Knott County despair
What do Knott County and Mexico have in common?
We have few jobs and some of the best politicians money can buy. The county doesn’t have enough water lines, and there are no sewer systems other than in Hindman.
We have one string of stores, so small it doesn’t count as a mall. Our county seat, Hindman, has fewer businesses than in the 1960s. Downtown consists mainly of a new and an old courthouse, lawyers’ offices and a badly funded craft school. Two fast-food restaurants and a couple of diners are the only places to eat. We have no stores like Walmart. When we need something we have to drive to another county, costing us time and gas money in addition to what we spend for the product.
About 70 percent of the county is on welfare, and we have a high crime rate because illegal drug use is rampant.
Like Mexicans, Knott Countians move to other counties and states, sending money back to their families.
Who do we blame for being one of Kentucky’s poorest counties? Voters. If a politician is not a liar or crook, he probably won’t be elected. Just look at the county judge-executives in federal prison. These same felons would readily be re-elected if they were allowed to run again.
David Duncan
Mousie
This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Knott County despair."