“And then there is this: “
Indeed. Truly awesome documentary. Which is what makes me wonder if the families depicted in the UK article are as drug-riddled and dependent upon government handouts as the “Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia”. I can guarantee you that all those “proud and independent” “Appalachian” folks depicted are 100% supported by a gazillion government programs paid for by taxes on those who actually work. I’d give it a 90% probability that drug abuse is epidemic there as well.
There’s no such thing as pride and self-sufficiency among the poor anymore. The poor, no matter where they live or the color of their skin, are now all wards of the state. The UK article is nothing more than romantic bullshit.
Remember that guy I said lives below me in a single wide? He’s 15 years younger than me and looks 10 years older. He is also very excited that after failing in court many times, he finally got his disability approved. That’s right. The family is supported on his disability. He is also the brother of the local sheriff, who (fortunately) sees him for what he is)
On a side note, he mows the lawn at the base of my driveway for me. :-) People love to mow lawns around here. It is the local pastime. Beautiful, too.