Black-and-blue truths on coal
No truth, like no good deed, goes unpunished. In the 2016 election, Hillary told West Virginians coal was in death spiral and it was time to get 21st century job training skills. Donald Trump said "Nyet. I'll bring coal back ... Don't vote for Anti-Coal Hillary." West Virginia responded with a 68.5% Trump vote, his best among the 30 states he won.
Last August, he proclaimed "The coal industry is back" He should have said "It's still going backwards." More coal plants have closed in his first two years than in Obama's eight. Coal continues its four- decade slide, with declines of 7% and 8% forecast for this year and next. Coal exports are down 15% due in part to China's 25% tariff on U.S. coal in response to Trump's self-destructive trade war.
Soothing words from a propaganda genius will never bring coal jobs back to West Virginia. Every Democratic candidate should highlight Trump's cruel demagoguery to West Virginians and work to turn West Virginia not black with coal, but blue with hope for a renewable energy turnaround in The Mountain State.
Walt Zlotow
Glen Ellyn