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John W Peace II

Big Stone Gap, VA

John W. Peace II is a Southwest Virginia author, syndicated feature writer, and fifth-generation farmer. A two-time Amazon bestselling author, he writes about Appalachia, rural culture, and working-class communities. https://linktr.ee/JohnWPeace

The Great Rural Grift & Why So Many Rural Virginia Democratic Candidates Are Angry

The Great Rural Grift & Why So Many Rural Virginia Democratic Candidates Are Angry

Out here in the hills and countryside, we know a grift when we see one. It is when somebody swears they came to help you fix the tractor, but the tractor never moves and somehow they leave with your gas money. Country definition, but it holds up in court. And

The Night the Siren Never Sounds

The Night the Siren Never Sounds

By Cindy Green, fmr candidate for VA House of Delegates District 44 There is a sound folks in rural Virginia recognize without thinking. A siren cutting through the dark, rolling across hills and hollows, telling you someone needs help and neighbors are already on the way. That sound has carried

When the Siren Stops

When the Siren Stops

There is a sound folks in the country know by heart, that high, lonesome siren cutting through the night. You would hear it echo down the valley and think, help is on the way. That sound may soon be getting more rare. If the Congressional Approved Medicaid cuts in Washington

Mama’s Drive to Corry, PA: A Lesson in Political Salesmanship 101

Mama’s Drive to Corry, PA: A Lesson in Political Salesmanship 101

Mama loves the drive to Corry, PA. A native Mississippian, she is unused to Pennsylvania’s protracted autumns. Back home, September is still summertime—but with SEC football and zero fall colors. So, Mama loves Pennsylvania in September with its autumn yellows and luminous reds. She also feels at home

Work Boots Don’t Have Lobbyists, and That’s the Problem

Work Boots Don’t Have Lobbyists, and That’s the Problem

By Cindy Green, Democratic Candidate for Virginia House of Delegates, District 44 If I ever wrote a book, I think I’d call it “The Fastest Way to Become a Millionaire: Be a Career Politician.” Or maybe turn it into a game show. “How Big of a Campaign Donation Does

An experiment that Succeeded

An experiment that Succeeded

An experiment that Succeeded So I'm scanning the offerings on AppSumo, which sells software and such at a steep discount. I see this thing called Hey Summit – "everything you need to hold a virtual conference." I've always wanted to do some sort of Forward

Why I Don’t Vote

Why I Don’t Vote

I will tell you right from the start, I think voting is the most American thing a person can do. I never miss an election. Big race, small race, even if dogcatcher is on the ballot, I show up. But this time I wanted to step outside my own habits