Really good read. Anyone from around there?
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/12/beattyville-kentucky-and-americas-poorest-towns
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/12/beattyville-kentucky-and-americas-poorest-towns
There will be a lot of weed stores thoughIf/when pot is ever legalized is will not be grown in Eastern Kentucky, it will be grown in the fields that used to grow tobacco. The only reason it is in Eastern Kentucky now is because it is easier to hide. Eastern Kentucky is basically screwed, the infrastructure will never be there for any legitimate industry and there isnt really a workforce to speak of.
This is what happens when an area lacks infrastructure, an educated, skilled work force and hitches its entire economic wagon to a nonrenewable resource that eventually will run out.
It's either finish high school and GTFO as soon as possible or stay and live off the gubment while you chase your next high.
I always thought of Booneville as being poorer than Beattyville but it always seemed like to me that the Owlsey County folk appreciated what little they had, more so than the Lee County folk.I find it really hard to believe that Beattyville is poorer than its sister city Booneville right next door. Lee county has always been more "prosperous" than Owsley county so things must really be devolving over there.
If/when pot is ever legalized is will not be grown in Eastern Kentucky, it will be grown in the fields that used to grow tobacco. The only reason it is in Eastern Kentucky now is because it is easier to hide. Eastern Kentucky is basically screwed, the infrastructure will never be there for any legitimate industry and there isnt really a workforce to speak of.
Whole region has devolved into pills, laziness, and hopelessness. You don't go there you wind up there. Folks that can get out. Those that don't are consumed by it. It really is not much different than inner city urban blacks. The same vicious cycle.
Eastern Kentucky main resource are its people. The state has used the resources like coal to take the areas wealth and basically put back nothing to replace what they have taken out. Put a factory in the mountains and the locals will work. American Standard built a factory outside Paintsville and it was successful until that company decided you can make toilets in Mexico.Really good read. Anyone from around there?
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/12/beattyville-kentucky-and-americas-poorest-towns
Not me. I grew up there and know of only a couple of people that have said they would go back if they could.The infrastructure is not there. The educated and ambitious people who left would be glad to go back if there were decent jobs there. I have not met many expats from there that didn't hate that they had to leave and wished they could go back.