...It prompts the more suspicious among us to ask: What happened to the money?...[A] tremendous chunk of these domestic outlays goes to pay the salaries of people who work for and with the federal (and I'll add state/local) government - including well-paid civil servants and an array of contractors and "consultants," many of whom have gotten rich from housing programs, "poverty" studies, energy research grants, and the like...

Where the Money Goes

Having failed to produce real private sector jobs, education, or any real services to help residents become self-sufficient, the government welfare industry supports legions of well-paid government workers. These jobs have real middle class pay and benefits, something absent from the private sector. To quote,

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $28.87 per hour worked in September 2008, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (Dec. 10, 2008)...Employer costs averaged $2.42 for insurance benefits (life, health, and disability insurance) or 8.4 percent of total compensation. In addition to insurance, the other benefit categories were: legally required benefits, including Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and worker's compensation, which averaged $2.27 (7.9 percent of total compensation); paid leave benefits (vacations, holidays, sick leave, and personal leave), which averaged $2.03 (7.0 percent); retirement and savings, which averaged $1.28 per hour (4.4 percent of total compensation); and supplemental pay (overtime and premium, shift differentials, and non production bonuses), which averaged 75 cents per hour worked (2.6 percent).

State and local government employers spent an average of $13.41 for benefits for every hour worked in September 2008, which accounted for 34.2 percent of total compensation. Private industry employers averaged $7.93 for benefits or 29.3 percent of total compensation. State and local government employer costs for health benefits were higher ($4.21) than private industry ($1.93). Retirement and savings costs, which includes both defined benefit and defined contribution plans, were also higher for state and local government employers ($3.09) than private employers ($0.97).

Private industry

In September 2008, private industry employer compensation costs averaged $27.07 per hour worked. Private industry employer wages and salaries averaged $19.14 per hour (70.7 percent), while benefits averaged $7.93 (29.3 percent). Private industry employer costs for paid leave averaged $1.81 per hour worked (6.7 percent), supplemental pay averaged 82 cents (3.0 percent), insurance benefits averaged $2.07 (7.7 percent), retirement and savings averaged 97 cents (3.6 percent), and legally required benefits averaged $2.26 (8.3 percent) per hour worked.

Ref. www.bls.gov There are factors this study forgot to mention. For many government workers, benefits and pay are far higher and are real benefits that can be felt. But even low-wage employers pay a lot too, but to the government, not the worker. An $8 an hour job (not enough by itself to live on in Bristol) will cost an employer $12-$14 dollars or more. Many of these employers can't afford or won't pay for health care or the employee pays most of it. (Companies are lured here on the promise of low pay and lax labor law enforcement.) What many often and are doing in Bristol is bringing in illegal aliens. Even if they claim they pay as much as any legal worker, they escape the extra $5 an hour or more in government fees, plus the worker doesn't dare go to a labor relations board over abuse.

Progressives, liberals, or whatever they call themselves see this as diversity, and diversity for its own sake is good. They often work professional jobs here, which in nearly all cases is government funded jobs directly or indirectly. (Government contracting is a big industry too!) They are often insulated from the negative impact this illegal labor has on the working poor. Businesses makes big money, the so-called "Progressives" with the money get cheap products and services, etc. The working poor that live around them, they don't give damn about. But the "Progressives" are really concerned about so-called "sustainable development" and global warming and whales and polar bears and kids in Africa and on and on. This must ease their conscience. Why would they change a system they benefit from?

Almost 20% E. Tennessee of residents get food stamps

(Dec 8 2008) In October 2008 76,706 people received food stamps in Carter, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties Tennessee. This varies from 18% of residents Hawkins County to a low of 13.2% of Sullivan County. Sullivan County (includes Bristol TN and Kingsport) averaged about $1.8 million a month from January - October 2008 with a big spike beginning in October. This is the wealthiest county in the region. Ref. here.

The Bottom 10% Again in 2008

Tennessee's 1st Congressional District (a safe Republican district) ranks 421st out of 436 districts. Virginia's 9th District (a safe Democratic district) does little better with a ranking of 400, mainly because of more government spending. (Virginia is a wealthier state than Tennessee.)

Worst than many inner city slums. To quote the press (BHC July 20, 2008): "Some of the districts that fared worse included the Bronx in New York, the greater Houston area, and, not surprisingly, the coal counties in Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky. In general, under performing districts had a strike or two against them. Many are rural, all are poor, and in a number of cases, they are districts where the majority of residents are racial minorities." But that isn't true in West Virginia, Kentucky, or the VA 9th or TN 1st, which are 90% plus white. So what is the problem? "In general, residents in the low-ranked districts make less money, are less educated, are sicker and die earlier than their well-off peers. The particulars for this region include:"

  • "A life expectancy of 74.9 years for Tennessee's 1st District and 75.1 years for Virginia's 9th District. The national average is around 78 years." Note the region's workers have worked a lot of toxic manufacturing jobs in years past, plus coal mining, plus many are heavy smokers and/or are obese.
  • "Twenty-two percent of 1st District adults don't have a high school diploma. In the 9th district, more than 25 percent of adults lack a diploma." The press discounts out migration of younger people fleeing poverty, including tens of thousands of college graduates. That drives up the "uneducated" numbers, many of them older.
  • "In both districts, just 17 percent of adults have a bachelor's degree. A mere six percent of 1st District residents have a graduate degree; in the 9th, its 6.9 percent." We have colleges, etc. but it won't help unless we increase wages or provide better jobs outside poverty wage tourism and retirement industries. Most college graduates here work in government, that pays far above the private sector. In other words, it isn't we are stupid, there's just no reason to stay here and starve or flip burgers.
  • "In Tennessee's 1st District, slightly less than 77 percent of children under age 18 are enrolled in school. The 9th District does better, with 86.9 percent enrolled." That should be investigated, in particular the use of multiple and questionable diplomas. But it makes no difference in income and Southwest Virginia is even lower than East Tennessee.
  • "Median earnings are about the same in both districts - $21,639 in East Tennessee and $20,808 in Southwest Virginia. A family of four with an income of $21,200 or less meets federal poverty guidelines." These government figures are not realistic. See Family Income in Bristol.
"There is no such thing as demeaning work, only demeaning pay and working conditions."
Workfare and Non Profits Myths and Realities by Mimi Abramovitz

A look at Housing

To quote the Bristol Herald Courier editorial July 31, 2005:

Buying that first home, the embodiment of the American dream, is becoming a struggle in Bristol...should not be confused with affordable. In fact, unless you just inherited a sack of money from a rich uncle, it can be a lengthy search. So forgive me if I'm not all that excited by the news that area home builders can't construct new homes in the $350,000-plus category, some would call them McMansions, fast enough to suit the well-heeled retirees moving to our area. How many Bristol area residents who are still working for a living can afford such a princely sum? Not many, as it turns out...

More here...

What does Greg Cox Real Estate and Prudential have to say about this region in 2008?

Bristol compared to Virginia state average:
  • Median household income below state average.
  • Median house value below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.
Bristol compared to Tennessee state average:
  • Median household income below state average.
  • Median house value significantly below state average.
  • Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.

Not for the Working Poor

Bristol, TN A payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement has been approved for Milligan Housing for the Elderly of Bristol Inc., which will build a 20-unit housing complex. They will construct one-bedroom apartments for elderly tenants on a large lot at the end of the street behind Kmart off West State Street. The corporation will receive financing from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant. (Welfare) According to HUD payment standards, the nonprofit must provide annual payments to the city and Sullivan County.

The nonprofit, sponsored by Milligan College in Carter County, has constructed three other complexes with Section 202 grants. Under terms of the grant, the nonprofit can choose to pay a maximum of 10 percent of the rent collected from residents - a method HUD calls "shelter rent." The payment made will depend on the number of tenants and the amount of rent charged. Ref. BHC October 14, 2008

Again, the City supports government housing for the elderly, not for the working poor.

Kingsport-Bristol housing prices still inflating, rate of growth in Johnson City, Morristown areas slows

The 2nd quarter OFHEO Housing Price Index report shows that while the nation is still in a down housing market housing prices are holding their ground in the Kingsport-Bristol MSA. Housing Price Index increased to 1.51 percent. It was 0.62 percent in the first quarter. That increase ranked the Kingsport-Bristol MSA the 14th best in the nation.

Knoxville MSA is another matter dropping into negative territory. On the national scale the reports show that home prices fell in the second quarter of 2008. This region has been spared much of the meltdown mess of other area because local banks didn't engage in stupid subprime loans and the fact mush of the region's housing values are depressed. This is due to high real poverty rates. But Tennessee in particular is now running into problems as job losses and state cutbacks mount. 2008-08-27


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I'll be doing a hard-hitting look in at the Virginia Tobacco Commission that awarded $32 million in "energy research" grants designed to tap into the billions being spent on the global warming hysteria. In fact it was a high-priced jobs program for their fellow white-collar parasites feeding on the public teat. They have spent over $750 million and have nothing to show for it. They funded worthy projects such as $300,000 to make 50 webpages. They just awarded (in 2008) $32 million for worthless pork-barrel energy research. I'll be looking in detail who got the money. The following focuses on environmentalism itself, the excuse they used, often a religion to its followers.

What does Al Gore say about the science behind global warming? "As it happens, the idea of social justice is inextricably linked in the Scriptures with ecology." It's not about science and poor working-class people shouldn't suffer needless hardship for people like Gore.

From the minutes, Full Tobacco Commission Meeting, Thursday, July 31, 2008 Holiday Inn Bristol, Virginia

MR.HAWKINS: "Is there anyone who would like to make a comment, this is the public comment period, or questions? Please identify yourself. I would ask you to brief, if you would, because we have some planes to catch."

MR. LOFLIN:

My name is Lewis Loflin, and I'm a resident of Bristol, Virginia, and what I do is track what our state government is doing with (our) tax dollars. (I was told by the officials these weren't tax dollars.) A number of these projects I have seen (in person), and I also have an extensive amount of paper(work) on the Tobacco Commission. With all due respect, there is still a problem with accountability. I spent Friday at a My Day at the 2008 Remote Area Medical (RAM) remote area medical in Wise. All (of) this money, $452 million, is mostly going to fund IDAs, and it seems on the outside it's doing nothing but funding government bureaucrats, consultants, contractors. For the ninth straight year we've set a poverty record (in Wise). I notice(d) most of the license plates, they are Virginia residents. It's not like two-thirds of them are coming from West Virginia. They are Virginia residents. How many jobs do tobacco farmers have that the Barter Theater created? What do these kinds of projects do for a typical man or woman who lives in this district who needs to earn a decent living? Thank you.

MR.HAWKINS:

I think your comments are well placed, and I certainly understand your concern. We've always had a concern about making sure that what we did was long-term stability in the community, and always pleased to have comments from the public. The monies we're dealing with are really not tax dollars, and they are moneys that tobacco companies are sending to us through the state, so it's not taxable money, as such. That's something we always have to be aware of. The other part about the Barter Theater, other things may not have a direct impact on jobs, but they bring to an area a certain identity and a certain quality of life that will attract investments in outside communities that may not be there without that type of investment. There are people in large corporations that when they look at a community, they look at quality of life, they look at the aspect of the cultural life of the community, and the Barter Theater is a major attraction for the State of Virginia, and it's done a lot for us.

We tried to raise the standard of living for the entire community and invest as best we can in the future. Most of what we've done, and particularly the scholarships and the many jobs that have been created, there are thousands of jobs that have been created directly from things we've put into play, that change the dynamics of our communities, and hopefully by the next generation we will have a better educated workforce and be able to address the economies this time and this place. Your continued vigilance of looking at us is good, because we try to be as transparent as possible. I look forward to working with you, and if you have any comments, please let me know, and thank you for being here.

MR. LOFLIN: I appreciate it, sir.

Taxpayer subsidies for classy entertainment for rich people must really help create real jobs. Perhaps the patrons could leave an extra 50 cent tip for the waitress working at the Holiday Inn making $2 an hour. But Mr. Hawkins claims are contradicted by their own study. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Jul 20, 2008) to quote,

Yet the state-appointed commission that doles out the money has not adopted methods of measuring its overall return on investment, an outside group that reviewed the spending noted in a recent report that suggests it do so. The tobacco commission may consider what recommendations to adopt at its next meeting, scheduled for July 31 in Bristol...

The review panel suggested eliminating the formula to target more money for regional projects. It also recommended that the commission put more resources into providing access to higher education for residents of rural areas, noting that "increasing the education levels of young people and adults is the only long-term answer that will lead to economic transformation."

The panel also suggested that the commission is too large and its committee structure is unwieldy. It has nine committees, all but one of them led by a member of the General Assembly, which the panel said has possibly encouraged some grant applicants to shop around among committees for funding.

"It's a good report," said chairman Hawkins, adding that he agrees with some of the recommendations...

I was there, nothing has changed, more waste and pork.

Crowley Foods Dumps Bristol

One angry local resident had this to say,

This is just what we need, another plant closing. Is it me or is the Tri-Cities one big cluster of nothing? Listen up young adults. Leave this area if you want to gain anything in life. Just look at the lack of jobs here and the low pay that comes with what is left. The Tri-Cities is an awful place to make a living. Low wages, high taxes, and high prices do not make for productive living. So listen up youth. We don't want you to leave, but you really have no choice. Not if you wanna be able to stand on your on two feet without help. Go to a more productive area with higher wages and forget this place you call home. Sad but true. At least other places won't be so politically controlled like the Tri-Cities.

Tennessee bankruptcy rate per capita still leads the nation

Tennessee continued its streak of having the highest per-capita rate of bankruptcy filings in the U.S. during fiscal year 2008, as numbers re leased Wednesday showed 6.92 filings per 1,000 people according to The Tennessian August 28, 2008.

The total number of bankruptcy filings rose to 42,893, an increase of 18.6 percent compared with 2007. The eastern district (Tri-Cities region) was up 30.8% from last year. Some expert argue the methods use to tabulate the numbers might be some of the cause. To quote, "there's no clear reason why the state has persistently led the nation in bankruptcy filings...the bulk of those were for Chapter 13, a court filing under which a person's debts are restructured...Tennesseans repay about $160 million to creditors, out of about $6 billion paid annually in the U.S."

The 6th District includes Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee the total came to 167,561, up 21.2 percent in the past year. The 9th District, which includes California, Arizona and Nevada, which are among the states hardest hit by the housing meltdown had a whopping 60.9%. increase.

Related:
Economic Crisis in East Tennessee
Tennessee bankruptcy rate continues to lead nation
2008 Kids Count report: poverty on the rise in Tennessee, press ignores the reason why

Fictional Books, Fictional Economy, Real Government Waste

Adriana Trigiani is rich, beautiful, and successful. USA Today (10/31/06) calls her, "larger than life." Her books have been #1 at the New York Times best seller list. She grew up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and wrote a novel about the town titled Big Stone Gap. It was followed by three sequels, Big Cherry Holler, Milk Glass Moon, and Home to Big Stone Gap. She came to Big Stone Gap at six, at 18 she went to Saint Mary's College and never came back, except perhaps visits. In other words, she doesn't live here and contributes nothing. Like Ralph Stanley, she made her money elsewhere and keeps it elsewhere. She wants millions in local economic development funds to make a movie in a town she abandoned years ago.

Note: Stanley moved back to the region, but that still doesn't warrant giving this rich country music star $2 million tax dollars to fix up the old homeplace.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran (D. Alexandria, he doesn't live here either) is in love with Adriana. He wants to give her $3 million in economic development grants. It seems we have a bidding war with South Carolina on who can hand-out the most money to get the movie filmed in their respective locations. State Delegates Bud Phillips, D-Clintwood, and Terry Kilgore, R-Gate City, are co-sponsors of the budget request also love Adriana. They (in the past) have been instrumental in diverting millions of tax dollars to special interests pork across the region. Mr. Kilgore is on the Tobacco Commission, which has spent about $425 million on these kinds of projects. In eight years the money has yielded nothing for the average citizen.

The following is an extract from the Kingsport Times-News January 25th, 2007.

Efforts to convince filmmakers to shoot the proposed production based on the novel "Big Stone Gap" in the town where the native-born novelist set her plot got a shot in the arm at the Virginia General Assembly with a push by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Brian J. Moran (D. Alexandria) in support of a $3 million budget amendment. The $3 million appropriation would be used in an incentive package via the Virginia Film Office to woo the movie producers to film the work in Big Stone Gap. The proposed film is based on the novel by Adriana Trigiani, who was born and raised in Big Stone Gap but now lives in New York City.

Moran wanted the "fictional movie" (based on a fictional Big Stone Gap) to be shot in Big Stone Gap;

"I want to keep this movie produced at home, where it belongs. It's a testament to Virginia's rich tradition and heritage, a chance to showcase the region, and an opportunity to attract good, high-paying jobs," Moran told fellow lawmakers. "We can't let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away."

What high-paying jobs? Adriana Trigiani didn't even bother to show up to beg for the money. Mr. Moron (I know it's Moran) also read from a letter sent to lawmakers by Trigiani:

"I have been moved by the grass-roots movement to keep the movie at home where it belongs," she wrote committee members. "I think it's important to hear why there is only one place, in my heart and mind, to make this film...(A) good movie can be made anywhere, a great movie requires authenticity and truth. We need to make this movie in Wise, Lee, Scott and Dickenson counties, and especially in my hometown, Big Stone Gap, because there is nothing like the real thing...will engage the community in a cohesive and exciting way. What a glorious opportunity for our students, for our town, for our state! The people of Southwest Virginia should benefit from this production."

But the Big Stone Gap in that book doesn't exist. Who cares if she "was inspired and encouraged by her upbringing in Southwest Virginia as a budding artist" she still left and hasn't been back. She didn't even bother to show up to ask for the money! Second, if shot somewhere else, who will really know the difference?

To quote the Times-News in regards to Mr. Moron,

Virginia's incentives may be provided in the form of direct equipment purchases or cost deferrals, or tax incentives. Any funds provided by other public sources like the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority or Virginia Tobacco Commission would reduce the amount provided from the General Fund via the state proposal.

Then why doesn't he fund it out of road funds for wealthy Northern Virginia? The corrupt Virginia Tobacco Commission has approved $300,000 and the Virginia arts whatever will throw in another $300,000. When I questioned Mr. Kilgore about the lack of accountability (brought up in their own study) and lack of an enforcement mechanism, he stated we have one now. (Virginia Tobacco Commission hearing Bristol, Virginia summer 2008.) After eight years and over $400 million they decided to look at an enforcement mechanism in 2008?

This is not about a movie, it's pork barrel dollars. And it's not about anything for the average person. The following was turned down in July 2008 because officials said they will not fund anything to help citizens directly, just "economic development" as they define it. To quote them, "support to expand healthcare services to schools and churches along with employers is a low priority for TICRC funding."

Mount Rogers Health District Mount Rogers Health Works (#1647) $206,386 requested Funds are requested to expand the services of a mobile medical unit throughout the Mount Rogers Health District. This mobile unit provides testing/screening and educational opportunities on-site at industrial facilities, allowing the workers greater access to these services. Currently these services have been provided to industries in Bland and Wythe Counties with funding obtained from the Wythe-Bland Community Foundation. However there is not funding available to expand coverage into Washington, Smyth, Carroll, Grayson Counties or the Cities of Bristol and Galax. The mobile services would also provide clinical experience for students nurses.

Total project cost is $351,720. Other funds include: VDH/Mount Rogers $84,843 (awarded); Bland, Bristol, Carroll, Galax, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe Counties (funds included in local funding for health departments) $46,191 (awarded); Wythe-Bland Community Foundation $14,300 (awarded) Staff comments and recommendation: Although the project illustrates a positive partnership between the Health District and local industries to improve the health of 2,500 - 3,000 employees, a request for operational support to expand healthcare services to schools and churches along with employers is a low priority for TICRC funding. Staff recommends no award.

How about zero priority? In a region desperate for decent jobs and affordable healthcare, it's immoral to spend funds that was supposed to go for that purpose to make a fictional movie. To quote BHC Editorial Make the movie in Big Stone Gap Jan 17, 2007,

Trigiani...wants to film the movie in the hometown of her youth. However, the production company, Storefront Pictures, isn't likely to be swayed by sentimentality...As in industrial and retail recruitment, the incentive package is now king in the movie industry...The first steps to bring the movie home are under way. The Virginia Tobacco Commission approved a $300,000 grant for the project - money that will flow through the Virginia Film Commission. And Delegate Brian Moran, a Northern Virginia Democrat, and local lawmakers plan to introduce a $3 million budget amendment that would provide additional state incentives for the film...

It isn't clear, now, if the $3 million is upfront cash to cover production costs or some type of tax deferral. The details will become clearer as the legislation is vetted and debated. Obviously, $3 million is a large sum that shouldn't be pledged without due deliberation. But it is also true that it is an investment that could pay dividends for the region now and in the future.

Storefront Pictures, who will pocket most of the millions, is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their website is www.storefrontpictures.com and mentions nothing about this project. (I hope I have the right people.) This is a recurring pattern of millions of tax dollars designed to boost the regional economy often goes into the pockets of outside companies. This is the best part:

The film-it-here campaign isn't entirely a top-down effort. The Wise County Board of Supervisors has offered its official support, and a grassroots Web site, www.bigstonegap.net, has sprung up. On the Web site, locals are encouraged to offer their homes, offices and expertise to the production company and to write letters of support for the incentives package now percolating in the legislature.

Let's take a hard look at www.bigstonegap.net.

What is www.bigstonegap.net?

Its supporters and Adriana Trigiani claim this is a grass-roots effort to film Big Stone Gap in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. But is this really a grass-roots effort or lobbying ploy? Their website does reveal some things they don't want the public to know. According to "whois" record for the website, Tabitha Peace is the admin contact and she lives in Big Stone Gap. Her husband John Peace, is on the Wise County board of supervisors. I've met both of them, they're good people and mean well. I question the claim of "grass-roots" when it's in fact run by people in political office with a direct stake in the issue. But that's not all. To quote them (http://bigstonegap.net/resolutions.aspx),

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 30, 2006 Wise County Board of Supervisor member, John Peace, who represents District 3 encompassing Big Stone Gap and East Stone Gap, also serves on the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA). Peace stresses the importance of making this movie in Big Stone Gap because of its potential as an economic development tool. "The tourism dollars will come not only after the filming of the movie, but during the entire filming process."

Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) has wasted millions of dollars on pork-barrel "tourism" projects. They are in a panic because all of those millions have failed to produce the promised results, but they continue to spend and waste money anyway. Their "About us" page (http://bigstonegap.net/aboutus.aspx) says,

A Virginia Commonwealth University study found that every dollar spent on incentive money or tax breaks for a film production returns $14.
That claim is a lie. Yes the study exists, but was paid for and put out by people with a direct financial stake in the study. I have asked for over two years what the study was based on and what hard proof they had to back the claims. I have open space on this website and demand they present proof of that claim. Claims such as "estimate" or "hard to measure" doesn't cut it. They claim it's fact, then they need to present facts. But it gets even better. The page says to contact "Geneva O'Quinn Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority" the only problem is Geneva has been suspended as of December 2007. From www.thecoalfieldprogress.com 21 December 2007 (extract):
"the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority suspended embattled executive director Geneva O'Quinn Tuesday, but more action could be forthcoming as early as Friday...The action came after board members voted to table their agenda and met behind closed doors for more than two hours. After emerging from the closed portion of the meeting, Vice-Chairman Jeff Rolen called for action on the personnel question. "I'd like to make a motion that we ratify the personnel committee's decision to suspend the executive director until this board reconvenes at 10 a.m. Friday."

Tuesday's action is the latest volley in a contentious campaign that began in late November when questions arose regarding the alleged mishandling of the authority's funding. Citing issues related to the financial management of the group, both O'Quinn and Project Manager Kathy Roberson were suspended without pay on Dec. 4, pending a possible vote on their termination by the full board...Allegations of mishandled money and unpaid debts, as well as alleged unwillingness of authority staff to release records requested by the tourism board, have reverberated throughout the coalfield region...

Tourism authority board members had alerted Wise County administrator Glen "Skip" Skinner that they believed the authority owed the county money to reimburse it for pay and benefits provided to O'Quinn and Roberson. An internal investigation revealed that the authority is currently in arrears for $162,800. The funds account from bills that remain unpaid from 2003-2006, according to Skinner.

Chairman dismissed from tourism board

Authority board Chairman Tim Long was notably absent from Tuesday's authority meeting, where board members voted to suspend Executive Director Geneva O'Quinn with pay, pending further action at a meeting set for tomorrow at 10 a.m... Long dropped a bombshell, "I'm dismissed from the board. I wasn't there because our (Lee County's) commonwealth attorney said I can't sit on that board.." Apparently, Long, who is director of the Lee County Industrial Development Authority, was not a member of that county's tourism committee...Long said Lee County officials will need to appoint a chairman of the board who will be able to attend the authority's meetings...

This goes on all the time here, in particular meeting behind closed doors and the same people on multiple boards. This very organization is also funded by tax dollars and operates out of a PO box in St. Paul, Virginia. Spending tax dollars is the only reason they even exist. For more see (Southwest Virginia) Tourism board suspends executive director and tourism hype. The entire website is contradictions. To quote them,

CONTRIBUTE TO INCENTIVES Do you have office space you are willing to donate for use during the filming? A car from the 1970s you are willing to loan to the set? Lodging or a vacant house that could be used to house crew? You could help increase our incentive package with your donation.

ADD YOUR LISTING TO THE PRODUCTION GUIDE Are you a carpenter, a certified electrician, or maybe a professional performer? Do you own an airplane, an antique car, or have scenic property? Heart of Appalachia is compiling a Production Guide, a "bible" of every asset in the area that could be useful in the production of a movie. Submit resumes or information for consideration of listing.

Why in the heck should local people donate their time and property for free so a company in Michigan can get $3 million in corporate welfare? Their reasoning on why that out-of-state company should get $3 million is even more interesting.

Filming the entirety of Big Stone Gap in The Gap will provide greater opportunity following the film for the area to capitalize on the success and popularity of Adriana's beloved series.

Really? The books have been out for years and have produced no measurable results. If they have proof, this space is open to them to provide it.

The spotlight of Big Stone Gap would benefit the region as a whole by feeding new tourism that will consist of Adriana Trigiani's loyal readers and the resulting fans of the movie.

But that is what they said with the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood (cost about $2 million) that has produced nothing. I'm still waiting for proof and this space is open to them. But here is the real reason to quote them:

This "new tourism" would validate the millions of dollars that have been spent in tourism infrastructure, much of which is currently being under utilized.

Exactly! There was no valid business or economic reason to spend tens of millions of economic development dollars on special interest pork and political paybacks. There was no demand because most of those venues have been there for years, continue to lose money, and have to be bailed out by the taxpayers. Like much of the region they are on welfare. After 40 years of this type of welfare it's time to end it.

And one final quote,

In addition to standard incentives, special monies will be needed to make filming Big Stone Gap in The Gap as competitive as possible. Possible sources of revenue include Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Tobacco Commission grants, local dollars and incentives, and Governor Opportunity Fund dollars.

Associated Press December 16, 2008 reports:

Democratic legislators say Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will propose a 30-cent cigarette tax increase and about 1,500 state job cuts. The lawmakers spoke on the condition of anonymity because Kaine will not make the plans public until Wednesday. They said Kaine will estimate the shortfall in the budget through June 2010 to be about $2.9 billion.

Besides boosting the tobacco tax from 20 cents per pack to 50 cents, Kaine will also propose cuts of about $400 million each in health care and public education. The legislators said budget amendments Kaine will propose to the General Assembly’s money committees Wednesday also call for drawing about $500 million from the state’s "rainy day" cash reserves.

The AP failed to report that Gov. Kaine wants to expand the very services he plans to cut to more illegal aliens. Yet these same people want to spend $3 million on a fictional movie. The same nonsense went on under former Gov. Warner now senator elect of Virginia.

It's Not 'Unusual'

It's interesting the Virginia Department of Transportation, along with the entire state, are in another budget crisis. I'd remind them of the following. To quote A Tale of Two Trust Funds by John Tierney New York Times May 14, 2005:
Don't be discouraged by this week's report that traffic congestion is worse than ever across America. Relief is on the way from Congress, thanks to one of the designated 3,800 "high-priority projects" in the new highway bill. It's a new transit system guaranteed to free you from bumper-to-bumper traffic, as long as you have a horse.

This addition to the nation's transportation infrastructure is the brainchild of Representative Rick Boucher, a Democrat from the southwestern Virginia mountains that Daniel Boone traversed on the way to Kentucky. Mr. Boucher secured $750,000 of highway money for the "construction of horse trails and assorted facilities" in Jefferson National Forest.

When I expressed doubts to Mr. Boucher that these new horse trails would ease traffic on the roads, he replied, "That's fair to say." He didn't expect any commuters to use them. But he insisted this really wasn't an unusual use of money from the highway trust fund, and he had a point...

The entire article here.

July 8, 2008 Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today released its preliminary analysis of the House version of the Fiscal 2009 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Act. (their website is www.cagw.org) CAGW has documented 1,123 projects at a cost of $409.8 million. The following are among the most egregious examples of pork-barreling in the bill:
$1,350,000 for planetarium costs: $900,000 by House appropriator Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), and Reps. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and Danny Davis (D-Ill.) for planetarium equipment; $250,000 by House appropriator Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) for the Lakeview Museum Planetarium; and $200,000 by CJS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) for the County College of Morris Planetarium.

That was the Chicago Mob whose school systems are a wreck. And our own Rick Boucher:

$400,000 by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) for horseshoe crab research at Virginia Tech. According to a March 28, 2008 Richmond Times Dispatch article, “The horseshoe crab’s blood is useful in intravenous medications and has cancer-fighting properties.” This is a crabby case of corporate welfare; companies that need the research should pay for it.

In Congress, pork can be important prize according to the Roanoke Times June 8, 2008. They say,

...But one person's pork is another's prize. And while Southwest Virginia's congressmen acknowledge flaws in the process, they also consider the earmarks directed to their districts important -- perhaps more important than an executive branch bureaucrat in Washington might realize.

"I frankly think the members of Congress are far better situated to understand the priorities of their districts," said Boucher, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1983.

Boucher has steered federal money to his district for major flood control and infrastructure projects, university research programs, targeted economic development, health care and public-safety initiatives. Many of his spending requests originate with constituents who attend town hall meetings in his district, he said. He makes all of his spending requests public, and said he does not seek earmarks "for any kind of private, for-profit entity."

He makes them public? Only after he has gotten the money. He has never held a town hall anything on the Bristol Trainstation, etc. A lot of money does go to universities like Virginia Tech, which produces nothing he is willing to prove. It's often a conduit for obtaining other government grants by supplying "matching funds." And what "town hall" meeting did they discuss $750,000 for horse trails?

This article concerns the three veteran congressmen who represent Southwest Virginia -- Republicans Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke County and Virgil Goode of Rocky Mount, and Democrat Rick Boucher of Abingdon. (Goode lost his re-election bid in 2008 was first elected in 1996.) To further quote,

But Goode isn't enamored of earmarks. "I'm for doing away with them all, as long as it applies across the board to everyone, including presidential earmarks and having a broader definition of what an earmark is...My opponents ran against me and said, 'You weren't effective.' If you're effective, they run against you and say you shouldn't get earmarks for your district. It's a Catch-22."
Like his colleagues, Goodlatte has also requested earmarks for Virginia Tech-related projects, including one with Boucher and U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Fairfax County, for a research center that assists farmers in designing new crops and finding uses for agricultural wastes. "They're a good research school, and research funding is something earmarks are often used for," Goodlatte said of Tech.

Tech pulled in more than $7 million in noncompetitive grants through congressional earmarks -- more than any Virginia university -- and another $5 million that it shares with other schools...

Ralph Byers (Tech's director of government relations) said Tech has "a rigorous process" for screening requests for federal research dollars and has forged good relationships with the congressional delegation and the government agencies involved in funding the projects. "We don't see this as welfare," Byers said. "We see this as an opportunity to do something for the agency involved."

A really "good" relationship. To quote 2006 The Roanoke Times,

Jan. 16--Sen. George Allen once jokingly called Rep. Rick Boucher "the mayor of Southwest Virginia. "...His office has helped bring in millions of dollars for Virginia's Ninth Congressional District since he was first elected in 1984, funding everything from police cars to downtowns, horse trails to fiber-optic lines..his constituents...live in some of the poorest areas of the state...

It all goes to how Boucher views his job as congressional representative for a large portion of Southwest Virginia: to further the region's economic development. "I spend a tremendous amount of my time and effort in attracting federal funds for these types of investment, and that is what my constituents expect," he said. Economic investment and job creation is "the No. 1 priority for Southwest Virginia."

Then why does the region continue to be ranked near the bottom year after year? To quote the Virginia Tobacco Commission study for 2008,

An area of great concern with regards to the ability to revitalize the economy is education for young people and adults...(for)...Congressional District 9 (a proxy for Southwest) have much higher percentages of population over age 25 with no high school degree, and much lower percentages of people with bachelor's degrees or higher than either the rest of the state or the nation...As in the rest of Virginia, economic growth in Southside and Southwest Virginia is occurring in the services industries, including professional, technical, administrative support, healthcare, educational, repair, personal services, and "Other" employment categories including utilities, transportation, communication, information, finance, insurance, and real estate. However in the Southside/Southwest regions, the percentage of overall wages in these "information age" industries is still substantially below the rest of the State.

He will not address wage scales because that means going against the corrupt special interests and culture that dominates the region. After all, they lure business with the very promise of low pay and corporate welfare. Media General News Service March 27 2008 has this to say,

The 2009 federal budget will include funding for some strange animals if one Virginia lawmaker has his way. Rep. Rick Boucher, a Democrat from southwest Virginia, has requested $744,325 to study the horseshoe crab and $250,000 for hair sheep - a unique bread of short-haired sheep that does not require shearing. Both requests would go to Virginia Tech, which already has efforts to establish a "hair sheep research center" to study the genetics of the sheep and improve the animal's resistance to parasites, and get more people to buy the lamb's meat. "These are very expensive projects and our local governments simply don't have the resources to fund them on their own," said Boucher, speaking about his appropriation requests in general.

The reason the private sector would never fund this nonsense is because it's stupid and will never pay for itself. This is more funding and good jobs for our legions of white-collar parasites. The typical working-class resident will never see nothing but more poverty and dependence. But it isn't all bad. See Exposing the Virginia Tobacco Commission While we rank in the bottom ten percent in the nation,

(Washington, DC)- The non-partisan, public interest organization Congress.org has ranked U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher 11th in effectiveness in the 435 member U.S. House of Representatives. The ranking was part of the 2008 Congressional Power Rankings, which were released in March on the Congress.org website.

Yes, he is effective. 71% of Boucher's money comes from PACs.


The Bristol VA Trainstation Finally Opens Costing $6 Million Tax Dollars

Published: December 19, 2008 BHC

Early this week Congressman Rick Boucher was shown on a local TV station extolling the merits of his latest vote buying bid to build another museum in Southwest Virginia, using transportation department funds. At least $1.5 million of transportation funds were used to renovate the Bristol Train Station. Here again Boucher, Senator Warner and Tennessee politicians were involved in this misuse of transportation funds.

One of the more egregious examples of misuse is the $750,000 secured by Boucher to build horse trails in a national forest. In Virginia, adequate funds aren't available to maintain existing highways, much less build new ones. Yet we continue to allow our elected officials to buy our votes and defend their actions by stating the mantra that state/federal laws mandate spending transportation funds for non-transportation projects.

Who is to blame? We, the voters, who act like pigs at the trough when it comes to taking this "free money." The only way to change this is to send a clear message to both parties that this misuse of funds must cease. Jerry C. Bristol.

Obama, Immigration, etc. in Bristol

When Senator Obama came to Bristol, Virginia his teleprompter broke down. Without a script he was totally lost and fumbling around. The facts are illegal immigration, diversity, and immigration in general are just more economic exploitation. Besides being racist in itself, it undermines the blue collar working class and is being increasingly implemented in the Bristol region. McCain, Obama, and Clinton alike are bought and paid for by the illegal immigration industry.

In fact a so-called "futurist" came to Tri-Cities at the behest of business leaders to sell the idea. Ed Barlow of Creating the Future had this to say March 4, 2004 in the Kingsport Times-News:

"A significant component of your economic future in Sullivan County is recruiting Hispanics, making sure they get highly educated and integrated into the community. ... They can fill all of the various job categories you have." The future economic vitality model is based on the back of a well-educated, ethnically diverse work force, Barlow said.

Comment: what in the hell do illiterate, unskilled Hispanics have to with "well-educated?" Our "well-educated" are already undesirable for the mere fact of being "over qualified."

The reality of Minimum Wage

In May 2007, Congress approved legislation raising the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour by the end of 2009. They raised the wage from $5.85 to $6.55 in July 2008. Minimum wage earners were paid a base salary of $10,712, this will raise their base salary to a whopping $13,624.

But let's take another look. $10,712 in 1997 should be $14,604 in 2007 just to keep up with inflation, not counting exploding inflation of 2008. The inflation calculator shows $5.15 an hour in 1997 should be $6.74 in 2007.

$2.00 in 1974 would be $9.24 in 2007;
$3.10 in 1980 would be $8.75 in 2007;
$4.25 in 1991 would be $6.66 in 2007;
$5.15 in 1997 would be $6.74 in 2007.

Yet, minimum wage just went to $6.55 in 2008! $2.00 an hour in 1974 should be $9.24 in 2007. Even at $6.55 in 2008, minimum wage has lost almost one-third of its value since 1974 as of 2007. The working class is being hammered from all directions. Most jobs "created "in this area pay under $8 an hour. See Illegal Alien Problem in Tennessee.

Quick facts about Bristol VA/TN.

For a more detailed analysis see The system, Income, and Education in Bristol VA/TN

Less than 9th grade 12%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma 15%
High school graduate 29%
Some college, no degree 20%
Associate's degree 6%
Bachelor's degree 13%
Graduate degree 4%

Race
White 94%
Black or African American 6%
Median monthly rent $409
Household Income
Less than $10,000 16%
$10,000 to $14,999 11%
$15,000 to $24,999 19%

$25,000 to $34,999 16%
$35,000 to $49,999 17%
$50,000 to $74,999 13%
$75,000 to $99,999 5%
$100,000 to $149,999 2%
$150,000 to $199,999 1%
$200,000 or more 1%

249 Lebanon, Virginia $16,678
266 Buchanan, Virginia $16,238
280 Weber City, Virginia $15,856
360 Duffield, Virginia $12,046

Other issues. This website and writer have been quoted in the Richmond Times Dispatch, Los Angeles Times, and the Kingsport Times-News, and Bristol Herald Courier.

My Reason for this website

Make no mistake, I'm no liberal or socialist. I'd like to see a massive reduction in government meddling and limit the welfare state. It's a failure here and there's no accountability to anyone. It's time to end this self perpetuating welfare industry and close down these legions of useless non-profits for profit. I'm presenting the plight of the working class (in this area mostly working poor) and believe in self-sufficiency and independence. I want to see an end to this corrupt relationship between business and local government.

As I was told in very strong terms by a person heading efforts to recruit and improve the workforce in Washington and Smyth Counties in Virginia, which have about 90 manufacturing companies, there's absolutely no discussion of wage scales or working conditions, period nor would he discuss it. He also made it clear industry has no interest in your college, your education, etc. That's just the way it is.
See Why Your College Degree is Worthless

Job breakdown for Bristol, VA based on March 2002 data from the Virginia Employment Commission I did myself. This excludes high paid professional jobs (about 12%) such as doctors, lawyers, etc. By excluding those high paid occupations from being averaged into the general workforce, a true picture of earnings appears. 75% of the Bristol area workforce earns less than $8.00 an hour. It should also be noted the biggest sources of income in Bristol are transfer payments: welfare, social security, retirement, government, etc. Note the data in this form is no longer available and they refuse to say why. Also note data on major employers is blocked. They prefer broad averages, not specifics.

Job Category Percent of population Pay per week Per hour Yearly
Government 13% $584.00 $14.60 $30,368.00
Manufacturing 23% $300.00 $7.50 $15,600.00
Services 33% $240.00 $6.00 $12,480.00
Trade 19% $240.00 $6.00 $12,480.00

Part of the data above is based on a poll done by the VCEDA or the Virginia Coalfields Economic Development Association. Their poll showed perspective businesses how low labor rates really are and with the other state agencies handed out millions in taxpayer dollars, hope to lure new business to the depressed region. This is what the business types were supposed to see, not the public. I got this right off their website. When they found out (as I was told) it appeared on this website, they pulled it.

No decent skilled worker or college grad will work for this kind of pay. The result is a mass out-migration of skilled and educated workers. As the above Tarnoff report revealed, it's the poverty pay mentality. And who got the good jobs? The folks working for VCEDA, and scores of other useless state, local, and federal agencies get the good jobs. In the VCEDA area, that's about 23% of the population in 2005 according to the VEC and covers most private sector jobs in the region.

Wage Rates - Selected Industry Job Titles Average
General Production $7.24/hr.
Warehouse Technician $7.43/hr.
Secretary/Receptionist $5.50/hr.
Customer Service Rep. $6.18/hr.
Data Entry $6.00/hr.

Source: VCEDA Survey of local businesses, 2002 based on data before the massive downturn following September 11. There is no reason to believe it has gotten any better through January 2005. I'm in the process of updating the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) data.

Unemployment stats are really fun and are totally inaccurate. According to VEC, only those actively drawing unemployment compensation are treated as unemployed. Most benefits last about six months, so after six months unemployment goes down even if there are no jobs. This is further distorted by the way jobs are counted. The figures are inflated by counting every part time job held by children and retirees into the mix. A better indicator of employment is the poverty rate and the number of children on free and reduced lunches at school. In Bristol, 46% of children are on free/reduced lunches. This was up from 41% in 1995. Dickenson County had has held steady at 57% from 1995 to 2002. Dickenson County is all coal, while Bristol isn't coal at all. By the time we count in the massive loss of jobs in Bristol in 2003-2004, they should be near equal. Bristol and Dickenson County had the worst unemployment rates in early 2004, but the unemployment rate is much better six months later. The unemployment rate went down, I'd bet the poverty climbed and the population dropped again. ING Investments ranked Tri-Cities in general at an almost 24% poverty rate in 2001.

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On Religion

There is a great deal of material on this site in regards to religion, in particular subjects related to rational monotheism. While rejecting Christian theology as a form of Gnosticism (Gnosticism is not used as an attack), I'm not anti-Christian. This is a skeptic site, but that also includes equal treatment of radical Islam, and secular pseudo-theologies such as socialism/Marxism, radical environmentalism. Those I do oppose and do so openly. They are a threat to our freedoms, Christianity is not. They are as irrational as the ravings of Pat Robertson. This includes all form of racist, left-wing "liberation theology." Go to the bottom of this page to see a list of articles or click here to view the antics in Sullivan County, TN.

Overview of Religion
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End Times Apostle Paul Apostle John John Calvin St. Augustine Pelagius
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Also see New Age Religion and What is paganism?

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