I would first like to say that I am completely disgusted with ABC and the way they have portrayed Kentucky.  I am just curious as to how much research they had to do to find the biggest pill headed hicks in Kentucky.. it makes me sick. It doesn't matter where you go in the world you will always find some people that don't want to work..that only want to draw a check from the government. Especially in cities like LA, New York, Detroit..those areas are filled with drugs and poverty as well.      My husband works for the coal mine that was interviewed for this show..we both have all of our teeth and they are in great shape..and hey, get this..we also have running water and electricity!! wow.. I plan to never watch anything on ABC ever again.    This classic showing of inbred toothless hicks is just a low blow in effort to boost the ratings and it is disgusting.  Kentucky for most of us is a beautiful place to live and raise our children.

And I would like to say the complete opposite. Thank you so much Diane Sawyer for exposing the truth in spite of those who live in eastern Ky and are ashamed of what the truth is. This is one of my answered prayers.
I would not have to go far to find neighbors, friends and family addicted to Oxy Contin or blowing themselves up in meth labs. I was lucky enough to get out, but when I lived there, I was desperate for someone to come in and expose the very real poverty and drug problem. I find myself saddened and sometimes angered by the people who still live in eastern Ky who want to deprive a desperate poverty stricken child the chance of their story being heard and the possibility of hope, aid or being rescued, simply because they are either in serious denial or their "pride" won't let them tell the truth.
Yes, it's true there are some people in eastern Ky living just fine. Diane's piece was not about you. It was about the people who live in Appalachia who are struggling. And I am here to tell the world that there are plenty of people in Eastern Ky who are struggling and poverty stricken. I am not only a witness to it, but I experienced it myself.
The economy there is bad and has been bad for years. There are no jobs. I wanted out desperately.
When I tell people that I did not have a toilet or shower in my home until I was school aged, they rarely believe me. And when I tell them my mom and dad's neighbors still do not have inside plumbing or electricity, they really do not believe me. Most people in America have no idea what it's like to have to live like that. And those living like that, often times, do not know how to nor have the means to change it. And some don't want to change it and that's just fine...but I know for a fact that there are many who are desperate for help and do not want to live that way. And those are the people I pray for. Those are the people I hope are no longer ignored. How can we live with ourselves if we continue to pretend they do not exist? It is so much easier for America to focus their attention on the problems somewhere else in the world because it seems almost untouchable. But when it's as close as Appalachia or New Orleans or Harlem, there's a real possibility to help and care...and that frightens them or burdens them. So instead it's Africa or Iraq they focus on.
I know what it's like to go to bed hungry night after night. To worry about my daddy in the coal mine and to have my worst nightmare come true when he got hurt. And then he's treated like crap by the company he worked for for so many years. I know what it's like to have a father who cries black tears and blows coal dust from his nose and you can visably see the black coal dust in his ear wax, but yet he "doesn't have black lung". I know what it's like to have to go hunting if we wanted meat on the table. I know we had to grow our vegetables and fruit. I know my family still grows a garden and still cans everything because if they did not, they'd have very little to eat. I know what it's like to have to wear clothes made by hand that my sister before me wore and the sister before her wore because it was all we could afford. And then the children whose families were doing ok laughed and pointed. Probably children of the same kind of people who deny there's a problem in Appalachia. The "proud" who are "comfortable" and have an attitude as "who cares what others may be feeling here, me and my family are just fine--focus on us instead!". I wish they'd stop laughing and pointing, stop being so proud and in denial and instead admit there's a problem and do something to help or at least allow someone else to expose it in peace, tell the truth in peace and possibly get some help for the area. I do not understand the bitterness of those who live there who Diane's 20/20 episode was clearly not about. I have a very close source who happens to be involved with Kentucky Headstart and I am told eastern Ky is still full of poverty stricken children with parents who are too hooked on drugs to do what's best for the children or are too poor to have the means to change their situation due to lack of jobs there or simply too ignorant to keep soda out of their children's bottles/sippy cups. I do not want my child growing up that way or around it. I do however want him to know the truth about the area. That yes, there are some very good people in Appalachia. People who'd give you the shirt off their backs and go without. People who would give you their last crumb. But there are just as many who'd rather shoot you than look at you. Just as many who are hooked on drugs and can't come off them. And one of the big reasons they are that way is because of the economy there...because of the lack of jobs...because of poverty.
My son, nor my husband, will ever work in a coal mine. And I thank God every single day that I can say that in confidence. I pray for the day to come when all my people in Appalachia will also have the choice to say the same. Appalachians are hard working people. They are survivors! Why not take a chance Donald Trump? Why turn a blind eye the ever charitable Drew Barrymore? Or how about you United States Government? You can bale out big rich corporate America but not the very heart and soul of the USA? I voted for Obama. Remember when Kanye West said in desperation due to what Katrina had done to his people, "George Bush does not care about black people."? I cheered for him when he said that. I was jubilant! I wanted to scream out, HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE! And now, here I am...asking the question...Does Obama not care about poor Appalachia Americans? And not just Obama...everyone. Even to the very people who live there and are making it and for whatever reason want to try and deny there's a problem. Do you not care about that little girl up the holler who you know is living in poverty? You must not, or else you wouldn't be here, there and everywhere knocking Diane Sawyer for doing what's right.

U GO GIRL!!! THAT PRETTY MUCH SAID IT ALL WONDERFUL JOB AND I WISH I HAD THE MONEY TO HELP THEM PEOPLE ANYWAY I CAN.

Well, I didn't read all of your novel there.  You must have a lot of time on your hands. Anyway, I wasn't denying that there is a poverty problem or a drug problem in America..I'm saying they shouldn't act like it doesn't go on any where else.  And I have never laughed at anyone for being poor because I grew up poor and still am to a certain degree..but, most of Kentucky isn't that poor like they showed..I know you know that..they found the worst conditions possible to put on T.V.  for the rest of America to laugh at..so they can get the ratings they want.

my god lady how old are u i grew up a coal miners son and we never had to grow our own veg. or hunt for meat we did that to have something to do because even in the 80's to early 90's my dad was knockin down a 100 grand a year workin for the same man interviewed on this disgusting documentary that was just showing peoples choices not facts. and my father at the age of 40 was diagnosed with third stage black lung,which is classified as a terminal disease and if u think obama is going to save us think again just like any other politician he to is full of crap

 

I'll choose to ignore your childish dig at me about what kind of time I have on my hands, but I will let you know that I am very passionate about this subject and have been for a very long time. Far long before this episode of 20/20 ever aired. So if I'm "long winded" it's because I'm passionate about it.

I'm so passionate about it that I know "they" aren't acting like poverty does not go on anywhere else in the world. In fact, I'm on the other foot. I've been frustrated for years about it. I've always felt like "they" focus on the poverty anywhere else in the world/United States except Appalachia. Everytime I see something about gangs, hungry children in Africa, people who feel stuck in the ghettos and how people are trying to help them or people brain storming about ways to help kids get out of gangs, off the streets and that sort of thing...I've always felt kind of bitter and jealous in a way. I always wondered, "Is there anyone out there who knows what's going on in Appalachia? And if they do, do they not care?" I always wondered when it was going to be our turn. So when I heard about this episode of 20/20...I cried. I cried tears of joy. Finally! Finally someone was going to expose the truth! Maybe now there could be some hope for some of the poor children I know TODAY who are living in shacks, no running water, no electrcity and up until very recently no education.

No, not everyone in eastern Ky are living in poverty. I can only speak of the areas I lived in. But I know for a fact that plenty of people live "like they showed". And it is my hope and wish that those people will no longer be ignored. People in that area who are not living that way and are angry over this 20/20 episode need to get off their high horse and consider for a moment that it's not about them, but about those who want the situation to be exposed...who are desperate for help.

And if I was ever given the opportunity to have the stage Diane had to show the truth, I can assure you it won't be for ratings.
If I'm ever able to bring some kind of aid to my people back home, it won't be to line my own pockets.

Those "worst conditions possible" was every day for me living in Leslie Co. Very, very common. And sad.

I certainly agree with you that all politicians are full of crap.

Good for your father. I wish it had been the same for mine. But it wasn't. Not even close. Except maybe the third stage black lung part. I've seen his medical records and he has a diagnosis code on them that says he has black lung/coal miner's lung. He and my mother barely make it month to month.

Anyway...good for you. I'm happy for you. But just because it was good for you does not mean it was the same for me and my family or many others living there.

how do they afford all of this mellow yellow?

oops!  i mean mountain dew.

How does the kid afford to have a truck and a cell phone yet he has to go dig coal on the side of the mountain illegally so his family won't freeze to death?

So many questions...and answers that would only offend further.

I would like to know where you grew up?  Because I lived there until college and there were only a small percentage of people who lived like that.  I do feel saddened for those, but our region will never get ahead and no business will ever come there with the reputation that Eastern Kentucky has been given.  I have to tell people all the time what life is like there truly because they believe will still ride in horse drawn carriages and have no shoes or water.  That we are so imbred that we are "blue".  It is disgusting the stereotypes that are given and for you to support them is a disgrace.  Sure poverty exists and it exists everywhere.  And yes, the coal mines are dangerous but some people I know who work for the coal mines make double the amount of money I make and I live in Louisville and have a bachelor's degree.  I believe what most people hate about these shows are they show one side of the story as if 98% of people live like that.  When in fact it may be 20%.  No business is going to come into an area that is surrounded by poor uneducated people that you have to use subtitles to explain what they are saying.

The digs you really don't deserve but you are completely ignorant.  Meaning know nothing of what you are talking about.  I work for an local ambulance service and I have been from one end to other of Eastern Kentucky, up every holler and there aren't that many people living the way they showed on 20/20.  Furthermore, I absolutly do not feel sorry for these people.  It is real simple, start with some self pride...they should go out in there yards and pick up the garbage first so they don't look like such low lives, then take the hundreds of dollars that I pay taxes for so they can get their welfare checks, they should take it to go get some soap or maybe new clothes so that they can get a job.  Jobs are out their they don't want them.  They want to sit at home and draws the welfare check and the foodstamps.  Do you not understand that these people don't want help.  Screw them!!!!!   Better yet if they want to come back and do a story on the middle class people that work their #### off just to have a nice home, nice cars, and the things their kids ask for and get some help so that we can afford to take a break and maybe take a nice vacation or just take a load off us and this goes for all over the country.  These low lives that have never worked a day in their lives who have never paid in taxes get more of a tax refund then I do and I pay in thousands each and every year.  If the government gave these bums anymore help then what they do now the would take that and also go buy drugs, alcohol, or go play bingo. 

Oh and by the way to be so pitiful and uneducated how can Johnson Co. school system be in the top 50 in the nation.  How is that possible?  And just how is it that the school that my children attend is ranked #1 school in Kentucky and has been 4 out of the last 5 years.  And how is it if we are so dumb that Johnson Central, Central Middle School and several of our grade school have won first place positions in several National and International Academic Competitions.  How can we be well just so stinking forgotten?

I guess my question for you is ---- Just what do you think "we" should do?  Do you think "we" should go in there and build them all nice homes with running water and electricity?  Who do you think should pay for this?  Do you think "we" should hire crews with shovels to go in and clean out the garbage?   How do you "help" someone who can afford cigarettes, beer and drugs, but cannot afford milk for their children?  How do you help someone who feeds Mountain Dew to children even though milk is actually cheaper?  Just how do you propose we should help?  You got out of that mess and You deserve all the good that comes to you.  You have every right to be proud of yourself.  The young football player had three chances to get out and chose to go back.  What would you do for him?  Yes, I feel so sorry for the children who can not help themselves, but what do you suggest - Take the children away from the drugged out parents and put them in a decent home??   It is true these things are going on all over the world and it makes for good copy for the media to show it.  I have yet to hear of any real solutions, though. 

There is no solutions. An it sad I've lived in Harlan all my life. I beat a drug oxycotin addiction 6 years ago. The thing was a was raised knowing good values. So it was easier for me to choose my family. The thing is Social Services in more likely to take a child from a home that they believe the mother, or father will straighten up. Before they will take out of a home where they Know they will not. It is sad, but true foster care cost to much. I know this is America, but sometimes I believe if a woman has one child they already can't or want take care of for drugs or just don't care. There are so many people who want a child a can't have one. It just don't seem fair does it? I am not a strong person. An I found a way to get off prescription drugs, an give my children a great life with a little help it's there if you want it. It  is not easy. However it is like I just said. You have to want it!!!!!