Jump to content

maizenbluedoc@aol.com


Recommended Posts

One reason I left SW VA in 1957 and have only returned occasionally is because of the trash people dump everywhere. They always talk about people in the Appalachian region having so much pride. If they did, they would be more concerned with their surroundings, which they pollute and destroy the spectacular scenic beauty of the area. I was hoping that things would change in the 60 years since I departed the area, but the only substantial change seems to be the current drug use, more poverty, and crime. It is so sad and I become depressed every time I visit. Sad, but true. Maybe it will change at some point in this century.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
 
On 10/17/2017 at 12:15 PM, maizenbluedoc said:

One reason I left SW VA in 1957 and have only returned occasionally is because of the trash people dump everywhere. They always talk about people in the Appalachian region having so much pride. If they did, they would be more concerned with their surroundings, which they pollute and destroy the spectacular scenic beauty of the area. I was hoping that things would change in the 60 years since I departed the area, but the only substantial change seems to be the current drug use, more poverty, and crime. It is so sad and I become depressed every time I visit. Sad, but true. Maybe it will change at some point in this century.

Welcome to the norm in SWVA...things will get much worse before they get any better...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
On 10/17/2017 at 12:15 PM, maizenbluedoc said:

One reason I left SW VA in 1957 and have only returned occasionally is because of the trash people dump everywhere. They always talk about people in the Appalachian region having so much pride. If they did, they would be more concerned with their surroundings, which they pollute and destroy the spectacular scenic beauty of the area. I was hoping that things would change in the 60 years since I departed the area, but the only substantial change seems to be the current drug use, more poverty, and crime. It is so sad and I become depressed every time I visit. Sad, but true. Maybe it will change at some point in this century.

This is a bizarre post in a few ways.  

 

First, I haven’t really seen the phenomenon of “trash dumps” proliferate in my 32-year lifetime.  I’ve seen areas that used to be that way, but have ceased to be so.  Oddly enough, the one place I’ve really seen this phenomenon continue is McDowell County, WV, where the behavior is socially accepted and encouraged.

 

Second, unlike Charleston, SC, rural areas in Appalachia could not sustain a widely diverse economy.  Unfortunately, our areas latched onto an unsustainable cash crop (coal).  To avoid writing a thesis, that’s why Tazewell County’s median income is 2.5 less than yours.  Just as unfortunately, that trade lent itself to injuries and physical pain, which lent itself to opioids, which lent itself to addiction, which lent itself to generational abuse, which is where we now find ourselves.

 

Third, crime statistics do not bear your assertion out.  In fact, SWVA is drastically lower in terms of violent crimes than more prosperous areas of Virginia.  Property crimes are slightly, but not staggeringly, higher, with the lone exception of Tazewell County, which has the second highest rate of imprisoned felons per capita (55.2 of 10000) of Virginia municipalities.

 

I presume you left to chase your dreams and better yourself.  Few people here have the financial means to do that, Doc.  Feel blessed instead of depressed.  As GMan says, it will likely get worse here before it gets better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • 1 month later...
 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...