Appalachia projected to lose more than 1K coal jobs in next two years.

[henster]

Most of any benefit in coal productivity bounces back will be in WY while WV, KY, SW OH, and W PA continue to suffer.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/09/a-bounce-in-us-coal-production-wont-help-many-trump-voters.html

Could the region swing back in a big way towards Dems?

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

Most of any benefit in coal productivity bounces back will be in WY while WV, KY, SW OH, and W PA continue to suffer.

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/09/a-bounce-in-us-coal-production-wont-help-many-trump-voters.html

Could the region swing back in a big way towards Dems?

-Indiana went for Barry O.

[Blackacre]

Dems could put a lot of money and time and effort into winning back Bill Clinton levels of support in Appalachia using the economics argument, but those voters are more culturally aligned with the GOP and Trump, so it would be really difficult to pull off.

Best Dems could probably hope for in terms of politically benefitting from this would be at the statewide level, getting some governors and maybe a senator out of Appalachia that they don't already have, and keeping Manchin. On the Presidential level, peeling off a few of those voters would help in taking back Ohio and Pennsylvania, though. 

[BaldEagle1991]

Coal country is basically a Bible Belt extension, so no Dem gains.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

The Democratic Party is too worthless an organisation to get these people back in their tent, because "lol HILBILLIES lmao".

[DC Al Fine]

The Democratic Party is too worthless an organisation to get these people back in their tent, because "lol HILBILLIES lmao".

Yup. This is roughly on par with a GOPer saying "Why don't rich coons vote for us?

[Vosem]

As long as the Democratic Party sticks with environmentalism as part of its message (which it definitely should), coal areas will continue to vote GOP.

[White Trash]

The Democratic Party is too worthless an organisation to get these people back in their tent, because "lol HILBILLIES lmao".

Exactly.

[Hindsight was 2020]

The Democratic Party is too worthless an organisation to get these people back in their tent, because "lol HILBILLIES lmao".

In sorry but that is bull the dems can't get these people back in because of cultural reasons not do to a lack of trying

[Indy Texas]

As long as the Democratic Party sticks with environmentalism as part of its message (which it definitely should), coal areas will continue to vote GOP.

Even when repealing environmental regulations doesn't produce any tangible benefits for their states?

[Maxwell]

as long as West Virginia Dems continue to govern like Manchin and Justice, this will probably continue with no push for an alternative job market.

[henster]

as long as West Virginia Dems continue to govern like Manchin and Justice, this will probably continue with no push for an alternative job market.

Yes, this is a huge problem in WV there seems to be no effort from either party for serious diversification of the state economy.

[BaldEagle1991]

It's hard to bring diversification in a state where being a member of the working class is prideful.

[OneJ]

B-b-b-b-but...TRUMP is going to b-b-b-bring these jobs back, right!?!?!?!

Face it folks, coal is a nonrenewable resource and it's becoming more and more limited. Not surprising at all to see the coal industry dying ever so quickly.

[(Still) muted by Kalwejt until March 31]

B-b-b-b-but...TRUMP is going to b-b-b-bring these jobs back, right!?!?!?!

Face it folks, coal is a nonrenewable resource and it's becoming more and more limited. Not surprising at all to see the coal industry dying ever so quickly.

-I wonder why North Dakota, then, had the fastest population growth of any state since 2008.

[OneJ]

B-b-b-b-but...TRUMP is going to b-b-b-bring these jobs back, right!?!?!?!

Face it folks, coal is a nonrenewable resource and it's becoming more and more limited. Not surprising at all to see the coal industry dying ever so quickly.

-I wonder why North Dakota, then, had the fastest population growth of any state since 2008.

According to this (back when ND was growing very rapidly), it suggests that North Dakota's population growth was fueled by fracking, however coal isn't mentioned anywhere.

It also still doesn't change the fact that coal is a limited resource.

[Ridge]

I don't see it. In an era of Elizabeth Warren, the DNC is losing the South and the West.

[Figueira]

The focus should be on actually fixing West Virginia, not trying to win elections there.

[Deblano]

How depressing. There almost seems to be no hope for Appalachia.

[Nyvin]

B-b-b-b-but...TRUMP is going to b-b-b-bring these jobs back, right!?!?!?!

Face it folks, coal is a nonrenewable resource and it's becoming more and more limited. Not surprising at all to see the coal industry dying ever so quickly.

-I wonder why North Dakota, then, had the fastest population growth of any state since 2008.

North Dakota's population growth has collapsed,  it grew 0.1% from 2015 to 2016.

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

How depressing. There almost seems to be no hope for Appalachia.

[Wiz in Wis]

It depends on who the candidate is, but the reality is that Appalachia is more than just coal. Simplifying the lives of several million Americans to "hurr durr get new jobs rednecks" or "Silly lib coastal Liz Warren will never win those folks" are both equally wrong.

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

It depends on who the candidate is, but the reality is that Appalachia is more than just coal. Simplifying the lives of several million Americans to "hurr durr get new jobs rednecks" or "Silly lib coastal Liz Warren will never win those folks" are both equally wrong.

Sure, and it's a great region with great culture and great people. But extractive industries have brought in and supported far more people than the region's "economic carrying capacity" could hold otherwise.