re: Dear Kentucky: Thank you for your bourbon

All of the South needs to up its game. Some states, such as Virginia, North Carolina and Florida are showing that the stigma of being southern is vanishing. Georgia and Tennessee are rapidly making changeovers as well. Texas and Missouri have had strong economies for a long time and are attractive to businesses.

When the citizens of Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina and Arkansas tell their governments that economic growth is more important than maintaining the political status quo, then we'll change, too.

But we do send the majority of the Vets at the Derby, so there's that

Not sure that it is entirely a political thing.In some cases it is just geographical luck.You need certain things to support big industry.

You need a large river that can be navigated by ships or barges,good highways and railways.If you live in an area that doesn't have at least two of these things, you are probably not going to see much change in your town.
Cheap electricity also is important.

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Elmer T Lee

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Got a 3/4 full bottle of it on the shelf.

Last time I was in oxford found a liquor store that had an entire end cap of it.

And like someone else said try Rowan's Creek. Just finished off my bottle a few weeks ago. Pretty solid. Even though I have heard its very inconsistent and can be hit or miss between bottles.

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Not sure that it is entirely a political thing.In some cases it is just geographical luck.

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I disagree. In this Information Age businesses are looking for socially liberal areas where diversity is promoted. What you're speaking to is heavy industry and, yes, geography can be an advantage.

Regarding diversity, perception is the key. The South is still battling the view that we are prejudiced and intolerant. There is every bit as much bigotry in other parts of the US but it doesn't have the same effect as it does in southern states.

Let's use Kansas as an example. That state is home to the Westboro Baptist Church, passed a law against teaching evolution in public schools (overturned), considered a law to allow businesses to discriminate against gays (died in session) and recently experienced the killing of three Jews by a Ku Klux Klan member.

Is Kansas considered to be a bigoted state? Can you imagine the perception of a southern state with Kansas' recent record?

My point is that businesses look to a state's elected government for a feel about what the populace is like. Kansas has a government that is thought of, true or not, as being inclusive. Kentucky, and the other five states I listed, do not.

In these states, social issues are more important than economic concerns. At least that's the perception, IMO.