Real problems require real work towards real solutions. This campaign cycle has featured brutal personal atacks, lies and red herrings on the part of Republicans. Anything to avoid the issues, and here we are on Election Eve.
Virginia's 5th district reflects enormous income disparity. Small wonder Virgil Goode has been in hiding and George Allen avoids real issues. Let's get back on topic.
Though not in the 5th, Brenda Clark's circumstances are repeated throughout the region. From the BRISTOL HERALD COURIER July 18, 2004
BRISTOL, Va. - Brenda Clark doesn't want to move her family away from here, but she might not have any other choice. After years of working for companies that went out of business, the single mother of two has enrolled in a local college to earn an associate's degree with hopes of finding a better job and making a better life for her family.But the degree still might not be enough. "It looks like to me that when I get my associate's diploma that I will have to leave this town to survive," the 34-year-old said. "(Companies) won't give me a chance, and this area won't pay as much compared to other places."
Like many others in the region, Clark lives In an austere reality in which taking care of her children, 6 and 7, and cleaning houses as a part-time job consume the majority of her time and energy. The rate of children living in low-income homes like hers in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee continues to grow, too, according to a report that tracks the well-being of kids across the country. The annual Kids Count report, published by the Maryland-based Annie E. Casey Foundation, a children's advocacy group, ranked Tennessee 43rd overall. Virginia fared much better, at 14th.Using the number of students approved for federally assisted school lunch programs, the report showed that the number of poor children in the region has. climbed steadily in the past couple of years.
To get an idea of jobs lost in the textile industry alone, skim over this listing of U.S. Plant Closings (1997 - 2006).
You can also see the closings for Virginia only.
One company with a number of closings, including some in Virginia, is VF Corporation. Did they close shop? No. They just announced Record Third Quarter Revenues and Earnings.
Another company in that list, Dan River, is now owned by a company in India, and laid off 490 people in Danville in January.
What's more, Dan River is outsourcing its entire production operation to Pakistan.
Some people affected by these displacements have been assisted with National Emergency Grant Awards and other educational assistance. When the Republicans campaign about retraining, we need to remember two things. Retraining often cannot be uncoupled from relocation. Millions already have been spent on retraining. The jobs - and sometimes entire industries - continue to be offshored.
This is simply not good enough, and it IS time for a change.
The Republican Senate talks endlessly about a dream-world of "free trade" while year after year their policies continue costing American jobs. In rural America, including much of Virginia, they've wholesaled entire industries such as furniture and textiles to other countries, and outsourced stacks of other jobs as well. Some say the train has left the station on this issue. I say to you, the corporations who want to betray the American worker need to pay a higher price for a ticket on that train.
-- Jim Webb, Apr 28, 2006
Comments
If this scrolls off the list... (Bubby - 11/6/2006 11:22:03 PM)I hope you will repost this diary Kathy. This is what we are fighting for. These are the people and places that need help. Not big pharma, not big oil, not credit card companies and banking corporations.