4 ms·

I think there would be more training centers popping up if there was funding for them; just because they help a region's economy doesn't mean they're a good inv

by bbctol 10y ago

I think there would be more training centers popping up if there was funding for them; just because they help a region's economy doesn't mean they're a good investment, and it's plausible the state will have to get involved. Essentially, I think the talk of "saving coal" is less about the coal tradition and lifestyle and more about the fact that nothing seems to replace it; if former coal miners were getting new jobs, I think they'd quiet down on that front considerably.

6DM 10y ago
True, I was thinking more from the perspective of trade schools. The whole, market responding to demands thing. I took a quick look, seems WV is well known for redirecting federal funds to random stuff. Like gold plating the dome on the capitol building. I also heard they were supposed to get really nice fiber internet, but I guess that was probably "redirected" as well.
- vajrabum 10y ago
  West Virginia politics being what they are they aren't likely to plan properly for a post coal mining future.
  - SEJeff 10y ago
    FWIW: Southern and Eastern Kentucky's economies are also virtually 99% coal (and 1% illicit marijuana). Senator Mich McConnell has done the exact same for those poor people... Nada.
- chiph 10y ago
  That's from Senator Byrd. He was known for bringing home the bacon (pork spending). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd
kiba 10y ago
It's one thing to talk about propping up training centers, it's another to make them effective. I supposed we have to try if nothing else. I don't have in mind any other solutions other than universal basic income.
- Atheros 10y ago
  Warren Buffet advocates an Earned Income Tax Credit. It's very similar to UBI except more politically possible. http://www.wsj.com/articles/better-than-raising-the-minimum-wage-1432249927 http://www.wsj.com/articles/better-than-raising-the-minimum-...

by bbctol 10y ago

6DM 10y ago

True, I was thinking more from the perspective of trade schools. The whole, market responding to demands thing. I took a quick look, seems WV is well known for redirecting federal funds to random stuff. Like gold plating the dome on the capitol building. I also heard they were supposed to get really nice fiber internet, but I guess that was probably "redirected" as well.

vajrabum 10y ago
West Virginia politics being what they are they aren't likely to plan properly for a post coal mining future.
- SEJeff 10y ago
  FWIW: Southern and Eastern Kentucky's economies are also virtually 99% coal (and 1% illicit marijuana). Senator Mich McConnell has done the exact same for those poor people... Nada.
chiph 10y ago
That's from Senator Byrd. He was known for bringing home the bacon (pork spending). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Byrd

kiba 10y ago

It's one thing to talk about propping up training centers, it's another to make them effective. I supposed we have to try if nothing else. I don't have in mind any other solutions other than universal basic income.

Atheros 10y ago
Warren Buffet advocates an Earned Income Tax Credit. It's very similar to UBI except more politically possible. http://www.wsj.com/articles/better-than-raising-the-minimum-wage-1432249927 http://www.wsj.com/articles/better-than-raising-the-minimum-...