My point is it is stupid to think four lanes into and out of eastern KY will fix their problems.
Solutions to help Eastern Kentucky
- Thread starter BigSexyCat
- Start date
Well, 4 lanes *out* of eastern KY could fix a lot of problems.
I agree. That's what my last sentence implied. I was just pointing out that their infrastructure was already ahead of what you assumed it was.
Yeah, I don't get this logic either. The problem is that the highway doesn't go through there to other areas. Like Gatlinburg is off the highway that goes into North Carolina or Knoxville, etc. The highways to eastern kentucky just go there. Nobody is gonna drive this route except those that have to go there, not people 'passing through'.
IMO, there is no hope for Eastern Kentucky. The generational poverty will continue, there's no advantages for businesses to locate there, and the ecological tourism they can offer won't work because again, there's no 'pass through' highway to easily get people there.
Only thing you could do to improve it is possibly allow gambling/prostitution/drugs...make it the Amsterdam of the West. Or the Vegas of the East.
Well, it was poor wording on my part. Obviously, it wouldn't be something to replicate Silicon Valley. Mainly just meant an area that fostered tech and got tech companies to put something there. I was thinking more along the lines of data processing than elite stuff. There needs to be something to replace coal that will bring jobs and development to the region.
Point being that nothing will work without the infrastructure (wifi, cellular service etc).
From the bulk of your posts I think you undervalue the people there and the talent they have. There are tons of talented people in the area, but most move away because it's a pretty desolate life in that area. It's tough when you can't get great cell service, wifi, cable. There isn't really any night life, or restaurants to go out to etc. I mean I went to high school with a guy that is now an eye surgeon and created a new technique that was very innovative. The vast majority of my friends from there are now lawyers, doctors, engineers etc.
There's plenty of smart, capable people in the area. The key is making it a place that is attractive enough to get them to stay home. The technological infrastructure is the first step to that imo. Also, the other key is to find enough decent paying jobs for the lesser end of the workforce.
My wording was poor originally. Sorry about that.
I don't think they even sell plants like they used to. It's hard to find something that didn't come from a MMJ state. That's a shame. I'm all for supporting local business, but it's harder to find than it was 10 years ago.
That last sentence says a lot. People who are ignorant...and I don't mean that in any derogatory way, many smart people are ignorant about certain things...and don't know any other way find ways to "take pride" in who they are. They will say they don't want change, will resist any and all attempts at fundamental changes because they don't believe it will ever be better. If you live in poverty and your neighbor lives in poverty then you figure that's normal. And because you have no prospects of ever getting out you will often reject as unwanted those things you don't have and don't ever see benefiting you.
The only real answer to fix poverty regardless if it's in E. Ky, the ghetto or anywhere else is...education.
Well, it does work in many many other states. Check out the size of counties in most any state west of the Mississippi. Somehow they manage to vote and drive cars.
Why are we Kentuckians so damned hard headed??? 120 counties is way the hell too many. Coal is NEVER coming back, no matter who is President. You cannot let teachers and other public servants retire at age 47 or 48, the numbers simply don't work. I could go on and on, but my home state, in which I intend to be buried, is frustrating beyond belief sometimes.
precipitating a little genetic variation might be a good thing, tbh. Good thinking, Jason.
Right. These 4 lanes out of EKY only help other areas, because it makes sure EKY residents leave and spend their money elsewhere.
From the sound of things, the State would be better served investing in other parts of the state...just let it slowly die off.
Mt Parkway starts in Magoffin County at Salyersville. If you keep going straight you go to Prestonsburg not Paintsville. To get to Paintsville you take 460? It's a left handed turn off.
US 23 is four lanes from Ashland to beyond Pikeville. Paintsville is next to US23 btw
The Mt Parkway is being redone now, so as to be a four lane all the way.
You don't know anything about the roads apparently
Never said anything about them helping, just corrected you on what roads ran through the area
All the larger cities are connected by four lanes
The roads were mostly built to move coal out not businesses in
One interesting point on building roads across EKy,. is that after the state began keeping the money from the coal uncovered during the construction of the roads. The cost to build them became cheaper than other places across the state.
Had the state did this years ago, US 23 would have almost paid for itself.
The section from Allen to Pikeville would have made money for the state.
All the larger cities are connected by four lanes
The roads were mostly built to move coal out not businesses in
One interesting point on building roads across EKy,. is that after the state began keeping the money from the coal uncovered during the construction of the roads. The cost to build them became cheaper than other places across the state.
Had the state did this years ago, US 23 would have almost paid for itself.
The section from Allen to Pikeville would have made money for the state.
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You can definitely use pop train money, and SSI/SSD though. Thats not who shops at outlet malls though. And you know that....
I agree, mostly. I dont know the state should put any money into the area, because politicians arent going to solve this problem. I know SOAR has been worthless so far. As usual, any state/federal money just flows through as paybacks to political allies. If this region gets saved at all, itll be by local business leaders.
What I wouldnt be opposed to, would be all the coal severance tax used by non coal producing regions, be returned to coal producing regions.
Step 1. level the mountains.
Step 2. relocate the men in black to EKY.
Step 3. Offer up the remaining eastern Kentuckians to the new alien over lords as blood sacrifice .
Oh wait... you said to help didnt you.
Step 2. relocate the men in black to EKY.
Step 3. Offer up the remaining eastern Kentuckians to the new alien over lords as blood sacrifice .
Oh wait... you said to help didnt you.
So, by analogy, can Central Kentucky keep all the payroll taxes and income taxes generated by Toyota, Lexmark, UK, Trane, horse industry, etc.? Next, I guess Jefferson County gets to keep the same from UL, UPS, Ford, GE, etc.
So much for being a Commonwealth.
Besides, assuming all the money could be somehow brought back - exactly what would you do with it? And what about really impoverished counties, e.g., Knox County, which has historically produced very little coal revenue compared to counties further east? Is Barbourville shut out of the severance tax bonanza, since that county really produced very little of the revenue to begin with?
LOL the last time I looked U.S. 23 and U.S. 119 in Pike County was completely four lane and U.S. 119 in Whitesburg varies from 3 lanes to 2 lanes. I'm just assuming your wrong about the rest of your post also.
West Va seceded from Virginia during the Civil War, a fact which largely made Virginia a much more prosperous state today.
Thank you for your constructive post. That's what this thread was intended for but a few others hi-jacked it and turned it into an occasion to bash East Kentucky. I think you're absolutely correct the region needs money from outside sources. I think the Federal & State government needs to give tax incentives for companies to locate their and in turn create a better infrastructure through a payroll tax dedicated to that purpose.
Everyone in the state gets the same payroll tax. Coal severance tax only applied to coal producing counties.
What to do with it, and who would distribute it are both big problems due to corruption.
Knox County isn't impoverished, and it certainly isnt by EKY standards. However, the proceeds can be tracked via county. Each county could have the proceeds its paid be returned.
Correct me if I am wrong, and I could be for sure, but to be specific, coal severance tax did not apply to counties, it applied to and was paid by the companies that mined the coal on a per ton basis. That money was then supposed to be used for infrastructure, schools, etc., to compensate for the depletion of natural resources. But it was never "paid" by the counties or the taxpayers in the counties.
Is that correct?
(P.S. I tried a case for several days in Barbourville a few years ago, and made many trips to Knox Circuit Court, if Knox County is not impoverished, then damn, I would hate to see what impoverished looks like]
A few years ago Ohio offered tons of tax credits for the movie industry and it has created a ton of movie industry money into the state. There is almost constantly a movie being shot in Cincinnati at this point. I am sure they've estimated the economic impact of that, but I'm sure it's very large. Kentucky could do the same thing: offer incentives to other industries to move into the state. You could shoot a ton of different types of movies in Eastern Kentucky. That could help.
This is correct, from what I understand. Through the permits, and the leases, it would be POSSIBLE to track what came from where. But probably not very practical.
Then youd be completely shocked at actual coal counties. Theyre in pitiful shape. Even Clay, which is only one county over, is in starkly worse condition. Leslie, Perry, Knott, Harlan, Magoffin, Owsley are all in terrible shape. Almost surely more, but those are the ones that come to mind.
West Virginia taking eastern ky and making a new state has potential , combined name Wesucky
I'm afraid that ship may have sailed...all the way to Georgia.
I'm seeing the effects of the industry, they are now constantly filming here...it is perfectly normal to drive past a set on the way to work on an almost weekly basis.
Build more prisons in E Ky. I may be among the few that believes we don't have enough people in prison. The price of freedom is that we have a greater number of people that will misuse freedoms. The streets of Washington were filled with good E Ky prison candidates. Staff the prisons with some of the people that are on welfare. Put the rest of them to work in the fast food restaurants and cheap motels that spring up in prison communities.
Deliverance 2,3,4,5,6,7 I don't think there's a market for that
Most of the "easy" mined coal is gone. Companies that could sell it only wants to do mountaintop removal to make it profitable with less workers, so that won't help the people of EKY.
My mother and father are buried in Eastern Kentucky. It will always be home to me. No matter how bad some fools on here think it is, it still better than 99% of the world with some of the best people ion the planet.