Kentucky, the Deadbeat Uncle State

[Wakie77]

Routinely we read reports about how many states receive more in federal funding than they contribute while others have the inverse.  In many cases a state receiving more than it contributes can be explained by its housing military bases, being home to a large portion of our oil reserves, or the state falling prey to some unfortunate natural disaster.  In the case of Kentucky none of these are true.  Since 1981 Kentucky has never contributed an equal amount to what they receive.  In fact, the trend has been that we are increasingly giving them more every year.

In 1981 KY got $1.06 for every $1 they paid into the Federal government.  By 1991 it was up to $1.28.  By 2001 $1.38.  In 2021 they are expected to get $2.61 on every $1 they contribute.

So this said …. WHY ARE WE SUPPORTING THESE DEADBEATS?

Even worse, why do we allow their Senator (McConnell) to brazenly abuse everyone else?

It is time to tell Kentucky enough is enough.  Pay your fair share deadbeats!!!

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

The reason to support the "deadbeats" of Kentucky is that they're fellow Americans with as much right to an acceptable-ish standard of living as anybody else, and in a developed country the responsibility for maintaining an acceptable-ish standard of living falls at least partly on the state.

[RINO Tom]

OP, drinking can be fun ... learn to do it a lot better.

[Wakie77]

The reason to support the "deadbeats" of Kentucky is that they're fellow Americans with as much right to an acceptable-ish standard of living as anybody else, and in a developed country the responsibility for maintaining an acceptable-ish standard of living falls at least partly on the state.

Except that Kentucky is doing NOTHING to improve itself.  If anything it is consistently making itself worse whilst its Senators take shots at other states.  Both Paul and McConnell suggested cutting aid to other states during the pandemic.

Honestly, I'm sick of these losers who can't figure out how to balance a checkbook passing judgement on the rest of us who can.  They need to realize there is more to life than basketball, horse racing, and crystal meth.

[DINGO Joe]

The reason to support the "deadbeats" of Kentucky is that they're fellow Americans with as much right to an acceptable-ish standard of living as anybody else, and in a developed country the responsibility for maintaining an acceptable-ish standard of living falls at least partly on the state.

Except that Kentucky is doing NOTHING to improve itself.  If anything it is consistently making itself worse whilst its Senators take shots at other states.  Both Paul and McConnell suggested cutting aid to other states during the pandemic.

Honestly, I'm sick of these losers who can't figure out how to balance a checkbook passing judgement on the rest of us who can.  They need to realize there is more to life than basketball, horse racing, and crystal meth.

You forgot the bourbon. Also, KY does have a couple of sizable military bases, but yeah, Cocaine Mitch and Hal Rogers can go toe to toe with any pork barreler out there, including Robert Byrd.  Plenty of welfare queens in Appalachia and among the farmers these days. 

[Alben Barkley]

The reason to support the "deadbeats" of Kentucky is that they're fellow Americans with as much right to an acceptable-ish standard of living as anybody else, and in a developed country the responsibility for maintaining an acceptable-ish standard of living falls at least partly on the state.

Except that Kentucky is doing NOTHING to improve itself.  If anything it is consistently making itself worse whilst its Senators take shots at other states.  Both Paul and McConnell suggested cutting aid to other states during the pandemic.

Honestly, I'm sick of these losers who can't figure out how to balance a checkbook passing judgement on the rest of us who can.  They need to realize there is more to life than basketball, horse racing, and crystal meth.

I resent that. There is nothing more to life than basketball and BOURBON, not meth.

Also, why are you picking on Kentucky so much in particular? We’re not even the most deadbeat of the red states.

Take your anger out on Mississippi, a more deserving target.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Honestly, I'm sick of these losers who can't figure out how to balance a checkbook passing judgement on the rest of us who can.

Said the Freedom Caucus Congressman, in between calling AOC slurs.

[Badger]

Honestly, I'm sick of these losers who can't figure out how to balance a checkbook passing judgement on the rest of us who can.

Said the Freedom Caucus Congressman, in between calling AOC slurs.

Well, that's kind of the point isn't it?

[Wakie77]

Also, why are you picking on Kentucky so much in particular? We’re not even the most deadbeat of the red states.

Take your anger out on Mississippi, a more deserving target.

Mitch McConnell

You guys keep electing him.  Time to pain the penalty.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Also, why are you picking on Kentucky so much in particular? We’re not even the most deadbeat of the red states.

Take your anger out on Mississippi, a more deserving target.

Mitch McConnell

You guys keep electing him.  Time to pain the penalty.

Did you mean pay the penalty?

See me after class

[Yoda]

The reason to support the "deadbeats" of Kentucky is that they're fellow Americans with as much right to an acceptable-ish standard of living as anybody else, and in a developed country the responsibility for maintaining an acceptable-ish standard of living falls at least partly on the state.

Well, to play devil's advocate...is that what they're doing with all those federal dollars? Are they making sure every Kentuckian has quality healthcare, access to quality education? Universal Pre-K? Paid maternity/paternity leave? Quality housing? Clean water and air? Free community college? Job training? Rehab services for the state's out-of-control opioid epidemic? Or is it going into the pockets of Mitch McConnell's political donors in the form of exorbitant, no-bid government contracts? Tax credits for "job creators" who employ thousands of minimum wage workers with no health insurance or benefits? I'm honestly asking. They're getting more than 2.5x what they pay into the federal government. That's a massive amount of money, especially for a poor state. My God I imagine that if Ohio got that kind of money back we would all have flying cars. It would be like The Jetsons up in this b&^%$. Where is all that money going, what is it doing? These are fair questions, and while OP may have been off-colored on how he put it, it's not an unreasonable topic at all. Why do McConnell and Rand Paul get to scream "socialism" while reaping all the benefits of socialism showered upon them mostly by the rich blue states?

[Kyle Rittenhouse is a Political Prisoner]

Liberals have noted that the bulk of our taxes are paid by the wealthy and that the wealthy vote for Democrats. Some party of labor.

[Badger]

Also, why are you picking on Kentucky so much in particular? We’re not even the most deadbeat of the red states.

Take your anger out on Mississippi, a more deserving target.

Mitch McConnell

You guys keep electing him.  Time to pain the penalty.

Did you mean pay the penalty?

See me after class

Sorry, he borrowed my phone to post that.

[Former President tack50]

I mean if you really think that way, why not advocate for your state to leave the US? That way you don't have to pay for the Kentucky deadbeats and their cousins in West Virginia and what not

[Intell]

At least Kentucky is used here, meaning you just hate poor people, if Mississippi was used as an example, then you hate both poor and black people.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

The SALT deduction is a de facto subsidy for most of the "revenue-generating" states anyway.

[Wakie77]

Also, why are you picking on Kentucky so much in particular? We’re not even the most deadbeat of the red states.

Take your anger out on Mississippi, a more deserving target.

Mitch McConnell

You guys keep electing him.  Time to pain the penalty.

Did you mean pay the penalty?

See me after class

Typo's are the worst.

[Wakie77]

I mean if you really think that way, why not advocate for your state to leave the US? That way you don't have to pay for the Kentucky deadbeats and their cousins in West Virginia and what not

In all honesty … if NY, NJ, CT, MA, & CA all walked that would take away 27% of US GDP.  I think it would be a good idea.

[Alcibiades]

Personally, I do believe that income should be redistributed within a country from richer to poorer areas.

However, while OP could have phrased it more respectfully, the topic nonetheless does raise some worthwhile points. As Yoda mentioned, what are they doing with all the money? Why does the state still have some of the nation’s poorest education and health outcomes and infrastructure after years of being a net receiver of federal funds? And why do the state’s mostly Republican elected representatives get to yell about fiscal responsibility, self-dependence and ‘socialism’, and insult the liberal states, which are paying for Kentucky’s hospitals, school and roads, as among other things trying to steal ‘real Americans’’ hard-earned money?

[Wakie77]

At least Kentucky is used here, meaning you just hate poor people, if Mississippi was used as an example, then you hate both poor and black people.

Oh yes clearly it is hatred of the poor and not displeasure with having the Senators from a state that has been collecting $ from the rest of us threaten to cut aid in a rare time of need.

Republicans are such fans of "tough love" then it is time to cut funding to states that keep returning Republicans to the Senate.

[DINGO Joe]

At least Kentucky is used here, meaning you just hate poor people, if Mississippi was used as an example, then you hate both poor and black people.

Well, since I doubt you keep up with current events, Mississippi is recently famous for converting much of their welfare money to block grants so that the wealthy white people could easily steal it, send pro wrestlers to rehab and give Brett Favre money for doing nothing.  While they got caught because it was so blatant, it is emblematic of the grift that goes on out there as part of the "reform" to make sure that the poor aren't misusing their benefits you see. 

However, I can also cite a recent case in Kentucky where the only (non dollar store) grocer in fabled Ownsley Co (mega white, mega poor, mega Republican) has been charged with a food stamp for cash scheme. 

But grifting is the American way you see.

[Intell]

At least Kentucky is used here, meaning you just hate poor people, if Mississippi was used as an example, then you hate both poor and black people.

Well, since I doubt you keep up with current events, Mississippi is recently famous for converting much of their welfare money to block grants so that the wealthy white people could easily steal it, send pro wrestlers to rehab and give Brett Favre money for doing nothing.  While they got caught because it was so blatant, it is emblematic of the grift that goes on out there as part of the "reform" to make sure that the poor aren't misusing their benefits you see. 

However, I can also cite a recent case in Kentucky where the only (non dollar store) grocer in fabled Ownsley Co (mega white, mega poor, mega Republican) has been charged with a food stamp for cash scheme. 

But grifting is the American way you see.

Poor states deserve to get money, I don't know what you're even complaining about it, sure there's corruption but you complain about the corruption not poor states getting the money.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Thatchercrats wherever you look these days. Very unfortunate. Another reason to wish for the immediate end of Trumpery.

[DINGO Joe]

At least Kentucky is used here, meaning you just hate poor people, if Mississippi was used as an example, then you hate both poor and black people.

Well, since I doubt you keep up with current events, Mississippi is recently famous for converting much of their welfare money to block grants so that the wealthy white people could easily steal it, send pro wrestlers to rehab and give Brett Favre money for doing nothing.  While they got caught because it was so blatant, it is emblematic of the grift that goes on out there as part of the "reform" to make sure that the poor aren't misusing their benefits you see. 

However, I can also cite a recent case in Kentucky where the only (non dollar store) grocer in fabled Ownsley Co (mega white, mega poor, mega Republican) has been charged with a food stamp for cash scheme. 

But grifting is the American way you see.

Poor states deserve to get money, I don't know what you're even complaining about it, sure there's corruption but you complain about the corruption not poor states getting the money.

Well, it's a matter of how you support them.  The justification for block grants was to stop the small time graft, but that just enables people further up the food chain to steal big.  I'd rather the steal small approach.

The other problem is at what point do decide that a community is too small to subsidize.  So, Ownsley's only full service (fresh produce and fresh meat) grocery is a fraud case.  Can a reputable grocer actually work in the county or do we subsidize that too (or just let the locals subsist on a diet of pringles and pepsi)?  What about failing water or transport systems in places that have lost most of their population and the people left are the elderly and disabled (WV and KY are two of the most disabled states out there)?  Do we spend money on that?  Personally, i'd rather view them as flood zones and try to relocate them in communities  that have a more viable infrastructure (usually located along the interstates in the same region).

Another problem specific to rural America and KY/WV/SWVA specifically was that one of the few industries they could get (because no one wants it in their backyard) is the prison industry which provides a few jobs and fake population but nothing else for the community and also ensures prisoners are located far from their families. 

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Well, it's a matter of how you support them.  The justification for block grants was to stop the small time graft, but that just enables people further up the food chain to steal big.  I'd rather the steal small approach.

I don't think any left-of-center poster on here, and probably few right-of-center posters who aren't massive "MUH STATES RIGHTS" hacks, would disagree that the block-grants-to-the-states method for welfare distribution (or whatever it is Mississippi is doing on the state level that's equivalent) has been a catastrophic failure.