National Review takes on Kentucky's "White Ghetto"

[DINGO Joe]

Are you sure?

In Kentucky, you cannot buy soda and candy with food stamps.

Maybe you're thinking of WIC? 

[DINGO Joe]

Also, the Nicholas Kristof story he cites was discredited. You can't get SSI just for being illiterate. That was a meme put out as an excuse for attacking people on SSI.

You are correct about this.

[DINGO Joe]

Happened to just go by the Lexington Herald to try to find a very extensive series they did on the coal country and there were three stories from today involving counties all adjacent to Owsley.

Former Kentucky basketball hero and State Agriculture Commissioner/Lt. Governor nominee Ritchie Farmer is going to jail for all sorts of malfeasance.  (From Clay County)

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/14/3033479/farmer-sentenced-to-more-than.html

The sheriff of Jackson county arrested the judge-executive and treasurer after they basically stripped him of his police force and budget.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/14/3033380/sheriff-arrests-judge-executive.html

and

43 people were indicted in Leslie county in a federal meth investigation.

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/01/14/3034029/43-people-are-indicted-in-leslie.html

Fun times

[DINGO Joe]

The counties mentioned in this thread:

Owsley--80.95% Romney
Clay--83.65% Romney
Jackson--86.25% Romney
Leslie--89.62% Romney

[DINGO Joe]

One way to improve the situation in Appalachia would be reinvigorated labor unions.

What work would these labor unions be doing?

[DINGO Joe]

What work would these labor unions be doing?

Organizing workers.

What would the workers be doing?

[DINGO Joe]

Story on the long-term pollution in coal country.  Obviously it puts a tamper on things like tourism, or fishing, or farming.