Black Belt, Poor Belt

[bushforever]

What I'm saying is screw urban America for a minute...it's already a mess.  And clean up rural America, at least the impoverished parts.  It's easier to do and less painstaking.  Then we may focus on Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Detroit, Minneapolis, L.A., Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New Orleans, Atlanta.  In addition, rural America needs to stop being ignored, specifically black rural America.

How about we fix both? The money is there. There are downtrodden rural areas and urban areas.

Nice thought, but the money really isn't there, or it is foolishly spent on pork barrel spending.  It's also easier to get rid of rural poverty first.  We've been trying to get rid of urban poverty for years with little result.  I say we try fixing rural poverty and then concentrate on a new strategy for urban poverty.

[Shira]

Will the black belt/poor belt (NE AR, Western MS, central AL, central GA, spotted TN, central SC, south central and NE NC, E KY, W VA, S WV) ever go away??  They don't really affect their respective state political majorities much anymore, but they do emphasize the divide in our country and are often an eyesore.  Also, are these rural Dem strongholds really black or poor, or is that just an assumption??

Glad to know that you're so concerned about poverty....you wish it would "go away" because it is an "eyesore"?

This may be the most insensitive and oblivious post I have ever seen on this board.

There is a huge amount of concealed hatred of the poor people (in particular if they are black).
The poor is perceived as "a lazy parasite, who wants to take my wealth"

[bushforever]

Will the black belt/poor belt (NE AR, Western MS, central AL, central GA, spotted TN, central SC, south central and NE NC, E KY, W VA, S WV) ever go away??  They don't really affect their respective state political majorities much anymore, but they do emphasize the divide in our country and are often an eyesore.  Also, are these rural Dem strongholds really black or poor, or is that just an assumption??

Glad to know that you're so concerned about poverty....you wish it would "go away" because it is an "eyesore"?

This may be the most insensitive and oblivious post I have ever seen on this board.

There is a huge amount of concealed hatred of the poor people (in particular if they are black).
The poor is perceived as "a lazy parasite, who wants to take my wealth"

They probably feel that way because of a) The socialist welfare ideas of the Democratic Party, b) Old South mentality, and c) The fact that the rich/poor thing has been going on for centuries.

I think we should just suburbanize the poor areas of rural America.  Give the poor people an education too.

[iosip]

the dem rural counties of east kentucky are mostly white.

also, the idea that we should "suburbanize" the rural counties is the silliest thing i've ever heard. it is suburbia where souls rot.

[bushforever]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

[Shira]

Give the poor people an education too.

If you take it seriously and sincerely, it means taxes. But you hate taxes.

[bushforever]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Or sh**tcago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Gay Francisco, Los Angeles, Deathtroit, etc. where one's soul rots.

[bushforever]

Give the poor people an education too.

If you take it seriously and sincerely it means taxes. But you hate taxes.

That I do.  But until we get people off our feet, we must deficit spend to give these people an education.  When we defeat poverty and terrorism, we can return to fiscal conservatism and the gradual elmination of taxes.

[Sibboleth]

Rural development is something I'm very interested in...

But doing it for political ends seems somehow wrong. Besides I suspect that Central Appalachia would be neglected as per usual.
Too many Democrats.

[Nym90]

I hear a lot about urban renewal, but I don't hear too much about rural renewal.  I think it's much easier to combat rural poverty since it is few in population and will look significantly good if all of rural America is thriving.  Yes, our cities may rot under democratic city councils.  But those urbanites voted for those losers.  People in rural states vote for republicans most of the time.  Let's reward these people by giving them state of the art job centers, educational facilities, and community centers.  It will look good on paper when all you got left is the usual liberal bastions rotting away, and a pure Republican rural America.  Once the rural renewal is finished, then we can proceed with the urban renewal.  Instead of building convention centers, arenas, and tunnels.  How bout improving that dirt road, that old town hall, or that dilapidated school.  "No rural person left behind."  I'll make it part of my agenda as a planner and as Vice President of the U.S. in 2032.

Wonderful...eliminate poverty for political purposes. Only help those who vote for us...screw everyone else if they didn't vote for us. What a great campaign slogan.

[Nym90]

Rural development is something I'm very interested in...

But doing it for political ends seems somehow wrong. Besides I suspect that Central Appalachia would be neglected as per usual.
Too many Democrats.

You see the same thing in Michigan. Republicans aren't helping the iron mining area up here in the UP because it votes Democratic. Engler completely ignored both the UP and the Detroit area, and sent all of the money towards Grand Rapids. Even now, the GOP legislature neglects us because we send all Democrats to the state legislature.

[Sibboleth]

Rural development is something I'm very interested in...

But doing it for political ends seems somehow wrong. Besides I suspect that Central Appalachia would be neglected as per usual.
Too many Democrats.

You see the same thing in Michigan. Republicans aren't helping the iron mining area up here in the UP because it votes Democratic. Engler completely ignored both the UP and the Detroit area, and sent all of the money towards Grand Rapids. Even now, the GOP legislature neglects us because we send all Democrats to the state legislature.

Quite a Thatcherite thing to do really... "screw you, you didn't vote for me"...

I don't think that the part of Central Appalachia in WV is likely to get ignored over the next four years (most of the Central Appalachian counties voted over 70% for Manchin) but I'm worried what will happen to the part in VA when Warner leaves office...

But it's already happening in Kentucky: the Eastern Coalfields voted for Chandler, but Fletcher won the election, and he's in effect punishing them for it.

[??????????]

Al and Nym,

You don't think Democrats do the same to Republican strongholds? It cuts both ways you know.

[Engineer]

For you urbanite, things in rural America are quite different than where you live.  Urbanites thinks that rural America is poverty stricken.  I live in South Central Kentucky.  Guess what, average wages are below the poverty level.  That doesn't mean that we live in poverty here.

Do we have beautiful new homes or new Hummers? No.  To we go to the opera, dine at some fancy restaurant?  No.

Yes, cars and gasloine cost the same.  But food, property, taxes are cheaper.  I can live on half the amount of income here as I could in a large city.

The people who are the happiest are those that are smaller farmers.  The ones that are the least happy are those who work in the factories.  Quality of life is more than the amount of money one makes, or the 'culture' that he has.  Family ties and relationships are the big things here.  Everybody knows everybody and if one is hurting, the community turns out to help them.  People who have nothing (to an urbanite) give to others in need.  You don't find that in a city anymore.

I could go on and on.

[??????????]

For you urbanite, things in rural America are quite different than where you live.  Urbanites thinks that rural America is poverty stricken.  I live in South Central Kentucky.  Guess what, average wages are below the poverty level.  That doesn't mean that we live in poverty here.

Do we have beautiful new homes or new Hummers? No.  To we go to the opera, dine at some fancy restaurant?  No.

Yes, cars and gasloine cost the same.  But food, property, taxes are cheaper.  I can live on half the amount of income here as I could in a large city.

The people who are the happiest are those that are smaller farmers.  The ones that are the least happy are those who work in the factories.  Quality of life is more than the amount of money one makes, or the 'culture' that he has.  Family ties and relationships are the big things here.  Everybody knows everybody and if one is hurting, the community turns out to help them.  People who have nothing (to an urbanite) give to others in need.  You don't find that in a city anymore.

I could go on and on.

Very true Engineer. Its the same way here as well.

[bushforever]

For you urbanite, things in rural America are quite different than where you live.  Urbanites thinks that rural America is poverty stricken.  I live in South Central Kentucky.  Guess what, average wages are below the poverty level.  That doesn't mean that we live in poverty here.

Do we have beautiful new homes or new Hummers? No.  To we go to the opera, dine at some fancy restaurant?  No.

Yes, cars and gasloine cost the same.  But food, property, taxes are cheaper.  I can live on half the amount of income here as I could in a large city.

The people who are the happiest are those that are smaller farmers.  The ones that are the least happy are those who work in the factories.  Quality of life is more than the amount of money one makes, or the 'culture' that he has.  Family ties and relationships are the big things here.  Everybody knows everybody and if one is hurting, the community turns out to help them.  People who have nothing (to an urbanite) give to others in need.  You don't find that in a city anymore.

I could go on and on.

I'm an exurbanite, actually.  Most of rural America isn't impoverished, sure.  But there are several hard-luck counties.  I'm just saying that rural America should not be ignored when it comes to policy-making in Washington and in the state capitals across America.  What the hell did Clinton do with all our tax money in the 90s??  Poverty certainly didn't improve, welfare certainly didn't help.  I see light at the end of the tunnel as long as Bush and the repubs are in office.  Republicans actually care and believe in change, from the inside, through spirit, faith, and, and from the outside through education reform and job creation.  Democrats are pessimistic and believe you can never make anything of yourself, so they just throw money at you and control every aspect of your life, particularly if you're poor.

[Beef]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Bite me, troll.

:-)

[bushforever]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Bite me, troll.

:-)

Eat my shorts, yuppie.

[True Federalist]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Bite me, troll.

:-)

Eat my shorts, yuppie.

If you are going to insult each other, could you at least use original insults, or is that too much to expect from people who live in States where the State Universities belong to an eleven-team conference called the Big Ten?

[Gabu]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Bite me, troll.

:-)

Eat my shorts, yuppie.

If you are going to insult each other, could you at least use original insults, or is that two much to expect from people who live in States where the State Universities beklong to an eleven-team conference called the Big Ten?

No, it's three much to expect.

[True Federalist]

It's after midnight.  You expect me to type clearly?  I'm not that good even at a reasonable hour!

[danwxman]

For you urbanite, things in rural America are quite different than where you live.  Urbanites thinks that rural America is poverty stricken.  I live in South Central Kentucky.  Guess what, average wages are below the poverty level.  That doesn't mean that we live in poverty here.

Do we have beautiful new homes or new Hummers? No.  To we go to the opera, dine at some fancy restaurant?  No.

Yes, cars and gasloine cost the same.  But food, property, taxes are cheaper.  I can live on half the amount of income here as I could in a large city.

The people who are the happiest are those that are smaller farmers.  The ones that are the least happy are those who work in the factories.  Quality of life is more than the amount of money one makes, or the 'culture' that he has.  Family ties and relationships are the big things here.  Everybody knows everybody and if one is hurting, the community turns out to help them.  People who have nothing (to an urbanite) give to others in need.  You don't find that in a city anymore.

I could go on and on.

I am just fighting the perception that it's only the urban areas that are poverty striken. There's just as much poverty in the rural areas.

But land values and cost of living have a lot to do with how much demand there is in the area. If you have little or no demand for land and development, you are going to have low property values.

[Sibboleth]

For you urbanite, things in rural America are quite different than where you live.  Urbanites thinks that rural America is poverty stricken.  I live in South Central Kentucky.  Guess what, average wages are below the poverty level.  That doesn't mean that we live in poverty here.

Do we have beautiful new homes or new Hummers? No.  To we go to the opera, dine at some fancy restaurant?  No.

Yes, cars and gasloine cost the same.  But food, property, taxes are cheaper.  I can live on half the amount of income here as I could in a large city.

The people who are the happiest are those that are smaller farmers.  The ones that are the least happy are those who work in the factories.  Quality of life is more than the amount of money one makes, or the 'culture' that he has.  Family ties and relationships are the big things here.  Everybody knows everybody and if one is hurting, the community turns out to help them.  People who have nothing (to an urbanite) give to others in need.  You don't find that in a city anymore.

I could go on and on.

Very true. Poverty is all relative (and for the record I've lived in poor rural areas most of my life) and quality of life is certainly very importent. If there's still a strong community spirit and there hasn't been an economic collapse in the area, then things don't seem so bad because in a very real way that aren't so bad.

[Sibboleth]

I am just fighting the perception that it's only the urban areas that are poverty striken. There's just as much poverty in the rural areas.

Also very true

[Beef]

I live in Suburbia and I feel great!!!  It is Madison, WI where one's soul rots.

Bite me, troll.

:-)

Eat my shorts, yuppie.

If you are going to insult each other, could you at least use original insults, or is that too much to expect from people who live in States where the State Universities belong to an eleven-team conference called the Big Ten?

Laugh all you want.  After Georgia beats Auburn (and then loses to them in the SEC championship game), and Oklahoma finally runs out of luck, the Badgers will be in the Orange Bowl and the Wolverines will be in the Rose Bowl.  Then you'll be sorry you ever scoffed at us, hahahahaha (or something).

Heh, then you have the ACC, who brought in all these high-profile football factories, only to have freakin' Virginia win the championship.

Anyway, the smiley indicates I'm jesting.