This may come as a surprise to some, but the current economic downturn hasn’t hit the rural parts of the state quite as hard as it has the rest of the Commonwealth. Truth be told, these areas of the state often already in the middle of an economic recession that began long before the crash in October. Here are some sobering statistics:
Martinsville has the highest unemployment in Virginia with 20.2 percent of people unable to find working in February 2009. In December 1999, however, unemployment was already at 19.6 percent as another textile factory closed, according to the Martinsville Bulletin. There were some dips between 1999 and 2009, but not by much.
When economies suffer like this, the young people go elsewhere looking for jobs. They can’t raise their families where they are surrounded by extended relatives. They can’t be there to care for aging parents. And a community without young people is a dying community. This is happening all over the Commonwealth’s rural areas.
I’m sure you’re thinking now, “What can I do to help?” It’s simple really, vote Democratic in November. Democrats in the General Assembly worked to secure stimulus funding for the unemployed and they were ultimately blocked by House Republicans. Bob McDonnell himself was in favor of turning down these badly needed funds. Don’t send this folks back to Richmond. Elect pragmatic, public minded representatives from Creigh Deeds on down to your delegate. It really will make a difference in the economies of rural Virginia.
