Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., bringing his "Fighting the Oligarchy" tour to West Virginia this weekend is fitting, considering the state's history of the poor masses being controlled by a wealthy few.Â
But one doesn't have to go back to the days of coal barons and company stores to discuss the problem; it's clear and present in West Virginia right now.Â
Of the four individuals who represent West Virginia in Congress, three are millionaires. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., who is the nephew of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is the lone congressional member not worth seven figures, although with an estimated net worth of nearly $800,000 as of last year, he's knocking on the door.Â
Those supposedly representing the people of West Virginia are in a completely different world than their constituents. As Gazette-Mail reporter Mike Tony noted in a recent story, only 25% of West Virginian households have an annual income of $100,000 or more, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. Meanwhile, 22.1% of West Virginian households are in the nation's lowest three income brackets, with an income lower than $25,000. That leaves the majority somewhere between, and, frankly, it's tough for any family making a combined income of less than $100,000 to get by, considering the rising costs of housing, utilities, health care, child care and many other essentials of daily living.Â
So, people should just work harder and make more money, right? West Virginians know it's not that simple, especially in a state where opportunities and good paying jobs are few, and the state and federal government, including the wealthy West Virginians in Congress, continue to enact policies that undercut vital support programs in areas like health care and food assistance. Generational poverty is not an easy thing to escape, no matter how many invisible bootstraps West Virginians are told to pull themselves up by.Â
One solution would be for voters to throw out the political dynasties that have misrepresented them for so long. But even that is much easier said than done, because the political system has become its own type of oligarchy. Running for office requires millions of dollars. Big-time donors aren't going to write checks to political unknowns. Grassroots campaigning is one way to fight this, but it takes time and unbelievable effort.Â
One thing is clear: The system as it stands is not working for most West Virginians. However, West Virginians have to want to do something about it.Â
