The 3 poorest counties in America are in Southeastern Kentucky.

[kentuck]

My home state and the part of the state I was born and raised and most love.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/2010-census-richest-count_n_799525.html#s212815

<snip>
On the other end of the spectrum, Southeastern Kentucky was home to four of the nation's poorest counties. The nation's poorest county saw its median income drop $1,500 since 2000, ABC News reported.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/census-bureau-data-richest-counties-richer-poorest-poorer/story?id=12415751&tqkw=&tqshow=&page=1

<snip>
The census' American Community Survey, released last week, provides detailed neighborhood data, including languages spoken in a home, commute time and income levels.

The poorest county, Owsley County, Ky., had the lowest median household income outside of Puerto Rico. Its median income decreased to $18,869 from $20,346 in 2000. Of all the county or county equivalents, Falls Church, Va. had the highest median income, at $113,313, an increase from $96,449 in 2000.

<snip>
Cale Turner, county executive of Owsley County, Ky., said he was not surprised that Owsley once again was one of the poorest areas of the country, in part because of drug addiction.

"Those with drug addictions end up in prison without effective treatment," said Turner. "And it happens over and over in this community. The drug problem continues to get worse every year."
........more

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer...


(edited the title for correction)

[mwb970]

1. ...and the poor vote the rich into office... /nt

[kentuck]

3. And the rich vote more taxcuts...

all the while pretending that $250,000 is middle class.

[tjwash]

2. A high proportion of folks in those counties are on some type of government assistance as well

And they probably helped to vote in Rand Paul...

[pstokely]

8. But they deserve it unlike those ghetto welfare queens

:sarcasm:

[Javaman]

4. I'm sure they are also the redest as well. nt

[kentuck]

7. Lack of education is a problem.

Very, very red.

[dkf]

5. Yet drug addiction is self inflicted.

If that is truly the problem, I don't know what can be done.

[TheKentuckian]

6. Always pitiful stuff. A large segment is probably well below the absurd poverty line.

[w8liftinglady]

9. sadly,the poor don't vote,either-at least in Texas.

They are too busy working 2-3 jobs to feed their families.
(Texas has a lot to be "proud" of,too)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Good job, Mitch!

[snooper2]

11. That reminds me of this video taken in SE Kentucky..

Warning, watch this whole video and you may be forced to :banghead:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wroj0FLvzs

[OHdem10]

12. Conservative Economic Fundamentalism does not promote

change in the situation either.

[liberal N proud]

13. Proving that keeping people down and out is good for republicans

These people are down and out but they continue to vote Republican.

[get the red out]

14. What can be said

Eastern Kentucky has been leaking jobs for decades, drug abuse is rampant and education isn't. The middle class exists in Appalachia, I grew up in it. But the folks with no hope, from generations of no hope, it is extremely sad.