Diane Sawyer report on Appalachian Poverty (Louisville, California: neighborhoods, wealthy, donations)

[Davart]

Originally Posted by tibor75

If the report is sensationalized, then more people will watch. If more watch, maybe more will volunteer or donate.

This concept isnt' hard to understand. Television was a major driving force behind the civil rights movement as Northerns were ashamed at how blacks were being treated (think the firehoses against the kids).

Ignorance may be helpful to you as you won't be upset at seeing your state's poverty on national TV, but it won't help those people at all.

What have you done to help?

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by ERS-One

Because, that's what the show was about - rural appalachica.......

I wasn't talking about myself...but the reactions of others who question why the focus on Eastern Kentucky, the least healthy area in the entire country. The question practically answers itself.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by tibor75

I"m on this forum as I may be moving to Kentucky. I didn't see this special. But one of the things I found odd is this idea "why focus on eastern Kentucky? There are other poor areas out there." What's your point? I've seen plenty of shows about the Chicago ghetto, NY ghettos, Watts, etc etc, so this idea that Eastern Kentucky is getting more press than other poor areas is not true.

Secondly, eastern KY IS worse off than many other poor areas. Look at the data. Which Congressional district has the worst life expectancy in teh country? It's KY 5. Likely because of the combination of poverty plus absurdly high tobacco usage. So, stop pretending that Eastern KY is just like other poor areas - in some ways, it is worse.

And in some ways Eastern Kentucky is not nearly as bad as a lot of other areas. The gang violence is not nearly as much as a problem, violent crime is lower, and certain drug crimes are lower...although some drugs are a problem. You really don't understand Eastern Kentucky.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

And in some ways Eastern Kentucky is not nearly as bad as a lot of other areas. The gang violence is not nearly as much as a problem, violent crime is lower, and certain drug crimes are lower...although some drugs are a problem. You really don't understand Eastern Kentucky.

Who is talking about crime? If you want a show about crime, yes, show south side of Chicago or Watts.

If you want to show poverty, show Eastern Kentucky - there are few areas poorer. And statistics show, no area that is less healthy (lowest life expectancy at birth).

[kentuckydad95]

I can't believe this thread is still going!!!

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by tibor75

Who is talking about crime? If you want a show about crime, yes, show south side of Chicago or Watts.

If you want to show poverty, show Eastern Kentucky - there are few areas poorer. And statistics show, no area that is less healthy (lowest life expectancy at birth).

Poverty and crime go hand in hand. Your insistence on making that part of Kentucky the worst possible place on earth is exactly why some did not care for the type of show Sawyer did. It spotlights the worst of the worst and gives those not really knowledgeable a distorted view.

[tigerwoodsyall]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

Poverty and crime go hand in hand. Your insistence on making that part of Kentucky the worst possible place on earth is exactly why some did not care for the type of show Sawyer did. It spotlights the worst of the worst and gives those not really knowledgeable a distorted view.

yeah yeah stop it

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by tigerwoodsyall

yeah yeah stop it

I don't think anyone was addressing you.

[tibor75]

Originally Posted by dixiegirl7

Poverty and crime go hand in hand. Your insistence on making that part of Kentucky the worst possible place on earth is exactly why some did not care for the type of show Sawyer did. It spotlights the worst of the worst and gives those not really knowledgeable a distorted view.

Not the worst place on earth - one of the worst in America. Along with Indian reservations, inner cities, the dust towns in Kansas that are dying, etc. To not accept that eastern KY is in many ways is one of the worst areas in teh US is to not accept reality.

[dixiegirl7]

Originally Posted by tibor75

Not the worst place on earth - one of the worst in America. Along with Indian reservations, inner cities, the dust towns in Kansas that are dying, etc. To not accept that eastern KY is in many ways is one of the worst areas in teh US is to not accept reality.

Nobody is saying they don't have issues over there, but I can name a lot of places just as bad with varying degrees of social problems related to poverty.