West Virginia politicians often fail to comment that the state often makes the worst of 50 state lists of just about everything from A to Z, enough to make grieving a full-time vocation, particularly if your love the Mountain State.

It is one of a few states that continues to loose population.

We have had a long succession of coal governors, some going to prison.

While the state politicians make some strides, those issues are batted around like a ping-pong ball to insure their re-election.

A recent survey said West Virginia has the near the worst rates of graduates going to college, and ranked low on the library visits list, coming in near the worst of the 50 last in the study.

We use a screen to learn 24/7.

Calhoun County, beyond doubt, has an exemplary library, meeting the reading and learning needs of every citizen.

In 2025, the banning of books in the USA has reached an all time high.

The divisive and violent 1974 Kanawha County book ban was a precursor of things to come in the 21st Century, a divided America based on prejudice, bigotry and culture wars, where most people now get their news on social media platforms and sorely divided TV media platforms, conjuring unimaginable conspiracy theories, now imbued by Artificial Intelligence - creating a reality that is walking around like a drunken sailor.

America is fast forwarding from its "secret" Oligarchy (the money changers in charge), nestled under the Great American Democratic Experiment, toward an autocratic, nationalistic and authoritarian government.

Constitutional law is ignored or re-framed week,

Washington wants nothing to do with term limits, most have become millionaires.

The United States has lots of company as most of the worlds democracies are crumbling. Many voters seem to want that and President Donald Trump is delivering, having placed more billionaires to the top of his list

Certainly in danger is the free press, replaced by bulbous people who advocate their cause and a government that goes after you for things they don't like.

And if you champion your personal privacy - forget it. We can Goggle down on your home and those who need to know can track every transaction you make on the worldwide web.

Behold we live in these wonderful mountains, mostly good people, and we have a great natural resource - Quietness.