This might break rule b) and I don’t find it uplifting (a bit orphancrushingmachine when you think about it, even) but I don’t think there’s much use in deleting this at this point.
“…but what should we do when the highborn and wealthy take to crime? Indeed, if a poor man will spend a year in prison for stealing out of hunger, how high would the gallows need to be to hang the rich man who breaks the law out of greed?”
― Terry Pratchett, Snuff
West Virginia is like 1920s-1930s Kansas, far more liberal than most give them credit for, and they are suffering, screaming for someone to listen to them, speak to them, speak for them.
And fuck y’all judging us in the South! (Meh, WV is “South” in spirit.) Go watch some actual journalism. Watch someone go out and interview us without judgement, no gotcha headlines, no leading questions, no bias. Santenello’s interviews have left in tears more than once.
https://www.youtube.com/@PeterSantenello
One time he catches some kids jumping off a creek bridge, rolls up to interview. The fat boy that wanted to be an historian had me in tears. Gods that kid knew his shit, so smart, and so little opportunity.
Santenello rolls all over America, captures our stories. Withhold your fucking judgement until you’ve met us.
Anyway, take an hour and watch Bernie’s talk. You might note, he isn’t speaking to a liberal stronghold, he’s speaking to Nowwhere, WV. It’s worth your time. It’s a lesson on how we win.
EDIT: Better video.
I know it’s not really important, but what a beautiful theater!
But West Virginia will only vote for people like Joe Manchin! People who agree with Joe Manchin about everything told me so!
