West Virginia is an example of what US imperialism does to places outside the empire, while still being inside the empire.

In most places in the empire, some semblance of benefits are established in order to qualm the revolutionary masses, never enough to flourish, but enough to survive. In WV, the empire has no facade.

The government in WV has been actively hostile to the residents, workers or no. Letting pretty much any company profit to the extreme at the expense of the residents.

The people of West Virginia have survived despite the government. Not because of it. They deserve every respect and ounce of support they can get. They deserve no blame for leaving this state that has an actively hostile government.

I'm not from West Virginia. I'm not an expert on its history. But I have so so much love and respect for every person in and from that state.