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to decline for decades. The impact of offshoring American industry via NAFTA and other free trade agreements- GATT, CAFTA, etc. is major any way you look at it. In the 90s, people were encouraged to pursue degrees in IT, computer science so they could be part of the new 'service economy' or a become a creative self employed technician, an idea that benefited schools with more tuition $ and wasn't a cure all.

I was born and raised in central Appalachia, like 5-6 generations of family before me. The economy then was much healthier for sure, so were the schools which helped foster a strong middle class that I remember well. My grandmother moved to a farm in Ohio which she greatly enjoyed in her later years.

The Democratic Party was quite prominent when I was coming up, especially because of the outreach efforts of FDR and LBJ. My brother saw Johnson speak thanks to our mom's interest in current affairs and politics.

It's well known that coal has been fluctuating and declining since the 1950s, especially with automation and the start of strip mining. My dad and relatives were in the industry for many years and moved on.

Like others I hope something can be found to stimulate economic growth, although what the source for that would be I don't know, esp. with AI and automation in high gear. If the Democratic Party decides to really embrace labor issues again, marginalized communities in Appal and deindustrialized cities like Camden, NJ and Balto. need to be priority.

There are enormous challenges and as author Max Brooks just said on Bill Maher- half the country was impacted by outsourcing and the other half will be effected by automation. In the coming years UBI, universal basic income will be essential.