Maybe if the government required drug testing to receive one of them there welfare checks...people might clean up and be eligible for one of those jobs. I have never had to live in such poverty but was/am not rich by any stretch. Drugs is an expensive habit so we need to find ways to clean it up and stop enabling people to continue the drug cycle. How can these kids ever know anything different. Many kids think there are two kinds of people--the ones who work (many feel as though this is not an option for them as they have never had a role model) and those who don't (find a way to draw a check). If I am going to help support someone with my tax money....it would be nice to know they weren't high on drugs when they cashed the check.

The program we're discussing was dealing with the difficulties of the Children of the Mountains. I'm aware other areas have similar issues.

 

Would everyone feel better if I added an * at the end of each sentence?

 

*(problems mentioned are not intended to be the sole property of the people of Eastern Kentucky. Some problems may actually be worse in other areas. It is understood that misery and poverty are universal in nature and may appear at any time in any area.)

 

 

I'm sorry. I'll refrain from trying to offer points to ponder.

I'm sorry. I'll refrain from trying to offer points to ponder.

 

 

No, it is I who should appologize. My response was a bit over the sarcarsm limit and I am the one who should back out of the conversation.

He could fill every position by lunch time if drug testing were'nt required. I have several aquaintances who are in positions of authority in mining or with MSHA and they all say drug use is so rampant they can't recruit nor retain anything close to a full work force.

 

So good paying jobs are available in this region?

The program we're discussing was dealing with the difficulties of the Children of the Mountains. I'm aware other areas have similar issues.

 

Would everyone feel better if I added an * at the end of each sentence?

 

*(problems mentioned are not intended to be the sole property of the people of Eastern Kentucky. Some problems may actually be worse in other areas. It is understood that misery and poverty are universal in nature and may appear at any time in any area.)

 

 

I want to ask one more question:

 

Is the situation in EKY unique in that solutions that would work in other parts of the country wouldn't work in EKY?

So good paying jobs are available in this region?

 

If you like coal mining and the risks associated with it.

If you like coal mining and the risks associated with it.

 

Here's where we have a perception problem. We here these people are in this situation because they are poor, and uneducated. We hear there is no opportunity in this region. there is no way out. There is no hope. But yet there are 60,000 dollar a year jobs that cannot be filled, because as you put it, they don't like it and it's risky. Yet they will do and deal drugs. You telling me that's OK?

Here's where we have a perception problem. We hear these people are in this situation because they are poor, and uneducated. We hear there is no opportunity in this region. there is no way out. There is no hope. But yet there are 60,000 dollar a year jobs that cannot be filled, because as you put it, they don't like it and it's risky. Yet they will do and deal drugs. You telling me that's OK?

 

 

 

I don't think anyone ever said that it was OK.

If you havent' read Ruby Payne's book Framework for Understanding Poverty, you should. If you have never lived in poverty, it's very eye opening. If you have, you will say, "wow...I know what she's talking about!" Either way, you can gain a great deal of understanding from it.

I don't think anyone ever said that it was OK.

 

Well JS was justifying it by stating they don't like coal mining and it's dangerous. Which in hand means they don't like working to make 60,000 dollars a year with benefits, for them and their families. I have a problem with that.

Here's where we have a perception problem. We here these people are in this situation because they are poor, and uneducated. We hear there is no opportunity in this region. there is no way out. There is no hope. But yet there are 60,000 dollar a year jobs that cannot be filled, because as you put it, they don't like it and it's risky. Yet they will do and deal drugs. You telling me that's OK?

 

They don't all pay that much. It is a very volatile industry in terms of the consistency of work (boom v. bust). There are little options for jobs other than mining, which is one of the most dangerous professions on the planet. You can't just walk out of the mine and go get a job at the factory around the corner.

Well JS was justifying it by stating they don't like coal mining and it's dangerous. Which in hand means they don't like working to make 60,000 dollars a year with benefits, for them and their families. I have a problem with that.

 

That is not the case with most mining jobs.

That is not the case with most mining jobs.

 

How much do you think that most coal miners make a year?

How much do you think that most coal miners make a year?

 

I know miners make good money, but there can't be that many making that much plus all those benefits. That may be what's going on in the absolute best of economic times, perhaps.

I think what some people have as an image of a coal miner is a little outdated. It is a very dangerous job. I don't know if it should be labeled as "the most dangerous job". It's not like it was 50 or 60 years ago when coal miners and their families all live couped up in small coal camp houses and buy their food from the company store and their kids are all nasty, bare footed, and out in the yards playing with the chickens. Due to the hard work and sacrifice of many coal miners before them, today's coal miner is far from being impoverished. Coal miners make a good wage, have good benefits, and are hard workers. The coal miners in my community are upper middle class. They have multiple cars, live in nice homes, have house boats, Bass boats, etc. and are able to provide a good living for their families. It's not the worst thing in the world to be a coal miner. It's an honest job for a hard working individual. They mine the coal that keeps the lights on for the rest of the state. Furthermore, the coal severance tax that is sent to Frankfort from these coal mining communites helps pays for the nice roads and infrastructure that the rest of the state gets to enjoy. It would be nice if we could keep all of it to take care of our own problems.