No one, it seems, is concentrating on the people. The taxpayers. The folks who are supposed to be in charge of the great state of West Virginia.
That has to be why, instead of a bill that attempts to finally fix West Virginia’s foster care system or one of the state’s plethora of other problems, a group of elected Republican lawmakers thought it would be a good idea to propose legislation that would change the name of “Spruce Knob” in Pendleton County to “Trump Mountain” five years after the man dies.
Officially, it’s titled, “Recognizing The Tallest Point In The State Of West Virginia, Spruce Knob, As “Trump Mountain,” And Honoring The Accomplishments Of President Donald J. Trump.”
Instead, the practical prank is embarrassing for a number of reasons.
- Spruce Knob is the highest point – 4,863 feet in elevation – of Spruce Mountain so, technically, these legislators are officially suggesting to change the name of the top of a mountain to a “Mountain” all by itself instead of leaving it be known for what it really is, a knob.
- Spruce Knob, according to WVU Libraries, was acquired in 1921 by the U.S. Forest Service as part of the Monongahela, so does the Legislature even have the authority to rename it?
- A nation chuckles yet again at the Mountain State (and that’s the last thing this state needs – again) and even online supporters of President Donald Trump believe this proposal is ridiculous.
I have asked a few state Republicans why anyone beneath the Golden Dome thought this was an OK idea, and I was told each time, “To drive the Democrats crazy.”
My reply each time?
“Wasn’t November 5th enough?”
No one should be laughing inside West Virginia Capitol, folks, and that’s because we have our former governor and our current governor conflicting over the financial state of the state, a budget far too dependent on the sale of fossil fuel commodities, a public education system’s employees serving on a child’s mother and father far too often, yes, our foster care system is far too often tragic instead of producing success stories.
Sadly, those who pay attention to the legislative action in the state capital will hear more about vaccine mandates than economic development, job growth, fiscal responsibility, and reversing our population decline.
That’s why this question must be asked: Do conservative Independents need to miraculously rise out of the minority and take charge of the Legislature’s agenda? Because it sure seems those unaffiliated lawmakers just might actually care about the people who pay them instead of playing these little “neener neener neener” games back and forth across the aisle.
We’ve got serious problems in the Mountain State, and we need serious people not to waste even a single day of the 60 they have for their legislative session. Let’s hope the message sent by the statewide backlash has been heard loudly and clearly because if we want to watch a political soap opera, we’ll flip on the national TV networks.
Thank you for the response you gave the elected “officials”? Unfortunately they needed to be reminded they are there to act in the best interest of the people. Also, that title sounds horrible! If this is real tacky; the people of WV should choose which if name to use.
Be sure to notice the past about it being acquired by the federal government. Thanks for the comment! – steve