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Why was coal country still democratic well into the 1990s and early 2000s?

Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:06 pm
Posted by HailHailtoMichigan!
Mission Viejo, CA
Member since Mar 2012
69491 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:06 pm
The democratic party has supported bigtime environmental regulations since the 1970s, yet only since 2004 has the coal areas really swing to the GOP. Now of course it is like 80-20, but john Kerry actually won a few of these counties in 2004, bill dominated there, and even gore did well.
Posted by Zahrim
McCamey Texas
Member since Mar 2009
7668 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:07 pm to
Unions
Posted by Vols&Shaft83
Throbbing Member
Member since Dec 2012
69956 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:07 pm to
quote:

The democratic party has supported bigtime environmental regulations since the 1970s, yet only since 2004 has the coal areas really swing to the GOP. Now of course it is like 80-20, but john Kerry actually won a few of these counties in 2004, bill dominated there, and even gore did well.



Unions.
Posted by OTIS2
NoLA
Member since Jul 2008
50283 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:08 pm to
Unions
Posted by Bestbank Tiger
Premium Member
Member since Jan 2005
71777 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:08 pm to
Probably didn't feel the pinch until President Zero's second term.
Posted by TheArrogantCorndog
Highland Rd
Member since Sep 2009
14847 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:09 pm to
quote:

Unions
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
164626 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:09 pm to
The Dems running a black guy was the final straw to many in that part of the country.
Posted by udtiger
Over your left shoulder
Member since Nov 2006
99801 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:10 pm to
Unions...plus Dems weren't openly and actively trying to destroy their way of life yet.
Posted by Gaspergou202
Metairie, LA
Member since Jun 2016
13519 posts
Posted on 12/5/16 at 9:13 pm to
Agree #1 answer is union loyalty to the dim party.
Second the really didn't think that the dimocrats were really retarded enough to attack coal and increase our dependence on OPEC. They found out that they were really really really wrong!
Posted by mule74
Watersound Beach
Member since Nov 2004
11330 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 6:58 am to
I think people are being a little simplistic about this. I've spent a lot of time in Appalachia and specifically WV.

Yes mining unions and the terrible history of labor relations in that state were a major reason why it continued to vote democrat. But another reason is that WV is one of the biggest "winners" when it comes to federal funding. As a state with really tough terrain and almost no money, WV has always been very reliant on the Feds to provide for infrastructure, jobs and services. For a long time Robert C Byrd was able to deliver huge infrastructure projects that not only improved the state but provided jobs. Seriously, drive around the state and see how many bridges and highways are named after him.

Democratic Presidents have spent the last 80 years going into WV and Eastern Kentucky to launch New Deals and Wars on Poverty. The populace believed it and some of them did actually benefit. Political inertia took over from there.

They continued to vote for the Dems long after it was in their self interest, but I was in WV in 2008-09. The switch when Obama won was almost instant. It also coincided with the death of Byrd. Life long Dems when flying to the right.
This post was edited on 12/6/16 at 7:30 am
Posted by zatetic
Member since Nov 2015
5677 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 7:28 am to
I'm going to guess it's like the Brexit vote.

The people who voted to leave the European Union were the people who had to live close to the muslims. Scotland and Northern Ireland predominately voted to stay. They didn't have to feel the pain of being in the EU. Same with coal country. All the same type of people doing the same type of thing so they don't notice the effects much.
Posted by stat19
Member since Feb 2011
29350 posts
Posted on 12/6/16 at 7:31 am to
Two things - Unions and fake news. The media has had the low information voter duped for a long time.
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