re: Interesting article on poverty in Appalachia

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That's a National Review article that went more in depth about some of the issues plaguing Appalachia. Prof or Belle, is this a more accurate description of the situation in Appalachia?

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Thanks for the article. And yes, it provides a more accurate snap shot IMO. Like I said, it's a different kind of poverty there than in urban areas. There's an expectation that they should pull themselves up by their bootstraps and do better, but their options are pretty limited due to proximity to major stores, schools, etc. As it said, the ones that "do better" are basically the ones that get the hell out. It's not like here where you have job opportunities within a 10-15 minute drive or bus ride (if you're willing to do the labor), schools out the wazoo (that the government is willing to pay for you to attend when you're that poor), and other options in the city. There it's basically a coal mine, a gravel road, and a holler that is difficult to get out of in the winter months.

And while the state of Kentucky is worried about not growing hemp because it looks too close to weed, you essentially have a whole area of your state ODing on Oxy while your "War on Drugs" resources are being targeted at a plant that's impossible to OD on. Oxy is probably the worst thing to ever happen to Appalachia.

It's definitely a multi-faceted issue with no easy solutions.