My parents and I are from WV. A small "hick" place, if you will. My paternal grandparents owned a farm, sold black angus cattle. My grandmother was a post master and ran a small(!) gas station/post office/general store. My grandfather worked in the coal mines, died of black lung before I was born.

My mom's family had a small farm (they didn't sell anything, ate what they raised). Her Dad was a carpenter/black smith, her mom was a homemaker who tended foster children. The house was built mid 1800s and operated as a hotel from ?-? (I forget the dates). When the state road started building the hwy, they had to tear down the stable/carriage house that boarders "parked" in. LOTS of sentimental value on that land. My grandpa was born in the house and lived there until approximately 3yrs before his death; running water and plumbing were never installed.

Neither family was wealthy but you'd never find a more manicured lawn, inviting house, or welcoming arms. Poor doesn't necessarily mean dirty nor a lack in pride of ownership. It ticks me off the way it's portrayed.

Another thing that kinda ticks me off is when people try to equate poor with high crime. I can't recall the radio show (it's been years now) but someone brought up that the poorest community (at the time) was located in WV (I don't remember the county name). In this county, there was only ONE case of person-shooting/killing-person and that was actually ruled a hunting accident.

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We moved out of state when I was 2 (my dad chose work over welfare). This was in the early 80s. The neighboring county was holding Grand Dragon elections.

My parents have friends that still work in the mines. They knew people *in* the 2006 Sago mine collapse. (They also know people who worked at Sago during the collapse that now work at a different mine.)

So, yes, I know these places exist. I've seen it and lived it (although the only thing I remember is from vacations), but don't necessarily agree/understand it. Tradition is a comfort but why wouldn't you continually try to better yourself FOR yourself, and if not for yourself then for the sake of your family.