Good for Pepsi !

 

Will the parents of the children who need this most take the time to take them to the dentist ? I doubt it.

 

I would guess that the mother who walked an 8 mile round trip to get her GED would. The trip might be longer for some.

 

I would say that these kids receive medicaid which would pay for all dental treatments therefore showing the relavance of the first quote. If these kids are eligible then either 1) their parents have not applied for the children's medical assistance, 2) their parents do not highly prioritize their children's medical/dental health or 3) there are not sufficient dentists in the area that accept medicaid for payment.

 

If the 3rd situation is the problem then the mother indicated in the second quote would do whatever it took to insure her children received the medical care they required.

You're right. Perhaps part of the money that PepsiCo puts into the area will include transportation of some sort, for those that do not have any.

 

In most areas, medical taxis are available if the individual qualifies for medicaid/medicare.

I see, too, that the dentist has a mobile unit...I hadn't seen that segment in the video yet and just now read it in the article. Good for him!

I see, too, that the dentist has a mobile unit...I hadn't seen that segment in the video yet and just now read it in the article. Good for him!

 

Maybe he (or other dentists in the area) could arrange to spend a couple of days each month at each school. If permission was granted by the responsible adult for that child, then they could receive their dental care right at school making transportation a non-issue.

I see, too, that the dentist has a mobile unit...I hadn't seen that segment in the video yet and just now read it in the article. Good for him!

 

I've seen this mobile unit at several schools in Knox County the past couple of years. No need for the children to walk "8" miles to see this dentist for MT. Dew mouth:p

I'm not sure, I've talked to dentists who specifically said Mountain Dew is significantly worse than other soft drinks.

 

It may literally be worse, but I would think it is almost the drink of choice for many younger people. Seems like it is the favorite from what I can remember, this may also be why it gets a bad rep.

 

I think this is a nice PR move by PepsiCo.

Another thing is the lack of public/city water systems in the hills. City water has flouride added to it. Most of these communities rely on well water with no additives. If the government really wanted to help these folks, they would cut loose with some money to put in public water projects. It would increase the health of the residents in the affected areas, plus provide some good paying construction jobs.

Republicans would call this an earmark and a pork project .

Republicans would call this an earmark and a pork project .

 

Wrong. I'm a Republican. There is a huge difference between funding stupid things like ACORN and replacing all the turf and grass at the National Mall and providing jobs and healthy drinking water to residents that need it.

Republicans would call this an earmark and a pork project .

"Earmark" and "pork" are generally reserved for projects which have been added on to a bill that is going through the process already. This leads to people voting for or against things that have nothing to do with the actual bill.

 

Anything that has its own bill is OK, because legislators are directly voting on it.

It may literally be worse, but I would think it is almost the drink of choice for many younger people. Seems like it is the favorite from what I can remember, this may also be why it gets a bad rep.

 

I think this is a nice PR move by PepsiCo.

 

The problem it seems to me is that it starts with the parents. If the parents are sucking down Mt. Dew all day long the kids are going to do it. Personally I dont keep soft drinks in my house. My kids still drink Kool Aid once in a while and Gatorade but having soft drinks in the house just promotes abuse. The acid and the sugar combined is just bad for your teeth.

I'm still enraged over this show, all this show did was further stereo types that people like my family have worked their whole lives to change.

I'm still enraged over this show, all this show did was further stereo types that people like my family have worked their whole lives to change.

 

I understand your sentiment. More people need to be active in doing just that -- working to change the stereotype. However, too many people in EKy are willing to either just say things like A) There are poor people in other places as well, or B) There are places in Pikeville/Paintsville/et al that are just as nice as in Lexington as an excuse to go on ignoring the problems that exist in EKy. Or, they've just thrown their hands up and chalked it all up to people being lazy or just in need of being locked up.

 

The bottom line is current efforts to combat EKy's problems are either not working or it's just not enough, like putting a band-aid on a six-inch gash.

I understand your sentiment. More people need to be active in doing just that -- working to change the stereotype. However, too many people in EKy are willing to either just say things like A) There are poor people in other places as well, or B) There are places in Pikeville/Paintsville/et al that are just as nice as in Lexington as an excuse to go on ignoring the problems that exist in EKy. Or, they've just thrown their hands up and chalked it all up to people being lazy or just in need of being locked up.

 

The bottom line is current efforts to combat EKy's problems are either not working or it's just not enough, like putting a band-aid on a six-inch gash.

 

I agree we need to stop handouts and give hand ups. Which is the problem we've created a generation of people in America that are completely dependent on the government. It is a problem everywhere it's just I know plenty of specific examples in eastern Kentucky. But both my parents and my grandparents have spent their entire lives as teachers in eastern Kentucky's public schools, and after I finish my degree I plan on going back and doing my part if the good lord is willing.