Children of the Mountains Struggle to Survive

[rebeccajo 14]

I have to say, I think AJ's list is kind of a big one. I don't really consider the part of West Virginia I am from to be "Appalachian".

Every state has it's area where there is poverty. In some those areas are rural. In others they are urbanized.

Poverty is poverty and it's sprinkled all over the US.

[Bootylicious!! 2]

You know a region and a people are off the national radar when nobody claims to be from there on this forum.

Right off the top of my head, I can think of two regulars who proudly claim to be from there. There are, of course, many more.

I'm from there. Although I'd venture to say I was included in your count. I am very proud to be from the Appalachians. I wouldn't consider living anywhere else. And yeah, it's true I'm poor. Have been my whole life. Probably won't be any different. And unless my kids move out of here I'd say they'll be poor too. It doesn't bother me. The benefits of living in such a great place outweigh the consequences. I'd say that's why most people still live in these areas.

I went to college in Johnson City, Tennessee (GO Bucs!), and there were lots of students who graduated and flat refused to leave - poor or not. One friend told me that he would rather live in a cave in East Tennessee than a mansion anywhere else, and another had parents that promised never to speak to her again if she left God's country. Loyalty to the region runs deep, and plenty of people don't try to get out. Many of those who do (like those who left in the 80's to work in Detroit) spend all their lives planning when they can next "go back home", even after 30 years away. I often wonder what it would be like to have roots like that.

The Tri-Cities area of Tennessee/Virginia is exceptional. I spent a few years there as well. It's actually one of my favorite spots in the US. Had quite a few friends from "up North". 4 that I can think of from Jersey and 2 from Mass.

I live about 30-45 minutes from the Tri-Cities Area, on the NC side of things. It is a very beautiful area. It is God's country, that's for sure. That whole area is considered as such. I know if I ever moved from here I'd regret it. I've traveled all over the US and Mexico, and parts of Canada. I've never found a place more beautiful than right here where I am.

[Danno 1,228]

Perhaps WV is a prime example of how the GOVT is not the best solution when it comes to making jobs or bring people out of poverty.

I can't think of many states that have received more Gov't money for "projects" (per population) than WV has, thanks to Senator Robert Byrd.

Let's all hope Obamas "Stimulus package" works, however if WV is any predictor, Money spent on Govt programs and projects, is not the answer.

[Teacher Mark 53]

God bless Senator Byrd.

[Danno 1,228]

God bless Senator Byrd.

Seems like God already has..... with everyones tax dollars.

Now lets pray he can bring an economy to WV

[Teacher Mark 53]

God bless Senator Byrd.

Seems like God already has..... with everyones tax dollars.

Now lets pray he can bring an economy to WV

Everyone sure as hell seems to benefit from our coal though don't they? How do you suppose the coal gets to them? Answer? Roads.

Edited February 18, 2009 by Joe Six-Pack

[almaty 19]

God bless Senator Byrd.

Seems like God already has..... with everyones tax dollars.

Now lets pray he can bring an economy to WV

Everyone sure as hell seems to benefit for our coal though don't they? How do you suppose the coal gets to them? Answer? Roads.

You live in a State that is probably going to need a bailout that will dwarf any amount WV has ever received.

excellent answer brother joe...just ignore those damn yankees//

[Teacher Mark 53]

God bless Senator Byrd.

Seems like God already has..... with everyones tax dollars.

Now lets pray he can bring an economy to WV

Everyone sure as hell seems to benefit for our coal though don't they? How do you suppose the coal gets to them? Answer? Roads.

You live in a State that is probably going to need a bailout that will dwarf any amount WV has ever received.

excellent answer brother joe...just ignore those damn yankees//

You got in before the edit though! He's not in California obviously.

[Danno 1,228]

God bless Senator Byrd.

Seems like God already has..... with everyones tax dollars.

Now lets pray he can bring an economy to WV

Everyone sure as hell seems to benefit from our coal though don't they? How do you suppose the coal gets to them? Answer? Roads.

Every state has roads but I was referring to the scores of Govt projects and public works he has rangled for that state..... why oh why has not all this put this states economy at the top of the list instead toward the bottom?

Now don't get me wrong, I like WV and the people there, my point is; Govt projects are no way to build an economy, as we shall all (I am afraid) find out.

But lets get back to Sen. Pork.

Here is a partial list of project named after him.

Robert C. Byrd Drive, from Beckley to Sophia (Byrd's hometown)

Robert C. Byrd National Technology Transfer Center at Wheeling Jesuit University

Robert C. Byrd Highway

Robert C. Byrd Federal Correctional Institution

Robert C. Byrd High School

Robert C. Byrd Freeway

Robert C. Byrd Center for Hospitality and Tourism

Robert C. Byrd Science Center

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center of West Virginia

Robert C. Byrd Cancer Research Center

Robert C. Byrd Technology Center at Alderson-Broaddus College

Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technologies Center, near Princeton

Robert C. Byrd Bridge between Huntington and Chesapeake, Ohio

Robert C. Byrd addition to the lodge at Oglebay Park, Wheeling

Robert C. Byrd Community Center, Pine Grove

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships

Robert C. Byrd Expressway, U.S. 52 near Weirton

Robert C. Byrd Institute in Charleston

Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing

Robert C. Byrd Visitor Center at Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse

Robert C. Byrd Academic and Technology Center

Robert C. Byrd United Technical Center

Robert C. Byrd Federal Building (there are two)

Robert C. Byrd Hilltop Office Complex

Robert C. Byrd Library and Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center

Robert C. Byrd Rural Health Center

Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition to the veteran's hospital in Huntington

Robert C. Byrd Industrial Park, Hardy County

Robert C. Byrd Scholastic Recognition Award

Robert C. Byrd Community Center in the naval station, Sugar Grove

Robert C. Byrd Clinic at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Robert C. Byrd Biotechnology Science Center at Marshall University

Those are just ones with his name one it.

Here are some others

http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagena...pings_porktally

How does a guy who brings this much Bacon home have folks living in school buses?

[Teacher Mark 53]

Byrd had been around a very long time, so naturally he's going to have facilities and roads named after him.

I was walked by the Federal Court site when it was under construction. It was a Pennsylvania contractor doing the work, so the money wasn't exclusively West Virginia's. I think you'd probably find the same with a lot of the projects.

Once again, adults making bad decisions is the reason the majority of them live in poverty. If you watched the segments the gentleman from Booth Energy laid out one of the major problems. "We have 100 positions available right now." "Most of the people can't pass the drug screening." That's in Kentucky, but the same could be said in WV.

[rebeccajo 14]

Danno, Danno, Danno................

You missed the good stuff, you know.

You forgot to list how Senator Byrd managed to talk the Bureau of the Public Debt into centering it's operations in Parkersburg, West Virginia. And the FBI fingerprinting center in Clarksburg that processes EVERY fingerprint in the country taken for law enforcement work, not to mention those pesky fingerprint checks run by USCIS for adjustment of status. (Oh, they analyzed all the anthrax that was sent out in the mail after the 9/11 attacks too).

Now, I'm not exactly sure how many people are employed by the Bureau in Parkersburg, but it's probably around 3000 or so, at least. I have no clue how many people work at the big building in Clarksburg, but it's kind of clear they do important work also.

In both cases, those employees help drive their local economies with the trickle-down effect of their wages - purchases of homes, cars, clothing, etc. Plus, these are GOOD jobs that everybody in those towns try to get. Parkersburg and Clarksburg are also two of the most prosperous cities in West Virginia.

Your federal tax dollars at work. Isn't America grand?

[Brad and Vika 129]

You know a region and a people are off the national radar when nobody claims to be from there on this forum.

Right off the top of my head, I can think of two regulars who proudly claim to be from there. There are, of course, many more.

I'm from there. Although I'd venture to say I was included in your count. I am very proud to be from the Appalachians. I wouldn't consider living anywhere else. And yeah, it's true I'm poor. Have been my whole life. Probably won't be any different. And unless my kids move out of here I'd say they'll be poor too. It doesn't bother me. The benefits of living in such a great place outweigh the consequences. I'd say that's why most people still live in these areas.

I went to college in Johnson City, Tennessee (GO Bucs!), and there were lots of students who graduated and flat refused to leave - poor or not. One friend told me that he would rather live in a cave in East Tennessee than a mansion anywhere else, and another had parents that promised never to speak to her again if she left God's country. Loyalty to the region runs deep, and plenty of people don't try to get out. Many of those who do (like those who left in the 80's to work in Detroit) spend all their lives planning when they can next "go back home", even after 30 years away. I often wonder what it would be like to have roots like that.

The Tri-Cities area of Tennessee/Virginia is exceptional. I spent a few years there as well. It's actually one of my favorite spots in the US. Had quite a few friends from "up North". 4 that I can think of from Jersey and 2 from Mass.

I live about 30-45 minutes from the Tri-Cities Area, on the NC side of things. It is a very beautiful area. It is God's country, that's for sure. That whole area is considered as such. I know if I ever moved from here I'd regret it. I've traveled all over the US and Mexico, and parts of Canada. I've never found a place more beautiful than right here where I am.

I think there is beauty everywhere, and God is everywhere too. I definitely respect the loyalty to the region, so long as it isn't based on ignorance or fear. Never have understood folks who have a lack of interest in in seeing anything other than their back yard - but every region has plenty. You have explored a bit Booty - and made an informed choice (I presume) about where you live.

[Danno 1,228]

Danno, Danno, Danno................

You missed the good stuff, you know.

You forgot to list how Senator Byrd managed to talk the Bureau of the Public Debt into centering it's operations in Parkersburg, West Virginia. And the FBI fingerprinting center in Clarksburg that processes EVERY fingerprint in the country taken for law enforcement work, not to mention those pesky fingerprint checks run by USCIS for adjustment of status. (Oh, they analyzed all the anthrax that was sent out in the mail after the 9/11 attacks too).

Now, I'm not exactly sure how many people are employed by the Bureau in Parkersburg, but it's probably around 3000 or so, at least. I have no clue how many people work at the big building in Clarksburg, but it's kind of clear they do important work also.

In both cases, those employees help drive their local economies with the trickle-down effect of their wages - purchases of homes, cars, clothing, etc. Plus, these are GOOD jobs that everybody in those towns try to get. Parkersburg and Clarksburg are also two of the most prosperous cities in West Virginia.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but didn't thy build some huge underground place to shuttle the top tier of DC govt to in case of serious national emergency (####### Cheney's hide-out)?

You can only imagine what that cost!

Your federal tax dollars at work. Isn't America grand?

[rebeccajo 14]

Yep, there's a bunker under the Greenbrier:

http://www.greenbrier.com/site/bunker-history.aspx

I have no idea if Senator Byrd had anything to do with the bunker being located in West Virginia.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Yep, there's a bunker under the Greenbrier:

http://www.greenbrier.com/site/bunker-history.aspx

I have no idea if Senator Byrd had anything to do with the bunker being located in West Virginia.

I spent a few days at that resort once - pretty interesting, but the bunker tours were closed for the season