Photo by Michael Reaves/Special to the Daily News
Why did Kentucky legislators have to take away from teacher pensions? Why is there not enough money to make their pensions sustainable? Is it because they cut the un-mined minerals tax so coal companies and other absentee land companies wouldn’t have to pay their share? Is it because they were giving millions of dollars of tax breaks to the Ark Experience in Northern Kentucky?
This is why we have to be knowledgeable about what our politicians do after they are voted into office. They help themselves, their rich friends, their campaign contributors. They siphon public monies away from helping regular people and fixing problems for the working classes. Then expect everyone to believe they are fixing budget issues and elminating big government so we will all continue to have a chance at achieving the American dream.
One day, I hope we all wake up and realize that corporate politicians are living the American dream by forcing us all to live and work in a nightmare.
Since the last presidential election, I’ve witnessed a near constant stream of ridicule against Appalachian people who voted for Trump, “They are getting what they deserve,” “They had a choice and they chose a lying bigot,” “They screwed us all.” I have even been told “We don’t have time to deal with them (Trump voters). We have bigger problems to fix.” All of these statements are dismissive of Appalachian people and stereotype us as being ignorant, egotistical, and even racist. It is not surprising that these comments have come from people who did not grow up in the mountains, who have not had to face the same limited choices we’ve had to face, let alone work a single shift in a non-union mine to achieve at least some form of stability for their family. 
