Poverty in WV??

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by Serena123

I just read another post where someone stated that WV is full of the poorest americans?? I never had that impression, did you??

I did. I once thought that "the Appalachians" were where the poor people lived. That was born from reading ads about how real estate was very reasonably priced in the Appalachians. Part of the hippy movement of the early 70's I think - young adults looking for inexpensive land to form their communes.

The television series, The Beverly Hillbillies bred several misconceptions about poverty in mountainous regions. Although the original location was not immediately clear, the title song clearly put the origin in "the mountains." "Let me tell you about a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed..."

I think most people eventually have come to learn that having an outhouse and no power lines entering the house is no longer considered a sign of poverty as much as the new era yuppy thinking it is cool to be off-grid and self-sufficient.

However, why even waste time thinking about what someone says in a post here? If it is inaccurate, it is inaccurate. Don't waste your time wondering if it's true or if other people think that way, too. Personally, I would just as soon those other folks kept thinking that and left us alone.

[harborlady]

Originally Posted by mmccul

I think a lot of this poverty and hillbilly trash stuff all starts from stereotyping. Sure, our numbers might be lower than other states, but we're still human. (Try to explain that to a New Yorker!) -mmccul

Yes, I need it explained to me how you can answer an ignorant stereotype with another ignorant stereotype in the belief you've provided clarity about either.

[CTMountaineer]

Being characterized as "low income" does not translate into living in poverty. Cost of living counts just as much in the equation as does income, and areas with lower cost of living conditions might well have a higher standard of living than many areas with technically higher income levels.

[vec101]

If you drive around the state, you will see a lot of houses where you would think the people are really poor -- but you would be shocked to discover they are making $50-$60 K a year. These folks aren't poor - they just have a different standard of living, value other things besides a fancy house, etc.

We are so conditioned in the US - your house represents how much money you make.
Oh well, if one good thing comes out of this whole "housing crisis" in the US - it may be that people will quit thinking the better the house the bigger the income.

[GraniteStater]

Actually many areas of rural West Virginia are FAR better off compared with some rural areas of eastern Kentucky. The economic development indicators back up that point.

[mmccul]

Originally Posted by harborlady

Yes, I need it explained to me how you can answer an ignorant stereotype with another ignorant stereotype in the belief you've provided clarity about either.

Yeah, you're right, I'm sorry about that. Sometimes I speak (type) before I think, but who doesn't? Again, I apologize. -mmccul

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by vec101

If you drive around the state, you will see a lot of houses where you would think the people are really poor -- but you would be shocked to discover they are making $50-$60 K a year. These folks aren't poor - they just have a different standard of living, value other things besides a fancy house, etc.

We are so conditioned in the US - your house represents how much money you make.
Oh well, if one good thing comes out of this whole "housing crisis" in the US - it may be that people will quit thinking the better the house the bigger the income.

That's true. In some areas folks make good money but you could never tell it from the houses. Many of them prefer toys like SUVs and high priced hunting equipment. It's all a matter of preference.

[Big_Al]

well, we do have a lot of poverty, a lot of very bad poverty. it's true. drive 10-15 miles from Charleston, turn to backroads and you can see the same pictures they filmed in Deliverance.
The contrast between Charleston and small villages are so dramatic that I even feel guilty for doing well.
I see people who literally have no money for food very often.