Government waste in Bristol
What the majority of those that attended Congressman Boucher's
August 20 Town Hall thought of our President.
Click here to view a larger image.
News and Issues from Bristol Virginia and Bristol Tennessee 1
by Lewis Loflin

Welcome to Tri-Cities and Bristol VA/TN. We are part of Southern Appalachia, a very diverse region with unique problems and many positives. Bristol, Virginia and Bristol, Tennessee is a divided city (by the VA/TN state line) symbolic of the division in our region as our many bickering local governments waste more tax dollars with the least results of anywhere in America. They maintain a system I describe as social apartheid, while University of New Hampshire's Cynthia M. Duncan calls it Worlds Apart in her book on "Why Poverty Persists in Rural America."

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 and connected. 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. They want to promote their values others can't afford. There's simply no money in rural America, which is why so many leave it. Bristol and Tri-Cities are good for retirement, bad for earning a living even for most college graduates.



The Obama Show has come back to Bristol! President Obama did make it to Bristol today, along with a few hundred protestors. I even got to see him in passing. United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents the Kroger workers, so why the hell was the notorious ACORN affiliated Service Employees International Union (SEIU) doing in Bristol? They bussed in three loads of Obama supporters just before he arrived.

I will add to this. First, this was not a town hall anything but a staged rally with selected people and rigged questions. Second, while Remote Area Medical (RAM) was going and these politicians use it for political gain, within a 30 minute drive they were spending at the present time an estimated $60 million on pork-barrel waste and corporate welfare that has for year after year bypassed those in this region in need of basic services and a decent job. That includes a $30 million convocation center for a local college, $8 million to renovate the abandoned and ramshackle Wise INN (They just got another $700,000 from VCEDA), and perhaps $20-$30 million for a so-called energy research center. (This is used merely to obtain government grants.) That is what taxpayers are paying for in Wise while Gov. Kaine runs around yelling about health care for the needy. Perhaps the Governor can explain why one of his political appointess who owns a wholesale plant nursery got perhaps over $1 million to do "energy research." To quote the Virginia Tobacco Commission,

$873,745 to the second phase of the Bioenergy/Bioproducts Demonstration Site Process Development at Windy Acres Nursery, a privately owned business in Gretna. It will move forward from the demonstration of value-added technology to actually producing crops and using them as heating fuel.

They won't disclose what a barrel of this crap will even cost or if even feasible. For the record nothing illegal is going on, but in my opinion is another misuse of government funds.

Government waste in Bristol
More protesters against Obamacare in Abingdon. No they are not rednecks or Republican stooges.
Click here to view a larger image.

Congressman Rick Boucher has announced two public Town Meetings on Health Care Reform, both during the workday when most people can't get off of work. I'll be at the August 20th hearing and I encourage all Southwest Virginians to attend.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009 9:00 AM Edwards Hall New River Valley Community College Dublin, Virginia. The forum was held and over 1200 people attended. Mr. Boucher commented this was the largest gathering he has ever presided over in over two decades as Congressman. Highlights of the over three-hour meeting:

1. He would not endorse or condemn any legislation during the three-hour town hall meeting.

2. He said, "I'm troubled that the government option plan could become very popular and if it became sufficiently popular it could begin to crowd
out private sector insurance and "financially destabilize" rural hospitals.

3. "The time has come to have national tort reform." Time to deal the trial lawyers that own both parties.

4. He was one of five Democrats that on July 31 voted against sending HR 3200 to the floor in a 31-28 vote in the Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which he serves.

5. Towards those in the audience that threatened to vote him out of office he responded, "I'm not going to make this decision based on my political future. Period."
To quote the Roanoke Times August 19,
He repeatedly said there are about 35 million uninsured U.S. citizens who should be covered. That number differs from the frequently cited census figure of 46 million uninsured in the U.S. In using 35 million as the estimated number of people who need coverage, Boucher said, he was purposely excluding people who are not legal U.S. citizens.

Good going Mr. Boucher! I'll be at the Abingdon Town Hall Thursday, August 20, 2009 9:00 AM Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Abingdon, Virginia.

Update August 20, 2009: Well I was there at the Town hall about 15 feet from Mr. Boucher. I questioned the hospital CEOs such Wellmont CEO Mike Snow after the Town Hall ended and there are several things our pro-Obama local press will be sure to leave out. But in reality the hall wasn't filled, only about 85%, but still close to 1000 people. Second many of the Obamanites who had concentrated in the front rows stormed out after about an hour when it was obvious they weren't going to change Mr. Boucher's mind. He is clearly against any government insurance option they were demanding. In fact they were the most ill-mannered people there launching into a series of personal attacks on their opponents.

Again the abortion issue kept coming up over and over and Mr. Boucher was on the defensive for that. I got annoyed with that myself, but it was an open forum. In that it seemed OK overall. Most of those there were not working for Fox News as the Obamanites claim and Mr. Boucher called on a Mr. Goldsmith first, head of People Inc., an agency that receives millions of tax dollars. His long-winded political speech brought boos from a number of people. Calling him first only undermines what credibility Mr. Boucher has left here and it isn't much. He was asked by another speaker just what do bike paths and farmer's markets have to do with healthcare. He evaded the question. He was asked if he and other government employees would be on the plan. He claims he is on Blue Cross / Blue Shield.

Much of what Mr. Boucher said was the same as in Pulaski County on Tuesday, but many of his answers I believe are dishonest. He was asked by several people about keeping illegal aliens off the system and he claimed "the Bill forbids service to those not in the country legally." Yet I've asked this in writing where does it say non-citizens are barred from services and where's the enforcement mechanism? There's none I can find and he won't supply specifics. To his credit he reiterated 35 million uninsured to discount illegal aliens. The question nobody has answered is what about the millions of non-citizens here on the masses of visas the government hands out? They want to add another 250,000 farm workers and give them green cards, so who will stop them from getting free healthcare?

The real problem is Mr. Boucher was totally dishonest on the cause of the problem. He kept blaming it on covering the uninsured at emergency rooms was the entire problem. Just get some more government health care and we fix the problem. Wellmont CEO Mike Snow and the other CEO whose name I didn't get contradicted this. According to them the big problem is government. 45% of their patients are on Medicare where they are reimbursed for only 90% of their costs. Even worse are the Medicaid and Tenncare patients where the reimbursement is 65% of cost. These two groups far over-utilize the system. Why shouldn't they if it's free? Now add in 10% that never pay that is 70% of their patients they lose money on. By law hospitals can't turn them away so the 30% or so with private insurance or who can pay are stuck with most of the bills. In other words the government mandates they can't turn anyone away, loads the system up with government healthcare patients they refuse to pay for in many cases, then force hospitals/doctors to eat the cost or shift it elsewhere.

Yet we attack insurance companies that want to pay the same money-losing low rates as government while the providers shift the losses from government meddling to them. Yet Mr. Boucher spoke about ending cost shifting because of emergency rooms when most of it is due to existing government healthcare programs. I asked Mr. Snow if it wouldn't be better if the government simply contracted the services and the government gave the providers some leeway. He agreed it could work. Nothing even close to this was even brought to the floor. I also asked would it help to enforce copays on all government plans to cut down the overuse. He agreed. The panel also mentioned the terrible drug problem in the region.

That is events as best I can remember. If anyone has any corrections or additions e-mail me lewis@bvunet.net

Bloggers Taking on the Local Press
Newsom/Christian Murder Trials begin in Knoxville

New material:

Here is a sample of just what the Virginia Tobacco Commission alone gave away in August 2008:

Heartwood Artisan Center, Abingdon, $4 million. This $17 million arts/crafts center is in the wealthiest community in the region. This is related to the Virginia Highlands Festival whose attendance has been down for three years as of 2009.
Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, Bristol, $297,400. This is an $11 million country music museum. Presently in a space in the Bristol Mall, their employees claim they don't sell enough junk to even pay the rent. So who will pay the upkeep of converting an abandoned garage to store their country music junk?
Bluestone Business Park, Tazewell, $250,000. (corporate welfare)
Lee Theater renovation, Pennington Gap, $220,000. (A theater?)
Stone Mill Business Park, Abingdon, $200,000. (free office space for non-profits getting government grants.)
Dickenson Center for Education, Clintwood, $200,000. (Their public schools are being starved for funding.)
Mountain Empire Community College, Big Stone Gap, $187,892. (Produce some play related to country music.)
Wise water system upgrade, $136,000. (corporate welfare)
Southwest Virginia trail feasibility study, $70,000. (pork)
Daniel Boone Center exhibits, Scott County, $70,000. (tourism pork to get other government grants,)
LENOWISCO site study, Duffield, $50,000. (pork)
Song of the Mountains, Marion, $49,000. (the name says it all or perhaps Pork of the Mountains?)

Plus an additional $36.5 million for energy research in both Wise and Abingdon. RAM again served almost 6000 residents in three days. Another new record I've been told. As for medical services? They did request some of some of the millions, here is what is in the public record:

Town of Pennington Gap Lee Theater - Learning Center Renovation (#1607) $974,216 requested The Town seeks to continue its renovation of the Lee Theater building. The Lee Theater/ Learning Center will provide a venue for live musical and theatrical performances while also providing space for distance learning activities. Funds are also requested to continue the renovation to make the building's flooring structurally sound and to improve the interior of the auditorium for performances and start-up of the learning center. Total project cost is $3,479,518. Other funds include: TICR FY03-06 grants totaling $230,000 (largely completed and expended for acquisition, planning and sitework); Town $8,250 (completed); ARC $109,581 (approved); USDA-RD $25,000 (pending); VCEDA $112,240 (to be requested); foundation $204,107 (pending); private fundraising $25,000 ($20,000 collected). Staff comments and recommendation: Outcomes are primarily a mix of educational and tourism-derived. The historic downtown theater will be an affiliated venue for Crooked Road performances.

Virginia Tobacco Commission - FY09 Southwest Economic Development Staff Recommendations - July 2008 11 a location for MECC classes and a site for VECTEC e-commerce training, among many other uses. However, the building can not be occupied until the flooring support is increased to meet building codes. Staff recommends an award of $220,000 for structural repairs contingent upon a dollar for dollar match secured by the grantee.

VECTEC is a scam where the state felt small business owners couldn't afford to spend $200 at a community college to learn to do a website so they will do one for you costing thousands of dollars each. One business was selling little metal cars from a post office box. Their website is at http://www.vectec.org/. Among some of the their wonderful training already available at any community college is "Basics of E-Mail." They operate out of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

They approved $169,000 to Virginia Intermont College in Bristol to quote, "The money will support the college's unique tourism curriculum initiative, which is designed to assist the economic development needs of the region and state by training leaders in the tourism field."

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.

But that doesn't stop VCEDA from spending $2 million for a Wal-Mart parking lot in Grundy, Virginia. The fact is Obama Care will no more serve those of our region than most of this pork. It doesn't cover eye classes or dental work.

More Pork on the Way, More Job Losses

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Department of Transportation is informing about 600 workers that they're losing their jobs. VDOT is notifying the employees Monday of the layoffs, part of the agency's overall plan to cut 1,000 full-time employees and 450 part-time staff to address a $2.6 billion revenue shortfall. July 27, 2009

And in Johnson City TN according to the Kingsport Times-News:

Alemite Inc., which manufactures lubrication tools, equipment and systems for industrial use, told its employees a couple of weeks ago it would phase out production at its 167 Roweland Drive facility. The company currently employs about 150 people, and around 50 will keep jobs in distribution, warehousing and sourcing...some work had been shifted overseas - the worker thought to China and India - over the past couple of years.

July 23rd, 2009: Unemployment rates continued increasing in Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City and Morristown during the month of June with all but one of Northeast Tennessee's largest cities in double digits. According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, June's seasonally unadjusted rates for the four Tennessee cities with 25,000 or more population were:

Morristown - 19.4 percent, up from 18.5 percent last month.
Kingsport - 12.7 percent, up from 12.6 percent last month.
Bristol - 11.6 percent, up from 10.6 percent last month.
Johnson City - 9.1 percent, up from 8.4 percent last month.

Tri-Cities region loses 439 jobs in first quarter

Back to Bristol itself. But are the terms "social apartheid" or Duncan's Worlds Apart really accurate? In 1999 my wife and I (she has a social work degree before becoming disabled) saw Duncan and her book featured on PBS. To us here was the answer why many of our friends that graduated college were unemployable, why the good jobs got passed from one family member to the next, etc. I went to the library and ordered the book. It became the basis of this website.

"It's a little-known fact that roughly 20 percent of the children in Southwest Virginia live below the poverty line and go hungry every night."

Kevin Crutchfield, President Alpha Natural Resources, January 15, 2009 in Abingdon, VA

Quoting the Associated Press August 27, 2008 regarding the Appalachian (Southwest Virginia) region even before the economic downturn starting in late 2007:

Virginia had the biggest increase in the number of people living in poverty, from 709,000 in 2006 to 743,000 a year later. Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee also had slight increases in the number of people living in poverty.


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Economic Meltdown is just "Right-Sizing"

July 17, 2009 (AP) The June jobless numbers are out for Tennessee, and the unemployment rate grew slightly last month. The unemployment rate for June was 10.8 percent. That is a .1 percent increase from May, where the rate was 10.7 percent. According to politicians this is good because it wasn't as big as it could have been. This failed to mention those dropped from the rolls due to benefits running out and failing to factor in thousands reduced to part-time or forced to take "voluntary" unpaid leave. The real unemployment rate is between 15% to 20%.

May 14, 2009:

The Tri-Cities' job market lost a "staggering" 8,303 jobs during the first quarter, when compared to the first three months of 2008, states a report released today by East Tennessee State University. Just 407 jobs were lost in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the report from ETSU's Bureau of Business and Economic Research. After a weak fourth quarter, the market "imploded" in January, February and March, driven by large losses in manufacturing and construction jobs, the report states. The jobless rate rose to 8.6%. Job growth occurred in education & health, professional & business services, government, and retail trade. Large employment declines were reported by durable manufacturing, construction, and nondurable manufacturing. Smaller job losses occurred in wholesale trade, other services, information, finance, leisure & hospitality, and transport & utilities. Employment in the small mining sector was unchanged. In other words government grows and vulnerable manufacturing jobs continue to disappear. This is according to Steb Hipple economist at East Tennessee State University. Read the full report at http://faculty.etsu.edu/hipples/LF09q1.htm.

May 18, 2009:

Bush Hog Manufacturing in Washington County, Tennessee will slam the doors in Telford. They will be gone by July 4. Bush Hog notified the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development about the closure today. 142 employees will join the tens of thousands across the region looking for a job.

June 18 2009: Region still getting hammered on jobs. The Times-News is reporting another pending plant closure this time in Johnson City. German company Robert Bosch will dump 140 workers, another victim of the declining auto industry. As usual local economic development hacks were caught with their pants down. Economic Development Board Director P.C. Snapp says, "This came sort of out of the blue. On one of our visits about two months ago we went there, and production was great. They had the manager there and he was pretty confident."

In June Utility Trailer announced it is planning to rehire about 160 worker they canned earlier in the year. They are located in Washington County Virginia.

The company claims the reason for the shutdown as "cost competitiveness and the layout of Johnson City's facility." In other words not enough cheap labor or corporate welfare they could get somewhere else in my opinion. This is a union plant, which I'm sure local officials would like to be rid of. In NETWORKS the "Sullivan Partnership" Chief Executive Officer Richard Venable seemed upbeat if not delighted it seemed to me on all the job losses during an appearance on local TV back in April. He called this economic meltdown "right-sizing" and claimed this would leave Sullivan County in a better position to compete globally. I guess an unemployment rate of 10.7 precent in Tennessee creates a more third-world labor climate in Tri-Cities.

It must be really working out well at NETWORKS. They have nothing to show since that TV appearance in April according to the Times-News June 18, but new jobs are on the horizon they claim. They claim to have created all kinds of jobs in the past, but refuse to disclose locations, details, pay scales, or how they derive these figures. I'm still waiting for an answer Mr. Venable, formally of the Sullivan County Commission. Keith Wilson publisher of the Kingsport Times-News is the present chairman.

unemplyment in Bristol VA/TN

According to www.simplyhired.com on Bristol Careers:

Among the most common occupations in Bristol are Sales and office occupations, 29%. Management, professional, and related occupations, 25%. and Production, transportation, and material moving occupations, 18%. Approximately 79 percent of workers in Bristol, Tennessee work for companies, 11 percent work for the government and 6 percent are self-employed.

Popular Bristol Jobs: Currently, the most commonly listed Bristol Jobs are for physical therapist jobs, crew members jobs, cashier jobs, store manager jobs, part-time merchandiser jobs and restaurant hourly manager jobs.

Bristol Industries: The leading industries in Bristol, Tennessee are Educational, health and social services, 19%; Manufacturing, 18%; and Retail trade, 15%. Simply Hired's Bristol job listings indicate that the following industries in Bristol are hiring the most workers: Catering Services, Food Service Contractors, Home Health Care, Discount & Club Stores and Department Stores.
Yup, the sales of the famious Bristol Burger is just booming. It's booming so well that the local press reports a 2nd. Chick-fil-A Restaurant expected in Bristol! To quote, "people were eagerly and constantly throwing down cash for chicken sandwiches, waffle fries and lemonade." This is front page news? Yummy, yummy. Can I have fries with that?

Congressman Boucher Brings Home the Bacon

From Congressman Rick Boucher's 2009 Transportation funding request for Bristol gets my Pork of the Year award:

Project Name: Bristol Multimodal Transportation Terminal and Trolley System Amount: $900,000

Explanation of the Request: This funding is for the City of Bristol's Multimodal Transportation Terminal and Trolley System. The City of Bristol will institute a trolley system in its downtown area to enable people to traverse downtown in an environmentally sound way and enhance economic growth and activity in the downtown area. The project consists of the paving of a city owned tract of land, construction of a covered passenger waiting area furnished with seating and restrooms, and the purchase of three 18-43 passenger trolleys. Two trolleys will be in service with the third available as a backup. The funding provides infrastructure on the Virginia side of the City of Bristol, as the infrastructure on the Tennessee side is already in place.

Perhaps they could ride by our $6 million empty Trainstation the taxpayers recently paid to fixed up. Or our $10-12 million (under construction) country music museum the "stars" refused to pay for. See Virginia Politicians and Highway Pork. He is in the process of diverting another $18,359,891 in highway funds that will not fill a single pothole nor create a single long-term job.

More: Boucher secures $476,244 to help 42 high school dropouts (at a cost of over $11,000 each) get a GED. Federal Funding Will Benefit People Inc.'s Youth Build Program. People Inc. is a great organization. They often act as a funnel for a number of government programs including weatherizing homes, etc. They helped my family several years ago and I have very high regards for them. But is this really a good idea?

These programs already exist to help dropouts get their GED for free. These building trades training is available at existing community colleges and vocational centers such as the William N. Neff Campus , Manpower, etc. Yet these same dropouts are often just lazy and refuse to use these programs now. Perhaps People Inc. can do what the schools here can't do, get them out of bed in the morning. I went and did some checking on this and using existing grant programs at an existing community college a student can get a real two-year degree for $3000-$4000. That same $11,000 per student could have put as many as 150 low-income students that didn't choose to dropout of school through the local community college. But to quote Congressman Boucher:

"The federal funding announced today (June 16) will assist People Inc. provide 42 young adults who have dropped out of high school with an opportunity to earn their GED while at the same time receiving training for a career in the construction industry."

To his credit Congressman Boucher does claim he got a Veterans Administration out patient clinic to locate in Bristol Virginia. This was a big help to local veterans. See Congressman Rick Boucher Supports Earmarks. Boucher is ranked by Citizens Against Government Waste as one of the biggest porkers in Congress, but nobody can deny he is an economic force in Southwest Virginia.

Announcement of more pork for the High Knob Tower for July 3, 2009 in regards to an abandoned fire tower. To quote Congressman Boucher in Coeburn, VA:

I am pleased to join you in Coeburn this morning to announce the provision of a $280,000 federal Transportation Enhancement grant to advance the reconstruction of the Observation Tower at High Knob...The High Knob Observation tower was destroyed by fire in the Fall of 2007, and its destruction represented a great loss for the history and heritage of our region. Generations of families have gathered at the Tower, marriage proposals have been made there and weddings performed. Visited by 5,000 people each year, the Tower was a focal point for the High Knob region. With its unparalleled view of five states within a 100 mile radius, the Tower was the highest point in the entire Clinch Ranger District.

There's not a shred of proof of any 5000 visitors, but does that doesn't matter, it's about the money. According to local officials the total cost of this project, mostly to taxpayers will be about $550,000. In other announcements for Federal funding in June-July:

$33,330 to the City of Covington to assist with the purchase of two new police vehicles. What the heck does that have to do with economic recovery Congressman?

$445,685 to the Bland County Medical Clinic to purchase new computer and medical equipment. Who will get that contract and what kind of equipment? Why not go to Wal-Mart and buy a good computer for $500?

$344,955 to Clinch River Health Services to replace outdated equipment and purchase new equipment for their clinic in Dungannon (Scott County) which will assist the clinic in adopting an electronic medical records system. (Note there is a nearby company that may profit from this in my opinion. How about something to help residents that need medical care and not some contractor?)

While workers were "disappointed" local officials such as at NETWORKS I'm sure are happy with the continuing "right-sizing" of the local job market. More on those people below.

Virginia Congressman Rick Boucher announced that the House of Representatives has approved federal funding for two Southwest Virginia colleges. $400,000 goes to Southwest Virginia Community College for energy efficiency training to the College's construction trades program. Boucher also helped secure $150,000 for UVA-Wise to replace the College's aging analog telephone system with a new state of the art communications system. The measures awaits Senate approval and signature by the President. No jobs are to be created nor is this expected to help anyone in need. Boucher is on record about the lack of healthcare in our region, but had no comment about funding a new telephone system for a college.

Boucher has also requested $7.4 million for the Fairwood Horse Camp in Grayson County, Virginia. This is to replace two existing horse camps that have failed to produce anything, but the new camp will be different. To quote, "The new camp would be located across the road and would provide a high quality camping experience which would not adversely affect the Fox Creek watershed. The new camp will significantly benefit Grayson County's growing tourism economy..." Sure Rick, perhaps the "disappointed" workers in our region can feel better visiting this horse manure tourism project.

As for Wise, to quote VCEDA, $2 million awarded for energy research center in Wise. To quote (March 27, 2009): "(VCEDA) today held a closing ceremony for up to $2 million in funding to the Wise County Industrial Development Authority to construct the Appalachia America Energy Research Center. At its Nov. 20, 2008 meeting, the VCEDA board approved up to a $1,045,000 grant and a $955,000 loan for the research and development facility with an emphasis on energy-affiliated initiatives. The Wise County IDA, which received $5 million in funding for the project from the Virginia Tobacco Commission...the new center will provide research space and an atmosphere for collaboration between the public and private sector, specifically in the arena of clean coal technology, coal-to-liquid fuels, environmental remediation measures in energy generation, alternative fuels and prototype development facilities for such projects." In other words another empty building wanting for the next entity on government grants to occupy.

They did this several years ago on other grants trying to market methanol (made from coal) as a fuel additive to gasoline. It ruined a number of people's cars as the toxic chemical attacked fuel systems and ruined engines. The Bristol company went out of business and left the taxpayers spending millions to clean up the mess. The building was bought by the City for $2 million then given to a copper pot company that failed within months. Today it's partially used by a local potato chip company mostly for storage. The City today will still claim the "creation" of hundreds of jobs.

Who says just Wise, where they ignore the poor and uninsured at RAM every year, gets all the energy pork spending? Rick is requesting $4,550,000 for the Southwest Virginia Clean Coal and Renewable Energy R&D Field Lab. His explanation: "The funding is for the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC in Abingdon) for equipment for a new clean energy research center." In addition, "the Center has received more than $8 million from the Virginia Tobacco Commission to design and build a LEED Platinum field lab for research to test innovative energy processes and products. The funding will be used to equip the laboratory." Hot damn, it's going to be right next door to our $17 million taxpayer funded Artisan Center crafts shop!

Perhaps the average uninsured and under-employed citizen Mr. Boucher and Gov. Kaine are so worried about might benefit from this. Well no. Mr. Boucher announced (April 3, 2009) $500,000 will go the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank. To quote, "The funding would be used for the purchase and renovation of an existing building to serve as the Southwest Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank located in Abingdon, Virginia...The current facility is in poor condition and does not meet the food management compliance of the national America's Second Harvest organization." Oh no food, just better office space?

Never fear Congressman Rick is here! While Second Harvest Food Bank gets new office furniture, we can't neglect the useless Virginia Highlands Airport between Abingdon and Bristol getting $1,300,000. According to Ricky, "the funding will be for Virginia Highlands Airport for engineering services and land acquisition related to a project which will lengthen the runway at the airport. The project is necessary to further the economic development efforts of Washington County and the surrounding area." As I was told wealthy corporate executives won't come to visit us unless we have a first class airport. It's really about getting unspecified additional federal funding. Besides local fat-cats park their private planes there while Washington County residents shell-out about $250,000 to subsidize this money losing venture. The other useless airport in nearby Marion will get $1.5 million and Va. Tech in Blacksburg will a whopping $3 million for new office furniture.



By the way Rick, have you checked on the poverty level in Bristol? But to quote the Bristol Herald Courier (June 11, 2008),
A third of Bristol's residents need affordable housing, said Mayor Jim Rector, and "public affordable housing is the way to go. In private housing programs, the only goal is profit, while public programs do what is best for residents."


What about better jobs Mr. Rector and not $2.7 million you idiots spent to develop a shopping center that sold for $700,000?

In the 1990s

According to the Kids Count report (BHC 6-22-2003):

...two groups of children were left out of the boom times of the 1990s. The robust economy did little to help children in the inner cities and in rural communities like those of far Southwest Virginia, according to the report. A local political science professor believes he knows the reason for the discrepancy. "It all comes back to jobs," said Steve Fisher, director of the Appalachian Center for Community Services at Emory & Henry College. "With the decline of the coal industry, a lot of the good-paying jobs have disappeared."

A string of factory closings has affected the economy in counties along the Interstate 81 corridor, particularly Smyth County, Fisher said. And, many of the jobs that have replaced the ones in the coal mines and factories generally have been lower-paying and less likely to include benefits, he said. "Even two minimum-wage jobs together won't take a family above the poverty line...the numbers for Washington County (VA) are misleading. "There are pockets of wealth in Abingdon and Emory, but in general, it's a pretty poor county..."

To be fair, Bristol and Tri-Cities have a lot of positives except for a shortage of higher paying jobs and low levels of education. We are a good retirement community and the cost of living is low compared to most urban areas of the country, but so is Mexico for similar reasons. There is a substantial income gap and a high level of poverty, but we have fairly low crime rates. Sullivan County, Tennessee and Washington County, Virginia are among the wealthiest counties in their respective states, but both lie within a sea of rural poverty with pockets of poverty within. The basis of the economy has been manufacturing, but that is being replaced (as is much of the nation) with poverty-wage service, retirement, and tourism industries. In 2001 ING Investments ranked Tri-Cities among the worse places to earn a living, and in another study in 2008 ranked the region with inner-city slums on issues such as health, income, education.

See On Religion in Tri-Cities Virginia Tennessee

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..." More here...

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

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."


What $2.5 million buys in Bristol.
Photo: Lewis Loflin

"Voodoo" economic development at Bristol Exit 7

Exit 7 between Bristol, Virginia and Washington County, Virginia has been a focal point for lawsuits and finger pointing. Update: Developer defaults, taxpayers shafted. See Nicewonder Property Fiasco in 2009: $2.5 million Tax Dollars Wasted

Forbes.com survey: TCRA tied for third on list of 'Rip-Off Airports'

Tri-Cities Regional Airport tied for third in a survey ranking "America's Rip-Off Airports" compiled by Forbes.com. The rankings were based on average air fare per mile, with travelers recorded as paying 39 cents per mile to fly out of TCRA....

TCRA Marketing Director Melissa Thomas blames it on airlines: "Fares during the summer were extremely high, and (TCRA) staff was in frequent contact with airline pricing personnel working on the issue. As a result, both Delta and US Airways lowered fares at (TCRA) to much more competitive levels...Airlines set their fares based on many factors in an effort to maximize their profit on any given flight..."

Thomas further said according to the press, "TCRA typically has been seen more as a "business market" than a 'leisure market,' and that airlines typically see business travelers as more willing and able to pay a premium - something that leaves leisure travelers wanting to leave from the Tri-Cities often saddled with higher-than-average fares." Kingsport Times-News February 24, 2009. Perhaps one reason why there's so few pleasure travelers is the poverty rates are so high for working people they can't afford to fly to Florida.

Is it just class warfare? Do many of these "poor" people bring their problems on themselves? In many cases and I hate to admit it, yes. Is it indifference with much of the public? In some cases yes. The fact is that post 1970s Appalachia, Bristol, and Tri-Cites is nothing like that of the pre-1970s. While they play up this "Hillbilly" culture nonsense for tourists, it really doesn't apply. The Tri-Cities region is a diverse mosaic. Sort of rural, sort of urban. Tri-Cities is about manufacturing and increasingly services and retirement, all bad for working people. That is my focus, the working poor.

Lawn Mower Theft

BHC reports (January 15, 2009) that Washington County Va. Sheriff's deputies are looking into lawn mower thefts. They were stolen from Abingdon Equipment Company and while trying to get away the crooks plowed into a man rushing to a hospital emergency room. The suspects fled the crash scene after unhitching and leaving behind the trailer carrying the lawn mowers. The crash victim is in fair condition. Sheriff Newman is asking for help in finding the culprits.

Middle Class Feeling What Working Class has Endured for Years

Nobody ever cared about the working class in Bristol. They are expendable, disposable, and looked down on. Nobody wanted them living in their neighborhood, but they were welcome to clean the yards and work at the local restaurants and tourist attractions. After all many of the elite either lived on fat government jobs or transfer payments. But it seems this is starting to dry up. With government being forced to cut back and Wall Street in ruins, it isn't the working poor suffering all the losses.

Ronny Nelson's Quick Cash Pawn Shop reports they have a new clientele, middle class people. Many have lost 401ks, and jobs and are pawning anything. This includes a 16-foot bass boat, laptops, jewelry, etc. To quote Nelson, "Middle class people are coming in. Customers we haven't seen before. They're looking for second tier lending from somewhere else. A second place where they can manufacture some cash." Business is up 30%. Mr. J's Buy and Sell Furniture has also seen a surge of business, which they blame on the housing crisis. They report a lot of people with foreclosed homes coming in and TV news reports show mountains of tools, etc. as construction has but disappeared. Worrisome is the dependence of Bristol on government money and transfer payments, which have or will diminish. Ref. Chan. 11 1-6-2009

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.


Winner Mr Hogg's Pork Award

Tobacco commission porked-out $14 million for regional economic development

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved more than $14 million in pork-barrel waste under the guise of "economic development" according to state Sen. William Wampler, R-Bristol. The commission met at Mountain Empire Community College, which like community colleges across the region, suffered a 5% budget cut because of shortfalls in Richmond. Among the idiotic projects they approved:

Another $6.1 million of a total $17 million to develop the so-called Southwest Virginia Artisan Center in Abingdon to be housed at Virginia Highlands Community College, whose academic programs also suffered budget cuts in 2007. Abingdon, about 14 miles from Bristol, is the wealthiest community in Southwest Virginia. Some studies they won't produce claim the 29,000-square-foot center "could attract" tourists. "It will house gallery space, retail areas and offices for The Crooked "Money" Road and the Round the Mountain artist organization." These organizations have so far produced nothing. In other words it's an expensive taxpayer funded crafts shop that has nothing to do with tobacco farmers getting new jobs.

My favorite part is, "create 202 jobs during the construction phase." But how about after the construction phase? The Scott County Economic Development Authority garnered $4.3 million to build the $7.2 Duffield Regional Technology Center that "has the potential to create 125 to 150 jobs." After years of these promises it's about time they deliver. Again it's more research into using coal for energy uses, which it already does. Duh. The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center got $400,000 to develop an energy research and development program. Ref. BHC Oct 26, 2007

Boucher loses House panel chair, Tobacco Commission Screwed

A liberal Massachusetts Democrat will take over a House subcommittee that will play a major role in drafting legislation on global warming and other environmental issues. Rep. Edward Markey, known for his tough stances on environmental issues, will replace Rep. Rick Boucher, a Virginia Democrat who has been friendly to the coal industry. Boucher had chaired the panel eight years. Markey's appointment is another sign that House Democrats plan to aggressively tackle global warming and other environmental problems. He will take charge of an expanded subcommittee with broader jurisdiction, renamed Energy and Environment... January 9, 2009 Associated Press.

The Tobacco Commission was counting on Boucher to send millions their way as matching grants for their millions in energy pork research.

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Bristol VA city government.

Shoes

A Kingsport shop has seen an increase in residents fixing shoes because they can't afford new ones. To quote the owner, "We've been getting a lot of customers saying they really can't afford to go out and buy new shoes." He went from 50-60 pairs of shoes a day a year ago to 75-100. Shoes cost between $5-$15 to repair. We also have a shoe repair shop in Bristol. Ref. BHC January 2, 2009

WJHL (December 24, 2008) reports that retail sales in Kingsport are up. This is mainly due to new stores at new malls like The Kingsport Pavilion and Reedy Creek Terrace. In November Kingsport released findings that their sales revenue has increased by 10-percent over 2007. What will 2009 bring?


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.

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

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.

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.

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