The Bristol VA Trainstation before the $6 million taxpayer funded fix up. It has no passengers,
no trains to serve, and stands as a symbol of pork-barrel waste
and stupidity that's drowning America in a sea of debt.

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."

Facts about Home Schooling in Tri-Cities and Bristol Religion seems the overwhelming criteria in homeschooling. These parents want a "Christian centered" education for their children and feel public education is hostile to their beliefs. Homeschool parents set high standards in academics.

Economic and Social Reality 2001

This is what billions of tax dollars and local politics have bought for the people of Tri-Cities. The excerpts below are taken from the Kingsport Times-News for March 4, 2001:

KINGSPORT - Although the Kingsport-Johnson City-Bristol area ranks third as a retirement area among 125 metropolitan areas, the region ranks only 99th as a sound place to earn and save money.

ING's annual study, "The Best Cities to Earn and Save Money," represents a comprehensive analysis of financial security in 125 metropolitan areas.

Security is defined as "the financial means and opportunities, regardless of source, to support one's self and dependents at an acceptable standard throughout a lifetime." "An emphasis on the capacity to earn income, safety and community infrastructure that supports individuals in good times and bad."

Top cities demonstrate high household wealth, high levels of educational attainment, high participation in retirement savings and life insurance, a low percentage of low-income households, and low crime rates. The Tri-Cities ranked 98th, the same as last year and down from 77th in 1999 and ranked among the bottom 25 in five critical areas:

  • The region ranked 124th in educational attainment, with an average of 12 years of education for persons 25 years or older.
  • Job creation was 121st among 125 metro areas, with an annual increase of only 0.7 percent.
  • Low household income was 121st, with an average household income of $33,166.
  • The region ranked 114th for participation in retirement savings programs, with 51.2 percent participating in a retirement plan.
  • The region also ranked 114th for numerous low-income households, with 23.2 percent of households posting income of $15,000 or less.
  • Key strengths that make the region a safe haven for retirees were the lowest cost of living of 125 cities, while ranking 11th for low-cost government services, at $1,850 per capita.
  • A low crime rate was also a strong point, although crime increased from 361 offenses to 379 offenses per 100,000 population.

The Kingsport Times-News on March 10, 2002 had this to say about the region: Northeast Tennessee has lost at least 2,100 manufacturing jobs since last July.... At the same time, the region gained 2,200 service-producing jobs... In all, the region posted a net gain of 800 jobs. According to Steb Hipple, economist at East Tennessee State University, "manufacturing jobs tend to pay higher wages and salaries than those in service-related industries. As a result, the region's overall payroll may be declining, despite a net gain of jobs."

Also see Immigration, Liberal Racism, Schools, the Left, and Muslims

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...

The Bristol Trainstation Finally Opens

On September 18, 2008 the local press reports that the Bristol Trainstation, a project taking ten years at an ultimate cost to taxpayers of $6 million, will finally open. (Page A1.) On page A2 we have "Nightmare on Wall Street" as the stock market continues to crash and McCain/Obama continue their childish finger pointing.

For years projects such as this have been touted as "economic development" have wasted billions of tax dollars and produce nothing. The Trainstation Foundation (the pseudo non-profit that owns this thing) claims to be talking to lots of people interested in renting this its 3000 square foot hall (or 1600 square foot second floor) for parties, weddings, and mud wrestling contests. It seems they don't expect much business as the press reports they have set aside $400,000 to cover operating costs. They claim to have 20 events booked for the coming months.

One event sure to fire Bristol up is the "Return to Roots" gala on September 19 feathering Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine. This is an "invitation only" party and common white-trash residents and the folks in the nearby public housing project are barred from the event. Return to Roots is another taxpayer funded pseudo-agency that encourages the thousands of the regions former residents to return and take our many high paying jobs in the region. The only problem is their website only lists what the Employment Commission lists such as local school systems that aren't hiring.

There is an effort to force the taxpayers to fund passenger rail to Bristol, but lack of funds and no demand make this unlikely. But if they ever do, Bristol stands ready.

[ Article archive 1 ] [ Article archive 2 ] [ Article archive 3 ] [ Article archive 4 ]

Huge TVA electric rate increase takes effect today

10/01/2008 By Associated Press

The Tennessee Valley Authority's largest electric rate increase in more than three decades takes effect Wednesday as thousands of consumers already are struggling to pay their power bills and avoid service cutoffs. A 20 percent rate hike from the nation's largest public utility is expected to add $15.80 to $19.80 a month to the average residential bill. It's TVA's biggest rate boost since 1974 and its second this year.

The hike takes effect in a week of alarming financial news, with the biggest one-day point drop in Wall Street history and the failure of a federal bailout plan that President Bush pitched as essential to steady the struggling economy. Consumers are worried about how they'll pay the higher bills when other basics such as gas and groceries are costing more, too...

Nearly all of TVA's 159 distributors in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia are expected to pass the higher rates on to their customers - factories, businesses and some 8.8 million residents. The electric rate increase was blamed on skyrocketing costs for coal and natural gas to fuel TVA's power plants and a three-year drought that has hurt TVA's hydroelectric dams, the agency's cheapest source of electricity...

Same Old Story in 2005-6

"The Best Cities to Earn and Save Money," ING Investments in 2001 ranked the Bristol community tops as a retirement community, near the bottom in education and jobs.

ING Investments for some reason dropped its investment rankings about 2002, so that data is about five years old. But the Kingsport Times-News in November 8, 2005 announces, Tri-Cities ranks 77th nationwide as best place to live out of rankings for 331 metro regions. This is according to the 2005 Sperling's Best Places list. See www.bestplaces.net. The Tri-Cities is referred to as the Johnson-City-Kingsport-Bristol, Tenn.-Va.

But ING defined 125 metro areas while Sperling defined 331. They show Tri-Cities ranked first in Tennessee beating out No. 103 Knoxville, No. 205 Nashville, No. 210 Chattanooga, and No. 304 Jackson. But the fact is Tennessee as a state on the national level ranks very low in education, income, etc. According to Sperling, "Health care ranked very high...a reasonable cost of living, pleasant climate, less traffic congestion and relatively low crime rates." This is all very true and ING ranked the region as one of the best retirement communities in 2001. But when I contacted Sperling and asked why they didn't figure in economic issues, they replied, "We can't track everything." Go to their website and one word stands out, "retirement."

And while local politicians applaud the rankings, a closer look reveals some troubling information. Tennessee ranked far below Virginia in general, and Tri-Cities ranks far below most of Virginia: Charlottesville, Va. - home to the University of Virginia - ranked No. 1; No. 7 Atlanta; No. 8 Asheville; No. 11 Roanoke; No. 13 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.; No. 15 Lynchburg; No. 55 Richmond-Petersburg, Va.; and oddly No. 81 Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, N.C., a booming region was ranked lower. Asheville is a two hour drive from Bristol ranks No. 8, while nearby is No. 172 Wilmington, N.C. and No. 254 Hickory-Morganton, N.C.

But according to Jeff Fleming, assistant Kingsport city manager for development, "We typically score well in climate, cost of living, heath care and transportation. We lag in education attainment, arts and culture, and economy, but when you look at the big picture, we look very attractive from the outside." But form the inside is another matter.

While Sperling cares little for working class issues and more for retirement, they do reveal some terrible trends. The national per capita income is $21,658, but only $13,472 or almost 38% below the national average for Bristol, Virginia, while the cost of living is only 16% below the national average. National household income is $44,958, but for Bristol, Tennessee is $33,380 or 26% below the national average, while the cost of living is only 10% below the national average. For Bristol, Virginia household income is 32% below the national average. Jeff Fleming might be right, we look good from the outside. For years they have used our lower cost of living to justify low wage scales. Mexico has a very low cost of living too.

Near the bottom 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.)

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.

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.

Also see John McCain is also confused. In fairness to Obama here is a McCain video. This website doesn't support either party because both in our region are corrupt to the core.

But if Obama was confused and ignored the fact his followers operated one of the worst high schools in Virginia where he spoke, Joe Biden is an outright liar. Joe Biden graced the the United Mine Workers fish fry on SaturdaySept. 20, 2008. He pledged $4 billion in pork dollars for so-called clean coal research. But on September 17 he sang a differing song in Ohio to the eco-extremists:

"We’re not supporting clean coal...No coal plants here in America. Build them, if they’re going to build them, over there [in China]. Make them clean, because they’re killing you."

Which is it Joe?

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.

Nashville needs an immigration judge as illegal alien crime swamps the state

Four members of Congress from Tennessee, along with Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, are publicly urging the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to install an immigration judge in Nashville. The action is needed to speed up the process and reduce the cost of removing illegal immigrants charged with other violations of the laws. Since April 2007, at least 700 illegal immigrants with a previous record have been arrested for at least one serious crime such as homicide, robbery, aggravated assault or burglary...approximately 3,500 illegal immigrants charged with crimes in Davidson...Currently, all persons processed under the 287(g) program in Nashville must report to Memphis or Oakdale, Louisiana, for an immigration hearing. A local judge would greatly reduce the cost of transportation and housing for those arrested... The Daily Times, Maryville-Alcoa, Tenn. July 29, 2008. This problem extends across the entire region. More on our Illegal Alien Problem in Tennessee.


Treating Muslims like adults: Say no to Islamofascism

How the system works

One of my favorite quotes from our public officials that see poverty as a business asset: "Our labor force is a huge advantage since the county unemployment rate is twice the state average, and regionally, the unemployment rates range from 3.5 percent to 15 percent." Poverty is an advantage to business by putting downward pressure on wages. It's also a gold mine to politicians demanding more and more "spending" (state/federal) to fix the "problems" they often generate. They get the money to spend on what they want bypassing the average citizen, wages stay low and continues being a business asset. In most cases business, the Chamber of Commerce, and the local political power brokers are the same thing.

Deceptive job and employment stats. The region in reality is a sea of working class poverty with islands of extreme wealth. The area around Eastman Chemical in Kingsport (which has shed thousand of jobs in recent years) and the wealthiest community in Southwest Virginia (Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia) masks the real poverty that continues to plague the region. See The truth about unemployment.

To quote, "Per capita income is often used as a measure of the wealth of the population...Per capita income gives no indication of the distribution of that income within the country, so a small wealthy class can increase the measured per-capita income far above that of the majority of the population..." Others prefer medium income, but that still doesn't reflect how that income is earned or obtained. I'm interested in actual earned private sector income for those that hold a real job and how the economy impacts them.

As of the 2000 census, Bristol Virginia had a total population of 17,367, and gained perhaps five people since then. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State Street. Bristol Tennessee has grown, mostly by annexation of select portions of Sullivan County, Tennessee. Under Virginia law Bristol, Virginia is not allowed to annex. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bristol, Virginia with Washington County for statistical purposes. This is deceptive for the reason the per capita income in Abingdon is $5,000 higher than Bristol, Virginia with a larger population. Along with Kingsport, Tennessee and Johnson City, Tennessee the two Bristols form the Tri-Cities region. The total population of both Bristols is about 57,000.

According to Wikipedia's ranking of 375 communities in Virginia by per capita income, Abingdon ranks number 102 at $22,486 outranking places such as Fredericksburg, Virginia at $21,527 in wealthy northern Virginia. But Bristol, Virginia only seven miles away plummets to number 220 at $17,311. Number 238 Glade Spring, Virginia on the other side of Abingdon is even lower at $16,842. Number 281 Emory-Meadow View, Virginia home of Emery and Henry College comes in even worse at only $15,750. Down the road we have number 328 Blacksburg, Virginia at an even lower $13,946. Blacksburg is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. (Better known as Virginia Tech)

What is the problem with colleges? Why such low incomes for average people in the surrounding communities while they bring billions of mostly government dollars? Bristol, Virginia has Virginia Intermont College, that has been in deep financial trouble, and Bristol, Tennessee has King College. The Kingsport Times-News reported that ETSU in Johnson City made a big economic impact along with the others across the region. They failed to note their degrees make little impact in the income of their graduates unless they relocate.

I'm not knocking colleges (I'm an adjunct at one), but most colleges form a closed economic system. They might get billions in government grants, student tuition, etc. but the money stays within the college itself. (Other than a professor might buy a house, etc.) As non-profits they pay no property taxes, but use costly public services anyway that others often pay for. Most are useless for job creation or a tax base.

Education: only 23% of the population has a college degree, nearly all them doctors, lawyers, and government employees. Yet the Tri-Cities region graduates thousands of college graduates every year, including the massive East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Yet the percentage of college graduates in the community is far below the national average, employers claim they can't find educated workers. I'll explore that lie more below. In many counties in this region the county school system is the major employer. According to data released by the Bristol Herald Courier in early 2008, government employees earn far above the income of most private sector workers. As private sector industries such as manufacturing continue to decline, government employment is filling in the gaps for the lucky ones. An associates degree (about 6% of the population) pays little more than a high school diploma. A college degree is often a liability because employers here don't want those "over qualified" workers. Yet our leaders justify the region's low wage scales because, guess what, we have an uneducated workforce. More below on that.

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%

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

The leading industries in Bristol, Virginia are Manufacturing, 22%; Educational, health and social services, 16%; and Retail trade, 14%. Simply Hired's Bristol job listings indicate that the following industries in Bristol are hiring the most workers: Clinics & Outpatient Services, Outpatient Surgery Centers, Trauma Centers, Home Health Care and Misc Store Retailers. According to their Bristol Trends data, the number of Bristol, Virginia jobs has decreased by 26% since September 2006 dispute millions being plowed into so-called "economic development." That included $225,000 for a seafood restaurant, and almost three million by Bristol, Virginia for a Cracker Barrel restaurant. Washington County, Virginia did even better giving a strip-mall developer $10 million in corporate welfare. Bristol, Virginia a town of 17,000 is now $110 million in debt. We will explore this in more detail.

How could anyone be so stupid?

In the words of Thomas Sowell, "the poor are a gold-mine" for the predominantly middle-income bureaucracy." Again, 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."

Here is how it works: Under Virginia law we have what is known as "closed session" politicians evoke any time they want to hide their activities. The public and press are barred from recording or attending a meeting involving any deal that involves the transfer of public assets to private interests, often their friends and business associates. There's no records kept of what went on, we seldom find out about it until the City Council or local county board of supervisors votes in it. In Washington County the public is even barred from addressing the board of supervisors on any issue without an invitation or advanced approval.

In Abingdon the taxpayer funded industrial development board meets at the Chamber of Commerce, in addition to all the "closed session" backroom deals. In Bristol the highest paid public official in Bristol, Virginia (and still on the payroll) now heads the Bristol VA/TN Chamber of Commerce. At the City utility a college scholarship program for local high school graduates created controversy when the Bristol Herald Courier (2008) exposed the fact the scholarships went to the kids of City officials and employees, and in reality disqualifies everyday people. All rate payers, including Washington County residents had to pay for this. More on this below.

The reaction form City officials more or less was they aimed the program towards those they wanted to stay here. (Meaning their kids.) The local press also broke another story (2008) about the kids of City Council members getting lucrative City jobs. In addition they included students at a private Christian school where the kids of certain public employees attend and where they are on its board. Let me emphasize this is all legal. To say that Bristol is hostile to labor and working class people is an understatement. Equal opportunity or merit in hiring doesn't exist here.

In many cases public officials assist their friends in setting up a non-profit for the express purpose of them approving state and local grants for them, and to evade property taxes. For example, Bristol Virginia and Tennessee have approved about $5 million in highway funds and City tax dollars to renovate the Old Transtation that after five years is still empty. Millions in economic and Tobacco grants have gone to nonsense such as the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, to provide entertainment to the local elite. What does an existing theater have to do with training and providing jobs for displaced tobacco workers is beyond me. Tourism development has become nothing but massive taxpayer fraud. Here they don't define economic development as either being a profitable, self-sustaining business or job creation. Government money is the development.

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%

Thus 46% of the population earns under $25,000. At a median rent of $409 (not counting utilities where the City owned electric company has raised electric rates almost 100% since 2005), assuming a low $600 a month rent/utilities, 16% of the population spends over two-thirds of their monthly income just on rent; another 11% spends half, another 19% spends almost one-third before tax income on rent/utilities. The government (this is disputed by some) considers one third of income spent on rent a problem. Thus almost one-third to one-half the population has one foot in the door to being homeless. Public housing has a waiting list of over two years. One local worker I interviewed that worked at Wal-Mart had to move to Kingsport because rent is so expensive in Bristol, but now due the exploding price of gasoline can't afford the commute. He is considering relocating to Knoxville.

Let's debunk one lie right now, that Bristol and Tri-Cities are cheap to live in. They are not. Affordable housing versus pay scales (actual earned income) doesn't exist here. One study (Kingsport Times-News) comparing Kingsport to areas such as Nashville show a difference in cost of living of only 11%, but when we factor in the much lower wage scales paid here we understand why the above person will likely relocate.

$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%

The government figures also don't separate income from actual jobs versus retirement and investment income, and transfer payments. The University of Virginia at Wise reports that "transfer income (retirement pensions, disability income, and welfare benefits)" as a major income source for Bristol, and that, the population of Bristol is less prosperous than the population of Virginia. The poverty rate in Bristol is 68% higher than the Virginia rate. The per capita income for Bristolians is only 72% of the per capita income for Virginians. The proportion of Bristol residents over the age of 25 without a high school diploma is 50% higher than in Virginia. Given the relative poverty and poor health status of the population, it seems clear that people in Bristol would benefit from increased access to primary care. Medical is big industry in the region as the population with Medicaid (2004) as 23.7%, more than double the Virginia average.

Breaking news January 2005:
Study: Thousands of Wal-Mart workers on TennCare Pay is so low families driven onto public assistance. This is the only type industry we get at Exit 7!

Also see Wal-Mart Controversy In Bristol

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.

See What our residents are saying about jobs

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.

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. Their job is to assist industry, period. That's the attitude of this maze of non-profits that seemed determined only to get the next government grant. He also made it clear many of the jobs were never even advertised with the general public. It's worked through a closed system of insiders. But here is some data these fools "on the inside" better deal with from the US Department of Labor:

# Average hourly earnings of production workers in manufacturing were $16.80 in 2006, very near the average of $16.76 for production and non supervisory workers in all private industry.

Why in the hell would anyone worth anything work in an abusive and often dirty and toxic environment for about the same pay (often far less here) as anywhere else in the economy? Their biggest complaint is their best workers quit and go on to better jobs. Too bad, that's how capitalism works. In my view unless there's massive changes in social climate then a retirement community is all we will have left. 15,000 college graduates have fled just Southwest Virginia alone over the last 20 years. Throw in the East Tennessee side of Tri-Cities, it's about 35,000 or more.

Another problem they face is the endless plant closings and layoffs, just like shutdowns in the coal fields, many good workers refuse to return even for higher pay believing the job only temporary. In fields such as nursing in this area, most leave the occupation after three years due to horrible labor conditions. Years of labor abuse are coming back to haunt them.

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...

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.

[ Homepage ]
[ Article List ]
[ Article List 2 ]

Visitors since
March 2002

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
Deism Christianity Judaism Islam Gnosticism Unitarianism
Zoroastrianism Pantheism Fundamentalism Evolution Original Sin Trinity
End Times Apostle Paul Apostle John John Calvin St. Augustine Pelagius
Martin Luther Real Jesus Identity Willie Martin Royal Race Pat Robertson

Also see New Age Religion and What is paganism?

[ Homepage ] [ Deism ] [ Christianity in America ] [ Debunking Islam ]
[ Article List ] [ Sullivan County, TN ] [ Islamic Fascism ]
[ Local Schools, Immigration impact in Tennessee, Liberal Racism ]

google
Search WWW Search www.sullivan-county.com