--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't take a coal miner making…" description: "\"You can't take a coal miner making $95,000 a year, the only work in these parts where you can support a family without having to hold down three jobs a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ojeda-8448_family_you-can-t-take-a-coal-miner-making-95-00_2021298.jpg" --- # You can't take a coal miner making $95,000 a year, the… ![“You can't take a coal miner making $95,000 a year, the only work in these parts where you can support a family without having to hold down three jobs at once... and tell them, 'You can make minimum wage,' or, 'We can give you job training for jobs that don't exist in West Virginia.'” quote by Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ojeda-8448_family_you-can-t-take-a-coal-miner-making-95-00_2021298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ojeda-8448_family_you-can-t-take-a-coal-miner-making-95-00_2021298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/279/richard-ojeda-8448_family_you-can-t-take-a-coal-miner-making-95-00_2021298.jpg) > “You can't take a coal miner making $95,000 a year, the only work in these parts where you can support a family without having to hold down three jobs at once... and tell them, 'You can make minimum wage,' or, 'We can give you job training for jobs that don't exist in West Virginia.'” [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the mismatch between high‑paying local jobs and low‑wage expectations, criticizing unrealistic policy promises **In simple terms:** High‑paying jobs exist, but policies often ignore them Key Takeaway Advocate for realistic job creation strategies Themes economics politics labor policy regional development Mood concerned critical urgent Type political social commentary When to use this quote - community meetings - legislative hearings - economic development planning Key Concepts income disparity job market policy effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - What jobs truly exist locally? - How can training align with market demand? A Different Perspective Policies may overlook structural industry changes ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Job training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-training/) [Minimum wage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minimum-wage/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) [West virginia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-virginia/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [If all you have is coal, that's the only thing that we have. Don't hate the coal miner for trying to get the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-all-you-have-is-coal-that-s-the-only-thing-that-we-have-don-t-hate/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Some jobs pay better, some jobs smell better, and some jobs have no business being treated like careers. But work is never the enemy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-rowe/some-jobs-pay-better-some-jobs-smell-better-and-some-jobs-have-no/) [Mike Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-rowe/) > [The minimum wage is not something that you want to stay on as a permanent basis. For example, if you have a minimum wage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-raese/the-minimum-wage-is-not-something-that-you-want-to-stay-on-as-a/) [John Raese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-raese/) > [I don't have kids, a mortgage, or a car. That has let me hold out for the jobs I want to do, and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/i-don-t-have-kids-a-mortgage-or-a-car-that-has-let-me-hold-out-for/) [Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/) > [Americans shouldn't have to hold down two or three jobs to make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikie-sherrill/americans-shouldn-t-have-to-hold-down-two-or-three-jobs-to-make-ends/) [Mikie Sherrill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikie-sherrill/) > [I will not create jobs or hold jobs that kill people, and that plant - that plant kills people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-will-not-create-jobs-or-hold-jobs-that-kill-people-and-that-plant/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Law Number XXIX: Executives who do not produce successful results hold on to their jobs only about five years. Those who produce effective results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-ralph-augustine/law-number-xxix-executives-who-do-not-produce-successful-results-hold/) [Norman Ralph Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-ralph-augustine/) > [“Sometimes one has to be humble enough to start at the bottom with a minimum-wage job even if you have a college degree. Once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-carson/sometimes-one-has-to-be-humble-enough-to-start-at-the-bottom-with-a/) [Ben Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-carson/) > [My mother saved our home with a minimum wage job. But in the 1960s, a minimum wage job would support a family of three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/my-mother-saved-our-home-with-a-minimum-wage-job-but-in-the-1960s-a/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I know how to create and make people feel something. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/in-iraq-i-listened-to-david-petraeus-speak-every-day-about-how-we-had/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [We have to stop letting people come in here and make millionaires and billionaires of themselves off of West Virginia while West Virginia remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/we-have-to-stop-letting-people-come-in-here-and-make-millionaires-and/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If you look at Middle America and the reason why it's so red is because the Democratic Party cannot relate to them. They definitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-you-look-at-middle-america-and-the-reason-why-it-s-so-red-is/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [The coal miners are working. But there's more than just coal miners in West Virginia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/the-coal-miners-are-working-but-there-s-more-than-just-coal-miners-in/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) ## More by Richard Ojeda > [I've got Republican people from all over that have contacted and said, 'Look, we're going to support you,' because I say what needs to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-ve-got-republican-people-from-all-over-that-have-contacted-and-said/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Take care of your working-class citizens, and your working-class citizens will take care of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/take-care-of-your-working-class-citizens-and-your-working-class/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I was raised here in Logan County, where I was blessed to be in a family that had over 200 years of United Mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-was-raised-here-in-logan-county-where-i-was-blessed-to-be-in-a/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Get rid of Betsy DeVos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/get-rid-of-betsy-devos/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I hate the idea of telling a woman what to do with her body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-hate-the-idea-of-telling-a-woman-what-to-do-with-her-body/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [We must look for leaders who have exhibited a lifetime of service to their communities and have proven that their intention is to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/we-must-look-for-leaders-who-have-exhibited-a-lifetime-of-service-to/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I spent 24 years in the United States Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-spent-24-years-in-the-united-states-army/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If I'm stone-cold crazy because I have a hard time going to sleep at night because we have kids that go to bed hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-i-m-stone-cold-crazy-because-i-have-a-hard-time-going-to-sleep-at/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [When I hear Ivanka Trump saying how she looks forward to working side by side with Gen. Kelly - a guy who's got 40…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/when-i-hear-ivanka-trump-saying-how-she-looks-forward-to-working-side/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If you don't have a seat at the table, you're on the menu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-you-don-t-have-a-seat-at-the-table-you-re-on-the-menu/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm trying to fight so that people can have better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-trying-to-fight-so-that-people-can-have-better/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [Unions have been under attack for quite some time, and I think a lot of the jobs that we need to create in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/unions-have-been-under-attack-for-quite-some-time-and-i-think-a-lot/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm a stubborn individual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-a-stubborn-individual/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [I'm nothing but a ball of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/i-m-nothing-but-a-ball-of-energy/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) > [If all we've got is the dirt poor and the filthy rich, the dirt poor would eat the filthy rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ojeda/if-all-we-ve-got-is-the-dirt-poor-and-the-filthy-rich-the-dirt-poor/) [Richard Ojeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) [Explore all 80 Richard Ojeda quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ojeda/) ## More Family quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. 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"But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [The people have always been family to me here in Las Vegas. 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