When I woke up this morning, I thought “I guess it’s time to read the WSJ and get my daily dose of bad news “ before I go to the FP to hopefully find something a little more balanced. Reading this story was like a cup of hope. I have a son who has struggled with oxy, but is now clean… so can identify with how those people feel, and God bless them for showing us how to pick yourselves up by the bootstraps!!
I hope we can hear more about this town and others like it. Goes to show how strong Americans are, and how we can come out of the worst times. God bless Hazard.
Why is this hopeful? Because it’s about small people making small incremental improvements to their lives. This is how you change. You start with yourself. Then expand out slowly. It’s what Jordan Peterson says. It’s what Dave Ramsey says. Two of the most listened to people in North America.
Its certainly fun to rail at the big fat problems with our federal governments and institutions. But ultimately we all need to take personal responsibility for our lives. We all have to make small daily choices. That’s where we experience change the most.
It's been a minute since I've been to Hazard. I'm glad to hear good news. Tyler Childress' "Nose on the Grindstone" has been the anthem of that region for a while. He's from a town not too far from there.
Kentucky recentliy also passed a law authorizing research into Iboga/Ibogaine for opoid addiction. It's not without risks, but it works well, and most addicts--with the Fentanyl China is supplying, in what I suppose is a reverse Opium War, across the border Biden refuses to treat as his legal responsibility--die young.
I count myself as one of those who truly believes that freedom and personal responsibility are the answers to nearly all questions. They are harder answers in the short term. It's much easier to remain a child, and ask other people to solve your problems for you.
But here is the thing: the people who want to solve other peoples problems are usually basket cases themselves. They are emotionally dysfunctional. Anyone who wants to control others, or tell them what to do, is someone who themselves has a lot of growing up left to do, a lot of ground to cover before they are fully human.
So yes, life is hard in the short run. But it gets worse if you expect the world to solve your problems. And I really believe that responsible and FREE people in groups are BY FAR the most coherent, useful, and sustainably reliable force for social and moral and spiritual growth possible for human beings. This is the core idea of what is called Conservatism in this country. It is to be contrasted with the idea that emotionally disconnected economic elites KNOW BETTER, and should have the right and power to infantilize and control populations, and to pound them into whatever shape their puerile imagination think fit. That is the essence of Leftism: control, ignorance, violence, and emotional retardation.
Sam Quinones is one of the best journalists & authors of his generation. Buy & read his work: insightful & encouraging despite tough topics. Thanks, Sam!
Such a great and hopeful read. In my neck of the woods, the public policy (or failed social experiment) of Permanent Supportive Housing has taken hold. Just down the street from me are plans to build 100 affordable housing units, many for families. Of the 100 units, 48 will be set aside for individuals who suffer from addiction or mental health issues, or both. They will be given a place to stay, fully paid for, with no strings attached; no requirement to enter treatment, seek counseling or get clean. If I were one of the families thinking of moving here, I would think twice about subjecting my young children to this environment.
We have had numerous meetings with the local police who warn us that they have seen this type of housing attract dealers into the neighborhood and the drug crisis actually becomes worse, not better.
I am heartened to read about the town of Hazard and to see a different type of approach take hold with so many positive outcomes.
As someone in long term recovery from alcoholism, I think that the recovery world is very institutionalized and also focuses on groups that are outside the mainstream of a community. You kind of end up as an 'other' and outside of society in a way. Reading this made me think about how recovery should also be focused on reconnecting the addict to community, but also to think in terms of recovery for a community. How do we rebuild community? Not via big govt programs (but govt can be helpful) but rather via bottoms up efforts? Many communities are ravaged by addiction and need help. Thanks for this article, it's a gem.
This is where I grew up. If you want a little insight into the Appalachian point of view, you will do no better than to watch "Matewan," a John Sales historical movie starring James Earl Jones. The actor portraying Matewan sheriff Sid Hatfield is so real he gives me chills. If you are short of time, at least take the effort to google up, "Matewan Massacre."
I remember relatives who lived through the Mine Wars - yes wars - when the coal companies, aided and abetted by the corrupt West Virginia government, intimidated and abused the coal miners and their families through entities such as the Roanoke-based Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency (the Baldwin Thugs), forced the miners to pay rent and live in "company housing" - owned by the coal company - were paid in "scrip" - stamped brass tokens that could only be redeemed at the Company Store. Striking West Virginia miners were the only Americans in history to be bombed from the air by the American military, or forced to pass by machine-gun nests "protecting them from the commies" to work in the mines. Families of miners who were killed in the mines were immediately ejected from the coal-camp company housing because they dragged down the morale of the others. During the pro-union strikes, the families were ejected into the snow.
No, nobody's asking for "reparashuns" or a leg-up or a handout. It's just nice to know some of what drives us ignorant Hillbillies to decades of self-destructive behavior.
I’d like a deeper-dive into this story: How did each person finance their store opening? What practical steps can people in similar towns take to move in this direction? Were the churches or other community-based organizations (not government) involved and supportive? Good article — thank you.
What a fabulous story! Thank you! Now I’ll flip through my local paper to read what passes for good news here in CT — our government throwing dollars at insatiable, wasteful government-run programs that do nothing to fix the myriad problems we confront. Talk about an addiction problem! Here in the land of oh-so-smart Ivy grads, we could learn a thing or two from the good people of Hazard.
TFp gang- you have a knack for making me cry- this time with joy and hope as I read about renewal in a small Kentucky town. Several years ago as I moved from SoCal to CT I stopped overnight in Kentucky. Didn’t realize I was in a “ bad” part of drug-town. As a mom and grandmother my heart broke seeing the human devastation at my motel, the local McDonalds, in the parking lot where my car was parked. I wept then and prayed. This story so encourages me. Thank you
"But no one’s waiting any longer for factories or big-box stores—to say nothing of the mines or unions—to save them. 'Too many have come in to try to save us, and they don’t,' Stapleton, the mayor of Prestonsburg, said. “We got to do it ourselves.' " The power of individuals and communities is strong! Love seeing a story that shines a light on some of the many positive developments going on. Thanks FP.
Thank you Sam for staying engaged with this town and these folks and sharing their story of rebuilding and hope. It’s an important human message about recovery, renewal and new beginnings.
When I woke up this morning, I thought “I guess it’s time to read the WSJ and get my daily dose of bad news “ before I go to the FP to hopefully find something a little more balanced. Reading this story was like a cup of hope. I have a son who has struggled with oxy, but is now clean… so can identify with how those people feel, and God bless them for showing us how to pick yourselves up by the bootstraps!!
I hope we can hear more about this town and others like it. Goes to show how strong Americans are, and how we can come out of the worst times. God bless Hazard.
Self reliance. Common sense. Personal entrepreneurship. Sounds like America.
More of this please.
I love articles that refute the "dumb hillbilly" stereotype the elites bestow upon Appalachia. These are ambitious and resilient people.
Another example of fine journalism from The FP.
Why is this hopeful? Because it’s about small people making small incremental improvements to their lives. This is how you change. You start with yourself. Then expand out slowly. It’s what Jordan Peterson says. It’s what Dave Ramsey says. Two of the most listened to people in North America.
Its certainly fun to rail at the big fat problems with our federal governments and institutions. But ultimately we all need to take personal responsibility for our lives. We all have to make small daily choices. That’s where we experience change the most.
Love this story! More please.
It's been a minute since I've been to Hazard. I'm glad to hear good news. Tyler Childress' "Nose on the Grindstone" has been the anthem of that region for a while. He's from a town not too far from there.
Kentucky recentliy also passed a law authorizing research into Iboga/Ibogaine for opoid addiction. It's not without risks, but it works well, and most addicts--with the Fentanyl China is supplying, in what I suppose is a reverse Opium War, across the border Biden refuses to treat as his legal responsibility--die young.
I count myself as one of those who truly believes that freedom and personal responsibility are the answers to nearly all questions. They are harder answers in the short term. It's much easier to remain a child, and ask other people to solve your problems for you.
But here is the thing: the people who want to solve other peoples problems are usually basket cases themselves. They are emotionally dysfunctional. Anyone who wants to control others, or tell them what to do, is someone who themselves has a lot of growing up left to do, a lot of ground to cover before they are fully human.
So yes, life is hard in the short run. But it gets worse if you expect the world to solve your problems. And I really believe that responsible and FREE people in groups are BY FAR the most coherent, useful, and sustainably reliable force for social and moral and spiritual growth possible for human beings. This is the core idea of what is called Conservatism in this country. It is to be contrasted with the idea that emotionally disconnected economic elites KNOW BETTER, and should have the right and power to infantilize and control populations, and to pound them into whatever shape their puerile imagination think fit. That is the essence of Leftism: control, ignorance, violence, and emotional retardation.
Sam Quinones is one of the best journalists & authors of his generation. Buy & read his work: insightful & encouraging despite tough topics. Thanks, Sam!
Such a great and hopeful read. In my neck of the woods, the public policy (or failed social experiment) of Permanent Supportive Housing has taken hold. Just down the street from me are plans to build 100 affordable housing units, many for families. Of the 100 units, 48 will be set aside for individuals who suffer from addiction or mental health issues, or both. They will be given a place to stay, fully paid for, with no strings attached; no requirement to enter treatment, seek counseling or get clean. If I were one of the families thinking of moving here, I would think twice about subjecting my young children to this environment.
We have had numerous meetings with the local police who warn us that they have seen this type of housing attract dealers into the neighborhood and the drug crisis actually becomes worse, not better.
I am heartened to read about the town of Hazard and to see a different type of approach take hold with so many positive outcomes.
As someone in long term recovery from alcoholism, I think that the recovery world is very institutionalized and also focuses on groups that are outside the mainstream of a community. You kind of end up as an 'other' and outside of society in a way. Reading this made me think about how recovery should also be focused on reconnecting the addict to community, but also to think in terms of recovery for a community. How do we rebuild community? Not via big govt programs (but govt can be helpful) but rather via bottoms up efforts? Many communities are ravaged by addiction and need help. Thanks for this article, it's a gem.
This is where I grew up. If you want a little insight into the Appalachian point of view, you will do no better than to watch "Matewan," a John Sales historical movie starring James Earl Jones. The actor portraying Matewan sheriff Sid Hatfield is so real he gives me chills. If you are short of time, at least take the effort to google up, "Matewan Massacre."
I remember relatives who lived through the Mine Wars - yes wars - when the coal companies, aided and abetted by the corrupt West Virginia government, intimidated and abused the coal miners and their families through entities such as the Roanoke-based Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency (the Baldwin Thugs), forced the miners to pay rent and live in "company housing" - owned by the coal company - were paid in "scrip" - stamped brass tokens that could only be redeemed at the Company Store. Striking West Virginia miners were the only Americans in history to be bombed from the air by the American military, or forced to pass by machine-gun nests "protecting them from the commies" to work in the mines. Families of miners who were killed in the mines were immediately ejected from the coal-camp company housing because they dragged down the morale of the others. During the pro-union strikes, the families were ejected into the snow.
No, nobody's asking for "reparashuns" or a leg-up or a handout. It's just nice to know some of what drives us ignorant Hillbillies to decades of self-destructive behavior.
I’d like a deeper-dive into this story: How did each person finance their store opening? What practical steps can people in similar towns take to move in this direction? Were the churches or other community-based organizations (not government) involved and supportive? Good article — thank you.
Finally, something uplifting
What a fabulous story! Thank you! Now I’ll flip through my local paper to read what passes for good news here in CT — our government throwing dollars at insatiable, wasteful government-run programs that do nothing to fix the myriad problems we confront. Talk about an addiction problem! Here in the land of oh-so-smart Ivy grads, we could learn a thing or two from the good people of Hazard.
TFp gang- you have a knack for making me cry- this time with joy and hope as I read about renewal in a small Kentucky town. Several years ago as I moved from SoCal to CT I stopped overnight in Kentucky. Didn’t realize I was in a “ bad” part of drug-town. As a mom and grandmother my heart broke seeing the human devastation at my motel, the local McDonalds, in the parking lot where my car was parked. I wept then and prayed. This story so encourages me. Thank you
"But no one’s waiting any longer for factories or big-box stores—to say nothing of the mines or unions—to save them. 'Too many have come in to try to save us, and they don’t,' Stapleton, the mayor of Prestonsburg, said. “We got to do it ourselves.' " The power of individuals and communities is strong! Love seeing a story that shines a light on some of the many positive developments going on. Thanks FP.
Thank you Sam for staying engaged with this town and these folks and sharing their story of rebuilding and hope. It’s an important human message about recovery, renewal and new beginnings.