Once Almost Heaven, Now Going to Hell: West Virginia's Colossal Mistake

West Virginia really screwed up.
And most don't know why.
I'm not saying its right in any shape at all.
But lets look at some facts.

West Virginia contributes less to the federal government than nearly any other state in the nation.

According to 247wallst.com :


West Virginia
> Federal spending per capita net of income taxes: $10,568
> Total federal spending per capita: $11,609
> Federal income taxes per capita: $1,041

West Virginia is the only state in the top 10 where federal spending on defense was not a significant contributor to the total amount of money this state received. In fact, West Virginia ranked 48th for federal defense spending — $609 per capita. A large portion of federal spending in West Virginia, almost 16%, was for Medicare benefits, slightly more than the national rate of 15.6%. West Virginia ranked first in the country for the percentage of people using this benefit at nearly 20%. West Virginians also received more federal spending per capita on retirement and disability benefits — which includes Social Security payments, federal retirement and disability benefits, and veterans benefits — than any other state.

During his last year in Senate before his death, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia steered some $250 million and 89 earmarks toward his home state. The most of any Senator on the Hill. And he could for two reasons. He had served in Senate longer than any other Senator in history and had climbed the ranks and gained seniority. Secondly, he was chairman of the honey pot of government spending, the Senate Appropriations committee. Byrd brought to West Virginia somewhere around $8 billion during his 50 plus years in Congress. He once stated, after being elected the Chairman of the Appropriations committee, "I hope to be West Virginia's billion dollar industry." He did just that. But with his death in 2010, the legacy of Byrd died as well as the money he brought with him.

Senator Jay Rockefeller, too, brought back hundreds of millions of dollars to the state. While nowhere near that of Senator Byrd, with 30 years in the Senate himself, Rockefeller too has brought more money than rightfully deserved to West Virginia. Not to mention his stalwart defense of West Virginia's coal mines, unequalled by any other American politician.

Now, with the defeat of 38 year congressional veteran Nick Rahall, who himself brought $68 million to his district in one year alone, West Virginia not only stands at a crossroads, but stands there with potholes, no traffic lights, and sheer and mass chaos.

Rahall's two congressional counterparts from West Virginia, David McKinley (R- WV-1) and new Senator-elect Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R- WV-2)brought a combined total of $38 million to their two districts.

Its important to note that congressional earmarks are largely unpopular throughout a good majority of the nation. But in West Virginia, which ranks third poorest state in the nation, followed only by Arkansas and Mississippi, bringing home the bacon in the form of pork barrel is essential.

West Virginia's now senior Senator, Joe Manchin (D) has been in office less than four years. He was a popular governor, ran and won to serve the remainder of the term at the death of Senator Byrd, and narrowly won his own term against a barrage of big money. He ranks relatively low on the proverbial totem pole as far as money goes, and with West Virginia having less clout than ever before, is unlikely to be able to steer much money toward the state. Not to mention his necessity to vote with many Republican centered bills because of the repercussions he would feel in his own state.

With the election of two new members, Congressman-elect Evan Jenkins, (R (former D)- WV-3) in place of Nick Rahall, and Senator-elect Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in Senator Rockefeller's seat, WV stands to get about as much money from the federal government as they contribute. West Virginia ranks 43rd as contributions to federal government. This is the same state that during the 2008 presidential election, showed their blissful ignorance on national TV by citing Senator Obama's "being a Muslim" and being a "Socialist" as reasons for not voting for him. Socialism, huh? Take a look at this chart that indicates which states get most "Socialist" aid from the federal government.

West Virginia doesn't realize what a mistake they made in their unfounded opposition to President Obama by following the other top ten poorest states while heading to a complete Republican delegation to congress.
Of the top ten poorest, West Virginia holds the ONLY Democratic Senator now. That's 1 out of 20 Senators. And all these states are the poorest!

West Virginia has nice roads and highways. Thanks for Senator Byrd.
For now.
They have a much higher degree of living than other top five poor states, thanks to Byrd, Rockefeller, and Rahall.
For now.

West Virginia has shot themselves in the proverbial foot.
But at least they still have their guns to do it with!

God bless, Almost Heaven, they certainly are going to need it!

UPDATE: Two days after the election of 2014 where Republicans were able to buy the United States Senate, Senate Majority Leader-elect Mitch McConnell, R-KY, has made it clear he will court and attempt to convert, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, to switch parties and become a Republican. So far, Senator Manchin has made clear he has no intention of doing so. But its also not clear whether he would seek another term once his expires, as it is speculated he may wish to return to the statehouse as Governor of West Virginia.