Help Save West Virginia's Heritage

I am a proud citizen of West Virginia and our culture. Being a junkie for outdoor sports,I completely relate and pride myself with our slogan, "Wild and Wonderful". I feel that this is a way to show that WV is much more than incest and bare feet. As for being bare footed, I'm all about it, not because I do not own a pair of shoes. It is just something that makes me feel free in a sense? Anyway, many others feel the same way that I do, and that is why I'm reaching out to you to help us take back what is ours.

Gov. Joe Manchin has taken it into his own hands to change our Welcome to West Virginia signs to say not "Wild and Wonderful" but to say "Open for Business". Haven't we been open for business for a long time now? Thats just something we know and shouldn't post on a billboard for out of starters to use as another means of making fun of WV. Really, we have been making billions in tourism since the 70's and guess what? When we take customers down the grand whitewater, or for a mountain bike ride, caving, rock climbing, skiing or nature hiking, we are not dressed in a three piece suit and come into the office every morning Turing that sign over to let our customers know that we are "Open For Business". We are taking what is "Wild and Wonderful" and introducing others to this vast beauty that has been our little secret for sometime now. We not only let our guest in on this secret, we also charge them a hefty price to partake! I can't believe that he would change these signs without a vote or without the public knowing. One day, we learn that Joe has "freshened" up our image and made us look like flunkies. What is so wrong with WV being the coolest place on the East Coast to go? If you are in love with nature,such as myself, you would embrace the simplicity and wilderness we have to offer.

We not only make money on tourism, but the next big thing we have is coal. I know, I know many do not like coal and what comes along with it, but to look at it reasonably, it does turn the lights on,so to speak. This is not man made, it is natural. So guess what, we get the leading industry in WV from the "Wild". These coal miners aren't flashing on the big neon lights that say "Open For Business", they are working hard to keep food on the table and to make a living.

If you agree with what I am saying, even if you are not from WV, please sign the petition that I am posting! It's really the principle of the matter. How can someone make it their sole decision to change something that will affect others? Don't worry, Joe says, our state slogan is still "Wild and Wonderful".....he just changed the signs.

http://www.petitiononline.com/open4biz/petition.html

Thanks for your help!!