You're thinking big, which is good. But your premise is "reinvesting the increased wealth." Whose increased wealth? To have increased wealth, I am assuming that you are talking about giving the mineral rights back to the landowner (from your earlier post). Giving the rights back only makes the real estate more valuable to them. It does not create any increased cash flow (necessary to construct chalets, etc.) unless the landowner SELLS the land to the only people interested in buying land with mineral rights, the coal companies. But the coal companies are not going to develop the mineral rights, or they would already have done so with the rights they currently have.

 

Obviously, you're thinking in terms of selling the land or reselling the mineral rights. In today's market the rights are not sold, but leased. The minerals are removed from the ground by the company and the land owner is provided with a percentage of the revenue. All property and mineral rights remain with the landowner.

 

Let's look at a typical natural gas lease as an example. The company acquires a two year lease for exploration. Within two years they must decide if to drill and if gas is found, a new agreement is then signed with the landowner providing a monthly check for a percentage of the revenue from all gas removed, typically 8%, for the duration of the time the well is in production. This could last for years, even decades. There is usually an agreement that the landowner will recieve free natural gas for personal use along with whatever other agreements can be worked out. The landowner does not sell the land nor the mineral rights to any future endeavors such as coal.

 

If the landowner does not own the mineral rights, the proceeds go to whatever entity does and the landowner gets nothing.

In order to end dependence welfare, there has to be a stopping point to it. The way it's set up now, it's, in effect, an unlimited resource. I know it's callous, but people have to be given a firm ultimatum (so to speak) in order for some to get up off the rolls. Yes, there does need to be a job to graduate to. But, I think that there has to be some expectation that a person finding a job is a priority....that jobs don't find people, people find jobs.

 

Back in the early 50's, my dad left his home to come to Louisville to work. That's where the jobs were. My mom rode a Greyhound to and from work in Louisville from West Point. Back in the day, you did what you had to do to find work.

 

The problem today is that some people are "picky" about what they do. The ones who aren't are working, at least in my community. People say, "I'd rather draw welfare than work at McDonalds". Or, "That job doesn't pay enough." Or, "I'm better than that." These are real comments I've heard while eavesdropping on the bus on my way home to work some days.

 

IMO, people need a real threat of losing their home, or going hungry to create an impetus. As long as many can find a reason to avoid it, they will.

 

I'm not saying this is all people, maybe not even most. But it sure as heck seems like a lot of them.

 

I'm beginning to see Billyrayjoebob's point of view. You all are focusing entirely too much attention on the sterotypical welfare recipients who have no intention of seeking work. We have more than our fair share of those, but they are not the ones who will alleviate poverty in this area. It is those who are underemployed and those who have been forced to leave for other regions to find work that we must focus on.

I'm beginning to see Billyrayjoebob's point of view. You all are focusing entirely too much attention on the sterotypical welfare recipients who have no intention of seeking work. We have more than our fair share of those, but they are not the ones who will alleviate poverty in this area. It is those who are underemployed and those who have been forced to leave for other regions to find work that we must focus on.

 

Fair enough. But, then, is it the government's job to create industry in a particular region or community?

 

Back in the early 50's, my dad left his home to come to Louisville to work. That's where the jobs were. My mom rode a Greyhound to and from work in Louisville from West Point. Back in the day, you did what you had to do to find work.

 

I too rode a Greyhound to a northern city after graduation. It's common practice, I would venture that more than half of each graduating class from out local high schools leave for better opportunities but that only contributes to the problem. Our hardest working, best educated, people are productive citizens in other areas. We need to bring them back and keep them here.

I too rode a Greyhound to a northern city after graduation. It's common practice, I would venture that more than half of each graduating class from out local high schools leave for better opportunities but that only contributes to the problem. Our hardest working, best educated, people are productive citizens in other areas. We need to bring them back and keep them here.

 

No...my mom road Greyhound to work in the evening, and home from work in the morning. She didn't leave West Point until she married my dad.

Fair enough. But, then, is it the government's job to create industry in a particular region or community?

 

No. That's why I'm trying, albeit feebly, to come up with a solution that is privately financed preferably by the Eastern Kentuckians. Ideas are appreciated.

No. That's why I'm trying, albeit feebly, to come up with a solution that is privately financed preferably by the Eastern Kentuckians. Ideas are appreciated.

 

Eastern Kentucky needs to put aside policitcal agenda's and difference's and to put together a committee or task force and market themselves as hard working communities. Plus they have to build shell buildings to attract industry instead of waiting for them to come to them. They also must agree that the tax dollars generated from companies that do relocate there or build there would be shared by the Counties or Cities that form the task force.

 

We are now in a Global economy and for any USA region; state or city to grow is going to have to do the same thing.

Another thing that discourage's alot of industry to East Kentucky is that it is well known as a strong Union labor work force.

 

No company in today's market would be willing to pay union wages no matter how good the employee's may be. But that is another topic totally.

 

And replying to Rockmom's post that East Kentucky stand firm on welfare reform would also show Major companies that there is a reliable work force to locate there. You are kidding yourself if you think a Company that is thinking about building in East Kentucky that they don't look at the welfare claims and disability claims. With Insurance rates as high as there are they have to look for danger signs before locating to an area that has these potential problems, which brings me back to that Counties and Cities must work together to end poverty and show the world what East Kentucky has to offer.

In order to end dependence welfare, there has to be a stopping point to it. The way it's set up now, it's, in effect, an unlimited resource. I know it's callous, but people have to be given a firm ultimatum (so to speak) in order for some to get up off the rolls. Yes, there does need to be a job to graduate to. But, I think that there has to be some expectation that a person finding a job is a priority....that jobs don't find people, people find jobs.

 

Back in the early 50's, my dad left his home to come to Louisville to work. That's where the jobs were. My mom rode a Greyhound to and from work in Louisville from West Point. Back in the day, you did what you had to do to find work.

 

The problem today is that some people are "picky" about what they do. The ones who aren't are working, at least in my community. People say, "I'd rather draw welfare than work at McDonalds". Or, "That job doesn't pay enough." Or, "I'm better than that." These are real comments I've heard while eavesdropping on the bus on my way home to work some days.

 

IMO, people need a real threat of losing their home, or going hungry to create an impetus. As long as many can find a reason to avoid it, they will.

 

I'm not saying this is all people, maybe not even most. But it sure as heck seems like a lot of them.

That is exactly some of the points that I have been trying to make. Just because a coal miner makes say $50,000 a year makes some think that every job is supposed to pay $50,000 a year. And the attitude of "I wont work for a penny less" mentality runs rampant. When you have to view some these issues from an employer point of view, you can get very frustrated with the willing labor force that you have available to you.

 

We complain about there not being any good paying jobs with major manufacturing firms in the area, but you have to put yourself in the shoes of some of these companies. Would you yourself want to invest millions and millions of dollars in a region and be subjected to this work brickle mentality and the nightmare of trying to get people to show up to work every day?

 

Eastern Kentucky is full of good hardworking people that strive very hard to be productive and are determined to make a good life for their famililies, but they sure do seem to be hard to find when you need someone to work.

Obviously, you're thinking in terms of selling the land or reselling the mineral rights. In today's market the rights are not sold, but leased. The minerals are removed from the ground by the company and the land owner is provided with a percentage of the revenue. All property and mineral rights remain with the landowner.

 

Let's look at a typical natural gas lease as an example. The company acquires a two year lease for exploration. Within two years they must decide if to drill and if gas is found, a new agreement is then signed with the landowner providing a monthly check for a percentage of the revenue from all gas removed, typically 8%, for the duration of the time the well is in production. This could last for years, even decades. There is usually an agreement that the landowner will recieve free natural gas for personal use along with whatever other agreements can be worked out. The landowner does not sell the land nor the mineral rights to any future endeavors such as coal.

 

If the landowner does not own the mineral rights, the proceeds go to whatever entity does and the landowner gets nothing.

Actually the common oil/gas lease agreement calls for 12 and 1/2% going to the leasor. It is an eighth, not 8%.

Actually the common oil/gas lease agreement calls for 12 and 1/2% going to the leasor. It is an eighth, not 8%.

 

You're absolutely right, I had my mind on other details and misquoted that one. :thumb:

Eastern Kentucky needs to put aside policitcal agenda's and difference's and to put together a committee or task force and market themselves as hard working communities. Plus they have to build shell buildings to attract industry instead of waiting for them to come to them. They also must agree that the tax dollars generated from companies that do relocate there or build there would be shared by the Counties or Cities that form the task force.

 

We are now in a Global economy and for any USA region; state or city to grow is going to have to do the same thing.

Another thing that discourage's alot of industry to East Kentucky is that it is well known as a strong Union labor work force.

 

No company in today's market would be willing to pay union wages no matter how good the employee's may be. But that is another topic totally.

 

And replying to Rockmom's post that East Kentucky stand firm on welfare reform would also show Major companies that there is a reliable work force to locate there. You are kidding yourself if you think a Company that is thinking about building in East Kentucky that they don't look at the welfare claims and disability claims. With Insurance rates as high as there are they have to look for danger signs before locating to an area that has these potential problems, which brings me back to that Counties and Cities must work together to end poverty and show the world what East Kentucky has to offer.

 

Good post. However, although you don't say it directly, I get the impression you are referring to manufacturing jobs. Those type of jobs are more and more leaving our shores and, in my opinion, we would be better off looking for a different type of industry.