Did you guys ever think that this kind of thing might be good for Eastern Kentucky? I mean realistically whether we like it or not, at least some people do live like this in KY. Maybe some day guilt will grip this nation, kinda like the Civil Rights Movement. And then the rest of the country will see the injustices of Roosevelt's socialist programs. The painful grip that socialist dependency has on our people needs to be on display. Our coal and timber is gone. Where are our roads, airports, phase I electric, public waste management, and idustrial parks? What are E Kentuckians to do to break the cycle of socialist dependency? I know many outside the area would say, simply leave. But it's not easy to leave and go out into a world absent of your family; where you know your culture will never be valued.

That kind of goes against the basic principles of journalism. She's there to document the story, not be a part of it.

 

That's what I was screaming the entire time the media was pushing Obama to the presidency, but they still became part of that story. Why was it OK that the "basic principles of journalism" to be breached in that story, but not this one? That's like the news networks reporting on Katrina. They could fly over New Orleans and tell us how many people were dying, but couldn't snatch them off their roof top because they were only there to report, not become part of story. If they can help in a situation, they have the responsibility to.

And maybe you're projecting an intent that isn't there. FWIW, I've run into more people from outside Louisville and Lexington who assume that we (Louisvillian's & Lexingtonians) look down on them, than I've run into people who actually do.

 

That may very well be true, but we are left out a lot. I know not everyone in Louisville and Lexington don't look down on us, but there are plenty that do and unfortunately they stick out more than the ones that don't. Which is the problem with this story too the bad stories in eastern Kentucky stick out more than the good ones.

There will be truck loads of Hannah Montana boots shipped in here along with other "things" that people who watched this show and were touched, will want to provide to these families. It is a lovely gesture and the kids most certainly deserve the things that they will receive. I think that Diane Sawyer was wanting to highlight the kids that are being hurt by the poor decisions of their parents and in essence being left behind by society. I get that, but while doing so she also perpetuated ALL the hillbilly stereotypes that the rest of us get kind of tired of hearing.

 

We need good roads in Eastern Kentucky. We need a bigger selection of jobs. Do to the terrain we live in, there isn't a lot of flat land to build on. Although I am thankful that we have the opportunity to have a valuable resource like coal in this area, coal mining isn't for everyone. After seeing the 20/20 show, what company is going to want to come start a business in our area? We need some money in this area, but not for those individuals who choose to abuse prescription drugs and live like they do. Those adults should be made to work and I am for passing a drug test before you get your check. We need money for infrastructure.

 

I wonder how many pills these boots will fetch?

That may very well be true, but we are left out a lot. I know not everyone in Louisville and Lexington don't look down on us, but there are plenty that do and unfortunately they stick out more than the ones that don't. Which is the problem with this story too the bad stories in eastern Kentucky stick out more than the good ones.

 

I don't mean to downplay your concerns, because I can certainly understand what you feel. But what can we (Louisvillians for instance) do? Louisville generates more tax revenues for the state that we receive in return. That means that those revenues are going somewhere. Is it the fault of people who live in Louisville that you (EKY'ians) are left out? At what point does it become the responsibility of those who live in an area to solve their issues? From what I understand, if a bunch of Louisvillians took it upon themselves to come to EKY and start trying to change things, it wouldn't be well received. It would be seen as "uppity" Louisvillians trying to meddle. If there's a problem in Louisville, and we have PLENTY, we are responsible for solving them. We have a problem with crime (not as bad as other cities our size, but still a problem). We have drug problems. We have a higher than we'd like drop out rate among high school students. We have jobs leaving, industries downsizing, etc., etc., etc. We don't expect that the state solves those problems, nor do we expect that those in other parts of the state solve those problems. Does than mean that I mean EKY shouldn't expect our help? Not at all. But, at some point, those who live there HAVE to be the biggest part of the solution. After all, they are the ones who live there.

I agree with your statement ROCKMOM. Those of us who live in this area have to take care of our own problems. We have a valuable rescource in this area. There is a tax placed on all the coal that our miners mine that is called coal severance tax. Coal mining communities get 1/2 of this money and the rest is given to Frankfort for them to disperse to the rest of the state's communities who do not mine coal. Money won't fix all of our problems, but it might help some. Mountain people stick together. We've been through alot of diversity over the years and are still here. We'll overcome this prescription drug problem here as well, but we're gonna need some help. When you see the kids of one of these pill heads suffereing like the show displayed......the firing squad idea doesn't seem so far fetched. (kidding of course)

I agree with your statement ROCKMOM. Those of us who live in this area have to take care of our own problems. We have a valuable rescource in this area. There is a tax placed on all the coal that our miners mine that is called coal severance tax. Coal mining communities get 1/2 of this money and the rest is given to Frankfort for them to disperse to the rest of the state's communities who do not mine coal. Money won't fix all of our problems, but it might help some. Mountain people stick together. We've been through alot of diversity over the years and are still here. We'll overcome this prescription drug problem here as well, but we're gonna need some help. When you see the kids of one of these pill heads suffereing like the show displayed......the firing squad idea doesn't seem so far fetched. (kidding of course)

 

I hope you know that I'm sympathetic to the plight of those who live there who are NOT like those shown on TV. I do also hope that you know that we (non-EKY'ians) do realize that not everyone in EKY is like that. At the beginning of this special, I heard Diane Sawyer state there are 2.2 million people living in the area, and that half a million live as those she profiles. I think she made it clear that the examples she profiled were not the majority. I just don't like when people from EKY say that Louisville (in particular) looks down on them. Because I don't think that as a whole, that's true at all. And when people throw that out there, it sounds like it's OK for those things that we see on TV to exist, because they're not the norm, and that we don't understand the reality. IMO, the reality is that it does happen everywhere, and every town, city, community has their own set of challenges to overcome in order to overcome those same issues. Louisville has a program in place that has razed barraks style projects and developed them into mixed income housing.

 

Now, some people think this is a horrible idea, but others love it. I'm on the side that loves it at this point. It's still early in the game, though, and there may be unforseen issues that arise from this. My point is that even though there are challenges to overcome in attracting industry, for example, it's the people of EKY that are best equipped to "sell" their area. I would think that EKY would be a great area, if there could be an employee base, to locate a call center, for example. Bring those jobs back from India. Would it erase every issue? No. But, it could be a start.

I was told earlier that Central Florida contacted Shawn Grimm through Johnson Central and offered him a pretty nice bundle if he would come there and play football. They basically said that anything involving money would not be an issue.

I was told earlier that Central Florida contacted Shawn Grimm through Johnson Central and offered him a pretty nice bundle if he would come there and play football. They basically said that anything involving money would not be an issue.

 

That's awesome! :thumb:

http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/39682722.html

Eastern Kentucky Sounds Off On "A Hidden America"

 

Some call it an outrage, others a reality check. It seems everyone has something to say about Diane Sawyer's special report on Appalachia.

 

Hazard Mayor Bill Gorman, who met with Diane Sawyer for the report, says, "It was not typical of Appalachia. It was a slam on our people."

 

The program has already generated more than 1500 comments on the show's website. One viewer writes: "I thought the show was totally ridiculous; how many more shows are going to be done on the stereotypical topics of Kentucky?"

 

Another says, "I am angry at the people posting comments on how not all of Kentucky is like the Kentucky they showed. Like others have stated, that is not the point...You can not say you have an advancing and well-functioning society with this problem still hidden away."

I watched this on Tivo last night. How do you blame kids for self-destructive parents? It is just so heartbreaking.

 

On a side note, I was at Shawn Grimm's final high school game and only realized it while watching the show. If I had know the story I might have cheered for him to beat my Lincoln County team!