Les Incompetent

This week on Les Incompetent, we finish Charles Keeneys Novel The Road to Blair Mountain. We go over the successful campaign, how quickly the coal industry collapsed at the end of the 2010's, and Charles Keeneys tips for successful activism.

This week on Les Incompetent, we go over chapters 4-5 of Charles Keeneys novel. We discuss controlling the narrative, and not allowing other influences take over, we go over the education of West Virginia, especially the Golden Horseshoe Test, and how aggravating government paperwork can be.

This week on Les Incompetent, we cover Charles Keeneys novel The Road to Blair Mountain, an account of an activists attempt to save a historical site. He goes over the importance of activisim, and keeping your message clear, what goes too far in getting your message across, and how the state responded to all their attempts.

This week on Les Incompetent, we are covering Alex Cox's film Walker and Albert and David Maysles Grey Gardens. With Walker we discuss the altering of the historical character, how the film feels like a fever dream, and how abandoning accuracy can lead to something very powerful, and create a strong statement. With Grey Gardens, we discuss the moral argument over invading someones personal life, and exploiting someone to make a film. We also discuss the family dynamic, and how it makes watching the film even more uncomfortable.

This week on Les Incompetent, we finish James Greens novel The Devil is Here in These Hills. We wrap up the conversation surrounding the Mine War, go over what was accomplished in the states during the Great Depression, and how the rise of the KKK led to new obstacles in the miners struggle.

This week on Les Incompetent, we cover John Sayles Film Matewan, based on the historical event that occured in the town. We discuss the accuracy, artistic decisions, the casting, and go over the importance that the film was made, and how difficult it is now to get.

This week on Les Incompetent, we go over the Second Mine war, the march on Washington, Blair Mountain, and Matewan. We discuss the mindset of what it takes to push someone to choose violence to get their point across, as well as going over the ideas of evil when it comes to captialism.

This week on Les Incompetent, we cover part 2 of James Greens Novel The Devil is Here in These Hills. We go over the general elections of West Virginia, the Rise of Sid Hatfields popularity, and tthe increase in action demanded of the miners.

This week on Les Incompetent, we go over Joe Johnsons 1999 film October Sky. We discuss the importance of escaping coal country, pursuing your own goals, and refusing to submit to what is expected of you. We also go over the powerful imagery used in the film, and how it showcases a pain and struggle that still has not gone away.

This week on Les Incompetent, we begin James Green's novel The Devil is Here in These Hills; West Virginias Coal Miners and Their Battle For Freedom. We go over the failure to do anything about the coal companies, even legislation or presidential intervention; we go over the rise of heroes like Mother Jones, and the rise of opposition like the Baldwin Felts Detective Agency. We also go over the inability to really push any of these companies, especially from the prospective of the UMWA, and why socialism became very popular in West Virginia during these times.