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I am Kentucky born and raised, moved to Missouri about 2 years ago after I got married.

I am originally from the western end of the state. Kentucky has some things going for it and against it.

It is one of the very best states in the union for gun ownership. The only real restrictions are on magazine capacity in hunting firearms and it's not lawful to use buckshot when hunting deer with a shotgun.

Economically it's fairly stagnant, especially in coal country out east and the western end of the state as well. The population of the most populous county in Western Kentucky has risen by less than one percentage point in the past 25 years. The young people don't stay because there is simply nothing for them to stay for. The economic opportunities for a young person are minimal.

There is still some manufacturing including GM, Ford, and Toyota plants. There's also the Corvette plant in Bowling Green. There is some chemical industry and light manufacturing outside of automobiles as well. It's a pretty good state for retirees in general, and the people are pretty nice.

The central part of the state is a little more economically vibrant, but still not great.

On the economic upside, if you do find yourself in a reasonably good paying job, the cost of living is pretty low. A lower middle class salary by Connecticut or New York standards is upper middle class in Kentucky.

By my standards the state has a long laundry list of little, stupid taxes, but it's probably got far less of that than what you're accustomed to from Connecticut.

It is the prettiest state of the union in terms of natural beauty that I've been too yet. We have access to a lot of inland water ways including Kentucky Lake / Tennessee River, Barkley Lake / Cumberland River, the Mississippi River in the west, and the Ohio River in the north. Kentucky Lake and Barkley Lake are great areas for fishing and recreational boating.

Oh, and Berea appears, on paper, to be a liberal stronghold. But the voting shows otherwise. Can anyone offer an explanation ?

It has been common practice for many years (it's been changing recently) for practically everyone to register democrat whether they're democrat or not. This was to facilitate voting in primaries during a time period in which a great many offices had only democrats running for them. Kentucky democrats also tend to be not as liberal as DC democrats, though that doesn't make me like them all that much. Some are very conservative, but some of them are still quite liberal, especially in the Louisville area and, to a lesser degree, Henderson.

During McConnell's last election campaign, his opponent was Allison Lundergren Grimes, who is a Class A Obama boot licker. So those types are around too, but there are a lot of blue dog dems in the state.

McConnell himself is the epitome of an establishment GOP politician. It is practically impossible to unseat him because 1) no viable contender ever challenges him in the primary and 2) the state dem party has a tendency to pick the biggest leftard they can find to run against him, and the people of KY won't accept doctrinaire leftists over even an establishment type like McConnell.

The politicians in Frankfort are barely aware of the existence of anyone east of Lexington or west of Dawson Springs. Corruption is a way of life for Kentucky politicians, though it's usually not the sort of corruption that comes down and directly affects the individual. Usually.

Basically it's a beautiful state full of freedom loving conservatives, but with a middling to poor economy. If you like the culture of Kentucky but need something with a better economic engine, look into Northwest or Middle Tennessee. Culturally almost the same, not quite as pretty (but close) and much more opportunity. And no income tax.

If, God willing, I am ever actually able to retire, I will return to my old Kentucky home, and spend the last years of my life there.