[vundy33]

Eastern KY has no one to blame but themselves, can't speak for the coal areas, but the Ashland area has shot itself in the foot time and time again. Some very recently.

Not gibing the tax incentives to Toyota to build another plant in Boyd, so they went to WV.

Not giving liquor licenses to NASCAR, so they ended up building the Kentucky Speedway elsewhere, the Industrial Parkway was built for one reason, and it was for that track. I've never even watched a NASCAR race, but I can only imagine how many millions of dollars that cost the area.

Ashland Oil, left the area because there was nothing for their executives to do.

Companies won't move into an area if there is nothing to draw them there. So as long as the area remains the way it is, it will continue to wither and die off, with an aging populace as every young successful person escapes the area quickly... I will be gone in 2 years, and honestly don't care to ever return.

Horrible weather, nothing to do, old population, drug addicts everywhere.... exactly why would anyone come to this area?

Get out while you can. There's a reason it is the most depressed, fattest, and unhealthiest area in the entire country.

I have to agree here, even though I wish this wasn't the case at home.

But, it's always home and there are some very good things in Eastern KY still, so I'll always be coming back. Also, I still think you won't find better people anywhere else. Sure, there are plenty of shitbags, but there's still more good.

I work in Fairfax County, Virginia, at Ft. Belvoir. Last week on my way back from home, I was at a gas station in Charlottesville. A guy that was standing outside the door when I went in started beating on an older man who was pumping gas, apparently trying to get his wallet and vehicle...a guy around my age was also getting gas, as well as another man and a woman. No one even tried to help, and the idiot behind the counter locked everyone inside automatically as soon as he saw what was happening. I can understand why he did that, afraid the guy would come in and rob the store, but that kept anyone from going out to help the guy.

The point is that I really don't believe that would happen like that back home. I still think multiple people would help. I might be naive, but I still think people in EKY are still that decent and not as cowardly as so many people in more urban areas, like here. It's like they think if they don't look or get involved, everything will be ok and just work itself out. It's pathetic and makes me sick. The guy who was attacked was alright by the way, and the guy who attacked him ran, not sure if he was caught.

It's a problem when someone like me gets into trouble for wanting to help, yet others are told they did the right thing by being a coward. Eastern KY could have all the dopeheads on earth, but personally, I'd rather have decent people around me who don't mind helping others than people who would rather watch something like that happen. Just me though.

I do understand why businesses are hesitant to invest in Eastern KY obviously, but I think the people get a very bad rap when they shouldn't, especially when compared to areas that are more healthy or more successful.