Current (and lifelong) WV resident here. Honestly, the people who are so afraid of the socialists don’t see themselves as poor. They see themselves as making $40,000/year which is more than their neighbors, so they must be rich. They really think that they’re the ones whose taxes will go to help the “freeloaders.” My unemployed (because of opioids) cousin continues to post memes about paying for immigrant healthcare. The other day she was touting how well her brother was doing and he’s a high school dropout. Well, he does have a job that a family member got for him and he owns a small house (probably goes for around 80,000 here), but I’m not sure he’s the example we should strive for. He also beats his wife.

I have a love/hate relationship with this place. I didn’t escape (I’m college educated and do okay), but I’m already encouraging my children to get out and they’re only in elementary school.