Originally Posted by
Williamsmith
Lissa has a theory. Why is such a resource rich state like West Virginia so damn poor? It’s a question worth asking? Her answer has to do with a concept called the “Economics of Extraction Debt.” There are some unsavory characters involved in this story but in essence, those who live at ground zero....Ritchie County and West Virginia in general are saddled with the weight of covering the costs of externalities involved in extracting the valuable resource.
The companies and politicians that benefit enormously refuse to negate these social,environmental, and infrastructure costs because.....well it would cut into their profits. The politicians who are suppose to represent their constituents instead ply their trade for the big gas and oil companies because after all....that’s where their campaign contributions come from and that’s who invites them to big spreads to put the feed bag on and drink from the whiskey barrel.