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re: Why is Appalachia so poor and decrepit
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:03 pm to SuperSaint
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:03 pm to SuperSaint
quote:
Small towns that are basically secluded from the world have had generational inbreeding that has not helped the IQ
I saw a documentary about an inbred family in w Virginia in the Appalachian mountains. They were all grown but most were not very functional if you know what I mean. One of the ones who was somewhat functional was able to pair off with a non family gal and they had a daughter. The daughter grew up and got hooked on drugs and was stealing their check every month.
It was one of the saddest things I’ve seen but they really didn’t seem to be too unhappy.
There are a lot of these documentaries on YouTube and the people up there grew up hard but proud, not so much nowadays…all of the state is within the Appalachian mountain range..
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 3:05 pm
1
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:06 pm to ClemsonKitten
I’m from southern Oklahoma and assumed I had seen people living in pretty deep poverty.
I went snow skiing one weekend with some friends from West Virginia, some resort in the mountains.
We went through some areas on the way up the mountain that I didn’t realize existed in the modern US. I forever have this image of a little girl that I saw that day outside what I’d describe as a lean-to type structure. No shoes, barely dressed and covered in filth. I wondered if she even had enough to eat. Really hit me hard. I’d never seen anything like it.
I went snow skiing one weekend with some friends from West Virginia, some resort in the mountains.
We went through some areas on the way up the mountain that I didn’t realize existed in the modern US. I forever have this image of a little girl that I saw that day outside what I’d describe as a lean-to type structure. No shoes, barely dressed and covered in filth. I wondered if she even had enough to eat. Really hit me hard. I’d never seen anything like it.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:08 pm to Clark14
quote:
saw a documentary about an inbred family in w Virginia in the Appalachian mountains
That’s the Whitakers from Soft White Underbelly. They’ve been discussed on this site many times
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:09 pm to ClemsonKitten
As regulations, labor unions and wage inflation brought about by higher minimum wages put a big crimp on margins and work efficiency, Business found its path of least resistance. Generally comes down to Machines and offshoring.
Like many rural areas, their means of economic survival got hit with either machination or offshoring. agriculture moved toward machines and any industrial activity got sent overseas.
North Carolina in particular used to have a thriving textile and furniture industry but that was as gutted with offshoring.
Some areas have rejuvenated with auto manufacturing but it’s spotty.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:12 pm to SlidellCajun
My question is where the people we are talking about get the money for meth? They don't work and dealers are not handing it out for free.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:16 pm to ClemsonKitten
Ive been through sections of E Kentucky and S West Virginia that look like everyone left in 1970 and hasn't been touched since. Entire towns just rotting. Its creepy as hell.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:23 pm to ClemsonKitten
quote:
I’ve been to some crap holes across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and ex Soviet Bloc countries and none of those are comparable to an Appalachian county without an interstate running through it.
True, parts of it are pretty bad- but I doubt you were a wrong turn away from Ebola and cannibalism.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:46 pm to ClemsonKitten
No jobs bruh.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:56 pm to Gifman
quote:
war on coal,
This year will be the all time high production of and use of coal in the history of the world.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 3:58 pm to ClemsonKitten
quote:
I’ve been to some crap holes across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and ex Soviet Bloc countries and none of those are comparable to an Appalachian county without an interstate running through it.
You are full of it.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:21 pm to Loup
quote:
quote:
Lagos Nigeria
I thought that was part of Nola at first glance
As late as 2010, there were places outside Paris, France that didn't look too dissimilar, minus the river part. I saw them then. I understand they cleared them out for the '24 Olympics.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:32 pm to travelgamer
quote:
My question is where the people we are talking about get the money for meth? T
There a great story about that on a podcast that slips my mind. Listened to it many years ago.
It explained that these small towns across the country have people who survive on a steady flow of government money much of which comes from programs like Social Security (social security disability) and other means tested welfare programs. People take that money and buy drugs. There’s also lot of theft which creates a gray market for stolen goods. Then there’s the drug trade that sucks out the little bit of money there.
It’s a terrible cycle.
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:35 pm to Dr RC
quote:
Other fuel sources like natural gas being more efficient, cleaner, and cheaper than coal and industries li
Coal has the potential to provide help to.. Keep the Earth cooler. Some say global warming, that term is dumb and kind of inaccurate, but if somehow the stacks where the smoke come out of could be built really high.. I don't know the numbers, but if they can built it so it doesn't impact air traffic, but what coal releases when it burns could provide layers that would cold down earth by a few degrees.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:41 pm to ClemsonKitten
extraction economies aren't designed to benefit the communities and people physically doing the extracting. see: africa
This post was edited on 9/23/25 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:48 pm to redneck hippie
quote:
That’s the Whitakers from Soft White Underbelly. They’ve been discussed on this site many times
That’s the ones I watched. It was tough to watch.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:50 pm to geauxjuice
quote:
extraction economies aren't designed to benefit the communities and people physically doing the extracting. see: africa
See Texas or Alaska
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:53 pm to WhoDatNC
quote:
They are probably much happier than you.
I was at the Walmart in Spencer, WV getting my kid some meds in a pinch on a Saturday night this summer. While I realize Walmart isn’t a fair cohort, especially on a Saturday night, no one looked happy. And I’m not sure it was alllll that much different from the general population in the daytime.
I once walked my dogs passed a junk car on the road and kids started emerging from it one by one. Must’ve been 10 of em. Like a clown car but not funny.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 4:56 pm to soccerfüt
quote:
This entire Asian country can’t buy a 20 piece Caniac meal-
quote:
a 20 piece Caniac meal
What the frick is a "20 piece Caniac meal"?
Posted on 9/23/25 at 5:06 pm to travelgamer
Hunting and selling arrowheads if it’s like Arkansas.
Posted on 9/23/25 at 5:10 pm to RogerTheShrubber
We've known a lot of stuff for 50+ years, but haven't done anything about it.
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