Kentuckians are welfare queens and they're in denial about it

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

And that's the irony of the resentment-based politics the Republicans are pursuing as a way to solidify their growing stronghold on Appalachia.

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[old timey villain]

The Republican party is well aware of this double standard which is why they have more or less convinced these people that their handouts are somehow more deserved than another person's handouts.

[Earthling]

It's probably the same in states like Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia and some others.

[PJ]

I have family in Pennsylvania who feels the exact same way. They have a mentally ill son to take care of. I think it's partially that they think government handouts don't work because they're benefits aren't good enough, but they never come out and say it.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

[Lief 🗽]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

[Cory]

It's okay because they're white.

[Sol]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

Abandoning Neoliberalism.

[Indy Texas 🇺🇦🇵🇸]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

Abandoning Neoliberalism.

Are we really going to blame this on neoliberalism? Appalachia was a poor, backward place short on money, education and public services before NAFTA and CAFTA. In fact it pretty much always has been.

[Frodo]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

It all comes down to self-respect -even if it is a fact, no one likes being reminded of unpleasant truths, and it certainly won't help you win their votes.  

So we could start by giving Appalachia an industry to replace coal (if it is truly on the way out) that can still enable them to at least maintain the appearance that they are providing for their families without government help.  In short, not getting in the way of expanding natural gas development and hydraulic fracturing (i.e. fracking).


 

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

I don't support implementing the Affordable Care Act to win votes, I support implementing it to improve people's lives so it doesn't concern me that there are some people who won't give the Democrats credit for this.

[Sol]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

Abandoning Neoliberalism.

Are we really going to blame this on neoliberalism? Appalachia was a poor, backward place short on money, education and public services before NAFTA and CAFTA. In fact it pretty much always has been.

A lot of it depends on what part of Appalachia you're talking about. Appalachia south of VA/KY has historically been GOP (with the exception of certain counties in NC and AL), and the same is true of parts of Kentucky. Most of these areas were unionist strongholds during the civil war, and lack coal, which has never turned them to the Dems.

Then you have the classic "coal country" industrial area, which has historically been ultra-D. The swings around here are infamous on the forum.

After that, you have Pennsyltucky and  the Appalachians of NY, which I'm unfamiliar with, although they seem to be different from each other, with the former being more conservative than the other.

Lastly, you have New England, whose Appalachians are D-voting these days. They historically have been a mix of Yankee Pubbitude and Mill-town labor strength.

So, what do these zones all have in common? They're some of the poorest and most isolated regions of the country, for one, although they have their pockets of wealth (Atlanta and Pittsburgh suburbia comes to mind). Naturally, this begs the question- why is so much of Appalachia conservative?

Wedge issues, of course, play a role. Culturally, there isn;t a lot in common between someone in McDowell County, WV, and DC. But these tend to be overstated.

There's also the issue of local political polarization. A good example of this in WNC, where furniture and textiles have been huge in areas like Hickory. However, Hickory has been a pubbie stronghold for ages, partly because of the traditional rivalry between WNC and the traditionally Democratic East for government power. I think you probably get something similar in Georgia.

The local economy, in particular in relation to environmentalism is huge. There is perception- not entirely inaccurate- that Democrats are going after coal. It's a bit similar to the Pacific Northwest in that.

Which brings me to thesis. If you are poor person living in, say, Garrett Count, MD, and you:
-are a devout Christian
-are socially conservative
-enjoy hunting and owning guns
-have your livelihood threatened by environmentalism (or at least think that)
-are looked down upon by some left-wingers (thread title is a good example)

there's no way you vote for the Democrats unless they actually support redistribution of wealth. You don't have anything in common with them otherwise on policy.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What does krazen think of these people?

[H. Ross Peron]

Nationalism mixed with socialism is depressing.

Nationalistic social democracy/progressivism =/= Nazism

[PJ]

Probably the correct way to respond to this sort of thing is not actually to sneer, but whatever.

What is the correct way to respond to this sort of thing? People complain that the left/the Democratic party has abandoned these people by adopting more neoliberal policies in the last 20 years or whatever, but then the Democrats pass a bill that is dramatically improving these peoples' lives, giving them health insurance (often times for free!) for the first time in their lives, and they still hate us. So what is the answer here?

It all comes down to self-respect -even if it is a fact, no one likes being reminded of unpleasant truths, and it certainly won't help you win their votes.  

So we could start by giving Appalachia an industry to replace coal (if it is truly on the way out) that can still enable them to at least maintain the appearance that they are providing for their families without government help.  In short, not getting in the way of expanding natural gas development and hydraulic fracturing (i.e. fracking).


 

It would be especially sad if Appalachia moved on to an industry that frequently pollutes their water and air.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

It's hilarious that liberals/progressives think that the Democratic Party actually has the best interests of common people in mind.

[PJ]

It's hilarious that liberals/progressives think that the Democratic Party actually has the best interests of common people in mind.

Not the best, but certainly better than the opposing party. Didn't you have a D-PA avatar in the summer?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Fracking is a job killer and a polluter.

[PJ]

Fracking is a job killer and a polluter.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Frodo]

Fracking is a job killer and a polluter.

Truer words have never been spoken.

----------------------

Thank you both for encapsulating the problem we are having connecting with Appalachia. 

Thank you. 

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Thank you both for encapsulating the problem we are having connecting with Appalachia.

Kentucky doesn't want fracking.

[Frodo]

Thank you both for encapsulating the problem we are having connecting with Appalachia.

Kentucky doesn't want fracking.

And you base this information on.....what, exactly?  And don't give me Naso-like anecdotes.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

And you base this information on.....what, exactly?  And don't give me Naso-like anecdotes.

Everyone I know says they're against it.

[Frodo]

And you base this information on.....what, exactly?  And don't give me Naso-like anecdotes.

Everyone I know says they're against it.

------------------------------

[Maxwell]

And you base this information on.....what, exactly?  And don't give me Naso-like anecdotes.

Everyone I know says they're against it.

Okay Pauline Kael...