Discussing the 8 worst places in the U.S. I examine the worst urban slums, the worst rural areas and also take a look at some places that are truly strange (in a bad way).
Hey guys. I wanted to address the content of this video as after three years it's now showing up in a lot of folks' recommended videos and getting a ton of views. At the time that I posted this video, the channel had less than 1,000 subscribers and most videos had views in the hundreds. The majority of subscribers were geographers and nerdy folks interested in places. I was able to use terms like "ghetto" and "third world" knowing that viewers would put those terms in context as slang. But with this video now being tossed around the political media circles and being recommended to folks who watch a lot of political videos, many people are pouncing on it as a political tool. "Of course these places suck, they're Democrat cities", or "Of course these places suck, they're Republican states". I take pride in this channel being above politics and cringe when videos are used to push an agenda. I could've definitely presented the info in this video better and more professionally, although I do stand by the actual content. Specifically for Chicago, I have posted a new video that addresses some of what I spoke about here, and how I myself am partly to blame for some misguided opinions of Chicago. If you're interested in a new (and frankly, much better) overview of Chicago, please do check out my more recent video on the city. ruclips.net/video/ckCoFSQgeP4/видео.html
I appreciate you ❤️ A man that stands by his work and words, but not too prideful to be self-aware or aware of others. And because of this, I am subscribed! Keep up the good work.
Well said and agree. Poverty is rampant in both Red and Blue states. To say it's the fault of one party is inane. Neither party has fixed it in either Blue or Red States
My truck broke down in one of what was probably the poorest areas of Southern West Virginia. I managed to coast into a small town, but it was Sunday morning and nothing was open but a convenience store. The town appeared to be a whole lot of nothing. My truck was full of expensive gear (telescopes, computers and camping gear), so I couldnt just lock it up and come back the next day. Anyway, the girl in the convenience store called to one of the auto shops in town, and the owner skipped church, came in and fixed my truck. When I went to pay him, he said 'No charge' because he saw the veteran license plates on my truck. I insisted on paying, but he wouldnt budge. Nicest and kindest people Ive ever seen in my life. Since then, Ive realized that many of the most charitable people youll ever met are also some of the poorest. It still blows me away that people would be that nice to a stranger.
I had to get gas in southern WV and was treated like trash. No response even when I greeted them and nasty looks. I’m a black guy, and I’m not saying they are racist but they sure weren’t friendly.
My daughter-in-law had a business trip to Chicago so my son went with her. One day, he decided to take the train out to a car museum. As the train got farther away from the business district, the sketchier it got. There was an elderly black gentleman sitting across from him on the train and he noticed my son was getting nervous. He asked him where he was trying to get to. My son told him and then the man said “Son, you look like you got a few dollars in your pocket. I suggest when this train stops you get right back on one going back into the city”. That’s what my son decided to but when he got off, he didn’t know where the station was that he needed. He was nervous about walking around and it was starting to rain. My son then saw a policeman and went over to ask him for directions. The officer had my son get in the car and the officer drove him to the correct train station he needed.
It ain't that bad... As anywhere, yes any where always be aware of the surroundings... Cuz, the best neighborhoods don't mean the safest...and ain't no trains out there...🤔🤔🤔 to get away...
@@moralfortitude...2217 Bruh. Let me tell you right now statistically Chicago is way more violent than most cities. As it stands now it is a whopping 67% more dangerous than the national crime average. It also had the highest number of homicides in the ENTIRE country in 2022.
My daughter went to Pine Ridge reservation, she celebrated her 15th birthday there. She made friends. She enjoyed meeting the people, but she told me how poor it was there. We aren't rich or middle class ourselves... I'm glad you talked about Pine Ridge
Of all the US road drifters you are simply the best. No smug sarcasm, no over the top mocking. You could have had a field day with these places but instead presented an excellent sober rendering. Always interesting and unique views. Dog's adorable as well.
I agree... and the content was both interesting and insightful, without a lot of time-filling fluff. I usually don't even bother viewing any video that is a list like this, the top ten whatever or 8 worst whatever... I usually pass on these because they are either overdramatized or sensationalized or just pure garbage content... this was a pleasant surprise, subscribed because I find geography interesting and you deliver good solid no-nonsense content. thanks!
Well said. I was struggling to come up with a paragraph That summarize my thought about this video and then saw that you had written the perfect encapsulation.
Big issue with places like Detroit and West Virginia is their whole economy was only built on 1 industry. Once that one industry declines the whole area goes with.
The difference being that Detroit at least has a giant metro population to drive new industries and at least have some hope of improving. West Virginia doesn't have even remotely enough people to shift gears.
I've been out to Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea and honestly I love it out there. It's surreal to see a massive sulfuric basin in the middle of the desert with rotting fish in the salt crystal sand and the bizarre art made from decades old boats and cars and homes. It is really like nowhere else, it's like you've gone to another dimension.
I’ve been to a New Mexico reservation, New Orleans (a couple of years after Katrina) and Perry County, Kentucky. All these places filled me with sadness. After seeing the film “Nomad,” I never realized a town could lose its zip code for being totally abandoned. Such was the fate of Empire, Nevada. I thank you for pointing out communities or neighborhoods in decline. I believe you’ve only begun to hit the tip of the iceberg. I wish there was a magic pill to cure all the parts of forgotten America.
My hometown is on a Native American reservation in Arizona. My mother made the decision to move my brother and I to the city for better educational opportunities and to avoid the rampant poverty that was all around us. This meant leaving my grandmother behind but she wanted her sons to excel, which we did. Today I live a very comfortable life thanks to those opportunities my mother gave me, and I am forever thankful to her for this.
My grandmother worked as a teacher at one of the Navajo boarding schools just off the rez. Said the folks would rather not see their kids for weeks or months at a time, knowing they would be fed, clothed, and receive a better education than anything the rez had to offer.
The people in Richwood, WV really touched my heart with their kindness in 2016 a couple months after landslides buried much of the town, yet they pulled together and still held their summer parade. A damaged church offered me a free burger, a disabled resident befriended me and told me all about his family roots. I’ll never forget my humbling and positive experience there.
The problem with West Virginia is that the people refuse to leave. I am from Culloden and left in 1952. Ghettos are caused by lazy uneducated people. Yes lazy. Few of the poor even have library cards. You can read your way to an education for nothing. It's free. 20 years ago, I read a book and got a job making $345.
You know…….y’all must be white, because I’ve never been treated well in places like Richmond or Ashland. That’s where I saw my first skinhead with nazi tatts. Pretty impu
Just reiterates that "money doesn't make good people." I grew up in church, and have noted that we are often better when we're humble. Sadly, humbling experiences are what put us there. Success isn't everything. Being kind and good is.
I live in Crete Greece, I am 45....I've always considered myself lucky enough to have parents that offered everything to my sister and me. I try the same for my kids. After watching this video , I feel many times luckier. It is unbelievable how stupid human race is....spending uncountable resources for wars, drugs, spaceships etc while basic needs and problems of millions of people haven't been (and will never be) resolved...
@@TheBatugan77 NIce. I never said that. But I will say being greedy is a character flaw. And of course, the wealthy can live in their gated communities and send their kids to private schools so they don't have to see or associate with people who would remind them of their excesses. Guilty much?
Driving through Navajo nation in Arizona is also very depressing. Miles and miles of abject poverty. My Wife is from Mexico and it shocked her. I'm from Detroit, you're spot on there.
I was talking to a girl the other day who had grown up in the city, but then her family had moved to the suburbs to have better schools. She commented that people (in the suburbs) didn’t help each other like they did in the city. I found that very enlightening.
Back in the early 90s, when I was a young naive kid from Portland Maine, I took a job as travelling salesman and was able to "see America" After a few months I found myself working downtown Chicago, and got lost , on foot, after entering a highrise building and exiting the wrong side. After a few blocks, I was in an area of such decay , it was surrealistic . Block after block of silent abandoned buildings, stripped cars, garbage, needles ,empty crack ampules and a general absence of humanity ...a Ghost Town in the middle of a Major City and I stuck out like Casper! Eventually I found a sm store, that was open (despite it's outward appearance) & was fortunate enough to find that owner was more aware of my danger than I was as a dumb white kid. He insisted I stay inside his store till I could get a ride outta there. He also suggested I remove my gold cross necklace and watch, keep them in my pockets, move my wallet to my front pocket and never return. I gained some valuable wisdom that day . * Cheers to that unknown gentleman. 🍸👍
Back in my more open-to-new-experiences years, before I had an automobile, I hated taking buses, so I used to hitchhike occasionally . . . mostly in suburban and exurban NJ and I never had a problem. This was in the 1970's. 5 years later, I owned an automobile and would occasionally pick up hitchhikers. Mostly because I was bored driving alone, and probably because I was empathetic to those who didn't own an automobile. I did this once on a weekend trip from DFW headed East towards Louisiana and picked up a smooth-talking, friendly man who was quite interesting to talk with as he was intelligent and friendly. I dropped him off and waited in the car while he met with some of his (not-sure-how-they-were) relations in the poorest rural setting near Shreveport/Boisser City that I had ever been to . . . Imagine a field of small 1-room shacks with bunk beds and minimal electricity and plumbing. In most of them, 2+ generations of women, plenty of kids and not a grown man to be seen. Yupp, this is how poor people live(d) and I had no idea. 40 years later, I remember it vividly.
In the early 1980's, I was a physician in training who rotated through the ER at Henrotin Hospital. Our clientele consisted largely of gangbangers from the nearby Cabrini Green projects and drunks/partiers from nearby trendy clubs and bars on North Clark and North Dearborn streets. About as diverse and contrasting demographics as you could hope to find; really a borderlands situation! I was told the ER was the 2nd or 3rd busiest in the city, though the hospital it was attached to was comparatively tiny; most of our patients who needed admission were sent on to Northwestern or Cook County after triage and initial treatment.
I'm new to your channel and wanted to say I really enjoyed the couple videos of yours I've seen. You're straightforward, honest, and speak earnestly about things that capture your interest. I fully agree with your assessment of these areas, particularly the rural areas and ghettos. It is ultimately sad that these exist in the way they do. Things *should* be better than that, and it's rare that anyone with the ability to do so bothers enough to.
It’s such an interesting phenomenon, how some of the poorest places contain some of the kindest hearted people. One year my brother and I got stuck in a rural Appalachian town during a snowstorm trying to get to a larger resort town. We were helped by countless local people at several points along the way. I will never forget it.
I grew up in poverty and the lessons I learned through poverty are enshrined in the love and caring that we had for each other. The love of family that exists in abject poverty has lessons to teach that are to be envied by the well-to-do and rich.
Geek- Me KING! informative and production quality high, from having the interest and putting in the time. Glad you found me with it. Glad you broke them down into categories, and with the exception of Salton Sea, nothing to make fun of. Kyle, I guessed 3 out of 8, you pulled the rest by surprise, shock and provided a teaching moment for a quarter hour. Now that it's known, time to pray and do something about it. Take the ones that really got worse to make the worst compared to the ones that have been the worst. Some moved from moonshine to meth, they always had the same pain, same problems. Now subscribed, looking forward to seeing, hearing and learning about new places! Yes, congrats! Impressive stats, you earned and deserve the kudos! LC
It’s sad that everybody sees black or white but if you ask me those kids looked equally sad. I hope we can overcome our problems and start helping out each other.
Exactly. Like the guy standing there with all those cans on the ground. He can store them better & then take them to be recycled & maybe get a few bucks back. Or don’t. But the cans don’t have to be all over the ground. I shouldn’t talk though...I need to go clean something
I don't wana make excuses for laziness but honestly. Are you offering to drive them where they need to go? Are you paying for garbage disposal and dumpster rentals? Can you take the time to teach them the things they need to learn that noone else taught them? Like how to read or cook? Or clean them selves and their homes? Will you lift them up or do you intend to just talk down to them on the internet?
@@evanjuleen you dont need to be able to drive to live in a city or even a bigger town the only place you need a car is if you live in the mountains or near farm land otherwise you can walk second if you dont have shit why would you need a dumpster sure a trash can but even that can be burned there is no excuse to be poor when this country has every freedom you need to become a middle class or even rich person
I've been low income all my life and have lived in low income areas. I have no problem with not having much money but I wish there was a place where I could live that was people like myself who keep their homes clean, don't commit crimes, don't abuse their children and animals. Surely there must be some place for us low income people who want some kind of quality of life.
There are lots of places like that. I don't know where you live but you are going to have to get out of the city. I grew up in a small town in southwest Ks. with 280 people. It is the kind of town you are looking for. But you will need a car. Today it has a church, cafe, gas station, grade school, post office, and that is it. The nearest town of 1,200 is 8 miles away, the nearest theater is 30 miles, the nearest Walmart is 80 miles. There are lots of towns like this in the western part of the US.
@@Automedon2 What's stopping you? I live just outside a town of 320 ppl and still get 50Mbps internet, so WFH is possible. if you're going to do the remote thing and the worst road you're looking at is compacted dirt gravel then I strongly recommend buying a smaller fuel efficient car.
When I was little & growing up and something would happen to me and I would feel pretty bad about it like it was the worst thing...Then my Mother would say to me, you know there are people who are far far worse off than you!!! After seeing this and how some people are living in a country so wealthy as America. I live in Australia, and we have down-and-out areas also but nothing like that. Thank you for posting your videos.
I went to Gary once. My late cousin lived in Chesterton, Indiana and one night when I went to visit (I live 5 hours away in Northeast Ohio) and couldn’t sleep so I was looking up documentaries and found one on Gary. It used to be Thriving city, with theaters, a big civic center and lots of shops downtown. The documentary might have been called, “Stagnant Hope” but don’t quote me on that. So after watching this doc, I got curious. So I took my car (which I suppose was a little dangerous considering I would’ve had out of state plates) and wanted to see Gary for myself. My cousin was this tiny little half Mexican half Scots-Irish lady and maybe 5’1” about 135lbs and drove for Gary Transit for over 15 years, and she used to tell me growing up not to stop in Gary for anything! My point being, I never once while I was driving around, did I feel unsafe and I’m a 5 foot nothin, 130lbs 35 year old white lady. I went to Michael Jackson’s childhood home there, waved to some neighbors that lived a few blocks away (I went in the summertime) and felt all right being there. It was sad but neat to see the city. I think the saddest part for me was, on the boarded up windows of the theaters, they have the wood painted as if people are still in the ticket taking booth. 😞
I was going to mention Gary if no one else has. Yes, it's bad but is actually so burnt out that it's not nearly as bad or violent as it was. Those who remain are actually hard working and mostly friendly, just trying to make it type. If you're ever driving through, check out Kelly's Soul Kitchen and get the best fried catfish with mild sauce around. Also El Norteño has really good but unique tacos.
I'm on the east coast and only visited once, but south eastern WA reservations there were houses I visited with particle board for the floor and there were tarps in the living room to keep the rain out. Was really sad
@@Lildoodirty If you "don't know why" it's because you've made the choice not to acknowledge centuries of discrimination, lies, theft, and genocide at the hands of the US government and US citizens, and you'd rather blame the victims instead.
Pine Ridge is the first area that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I was a delivery driver for almost 30 years and P.R. was my route for several of those. The first time I went there, it was a huge shock. I had been to inner city ghettos and crime ridden cities but I thought I was in a 3rd world country when I went through Pine Ridge, Manderson, Wanbli, Oglala and Porcupine.
Dude, I commend you on your bluntness and straightforwardness! It's actually kinda refreshing! I am originally from Detroit but have been gone from there for years now......but it a weird sort of way I miss that "hell hole"!....go figure...
Hey, here's my brainstorm idea: all US Congresspersons are offered an all expenses paid 1 week vacation to one of these areas. The catch is they have to stay at least 3 days. Who's with me? Lets see how many US Congresspersons can actually life the lifestyle of the people they expect to vote for them.
Awesome idea, they can start Poverty Bed n Breakfast. Free bed bugs and glass of dirty water for breakfast, lunch and dinner. No tents, RV’s or Campers allowed. Live it like the locals.
These congresspersons of yours are the employees of money and power. They do not care about you or anyone. This video is good evidence for my hypothesis.
Corporations have hundreds of lobbyists working for them, they go to Washington and give them bags of cash to make laws that benefit them. Screw the people that sent them their to represent them. Michael Franzese just wrote a book called Mafia Democracy it compares how the mafia and the government are ran the same way.
Why do you think congresspeople are somehow responsible for how these people live? Why not look to the local governments in charge of these places, or the people themselves to see if maybe their own choices are causing this poverty? Your congressperson represents you for the federal government. They don't control your water, your power, your housing.
Thanks for the video and your note about the language you used. We’re all learning. Being open to learning, growing, and understanding perhaps the most important part!
If I were forced to choose one of these places I would choose WV. Although there are poor areas like you depicted, conversely there are lots of decent areas like Huntington. My late mother was born and raised in WV and anytime we would go to visit her there we noticed that the majority of the people we met or dealt with on a daily basis were very kind and willing to go out of their way to help you or make you feel welcome.
I lived in Huntington myself. Well, Barboursville actually. Not a lot of "rich" (ostentatious) people there, but rich in heart and patient with newcomers is the norm. Didn't want to leave.
Thanks for respectfully mentioning the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Most people aren’t even aware this place exists, let alone it’s horrible circumstances.
This is awful. Their Congressperson (is it Dusty Johnson?) should be getting them Federal help. I'm generally not in favor of such actions, but this is certainly an exception.
Not to be contrary, but I lived there. Lots of money goes to tribal government. Not much gets used to make things better. It's a big problem. Still, some good stuff happening. Some good people.
They are supported by federal welfare, they do not own the land, Indian counsels run the reservations, that’s the problem. The place where Indians own the land are prosperous. The government welfare keeps them impoverished, poverty is financially profitable for the counsels not the people.
or paying millions of federal bureaucrats to sit around in offices with high pay, massive benefits, and no accountability for not actually doing any work or watching pron on work time etc.
Those cities have already spent surreal amounts of local, state, and federal money on rebuilding projects. You can take a soul out of poverty but you can't take the poverty out of the soul.
They have to have a financial way to sustain themselves and if most of them are addicts it would be very difficult. I donate to Appalachia even though I live in Alabama. My heart breaks that these places exist and us American's don't do enough for the others. They must feel forgotten. I guess if you commit a crime its the perfect place to hide.
In April of 1977 I was transferred from St. Paul, (Russell County,) Virginia to Williamson, (Mingo County), West Virginia in a managerial position (Asst. Trainmaster) with the Norfolk and Western Railway, now Norfolk Southern. My assignment lasted 7 years in one of the busiest parts of the rail network. Coal was king. Let me tell you about the citizens of that region (Rural Appalachia). There are none better! Yes, the geography of Appalachia is challenging. We suffered two major floods (1977 & 1984) that impacted the both Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. However, the strength and fortitude the people, especially those I supervised was nothing short of astounding. I recognize things are not the same now. Losing Coal has had a major impact on the economy and the opioid crisis has not abated to a significant degree. But my main point in posting this account is to praise the worthiness of people of Rural Appalachia, a people of principle and dedication, who took a young, somewhat inexperience supervisor under their wing and demonstrated what true professionalism (in the art of railroading) and compassion in life was all about. Those 7 years (1977-1984) were so important to me and I want others to know that I hold the people of Rural Appalachia in high esteem!
They are people with a good work ethic, unlike generations of people in the Northern Democrat-controlled cities. These people have no work ethic. They have been raised on generations of government handouts and consider themselves victims every chance they get. They have been raised in the pollution of victimhood and everyone is a racist
Living in eastern Kentucky is hard, even when you're middle class, our water has stopped working twice this week, we are under boil water advisories very often, we don't even think twice about it, it's just normal life. It's not unusual at all for our power and/or water to go out and it can be out for days. We have no infrastructure, no jobs, but plenty horrific poverty. And it's so hard to leave, but I am sick of it, I'm working to get out.
J Green many here do enlist, it’s sometimes the only way out, I was lucky enough to be able to obtain a master’s degree and a good paying career, so I’ll be able to get out it’s just a matter of preparing to in these uncertain times.
I grew up in Youngstown, OH (the place with the highest poverty in the US). I grew up way below poverty. I don’t take any offense to the terms you used. I’m replying because of something you said at the end - places like Youngstown do suck, but it’s also home. It’s not a strong tolerance that keeps people there; it’s a lack of options. I’m not here to give you a hard time. I just wanted to add my experience. While the place where I grew up does suck and requires an incredible strength to survive, I also love it because it will always be home in my heart.
I like Ohio. It’s improving faster than its neighbors. I’m from KY. I get so sick of being judged about where I’m from. I’m fucking proud to be from there! I got out and I’m doing ok. Good day 2 y’a, stranger…
My father used to sneak Mafia photos in Youngstown in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s for Time and Life Magazines. In his motel after a day of sneaking photos he would tape the film canisters to underneath the closet’s shelves to hide them in case he got beat up or murdered.
I was raised by depression era parents. We we raised to be grateful. In times of what some may perceive to be hardship, I’d be reminded that plenty of people in the world have far far less. Boiling water? My mom would say, “Thank goodness we have water to boil”. She came from Texas and was dirt poor (literally) after the crash of ‘29. They lost their home and had to live in a cabin with dirt floors. Unfortunately, about the time people start to forget the past it happens all over again.
Me too depression eta parents born into homes without running water and electricity and when my dad graduated from Texas a and m in 59 they packed up my 5 yr old ass and headed out of easy Texas for good to Santa Monica and never looked back. It's a bit different now but my hometown of Athens still has the same population it did 70 yrs ago but home prices are high. My grandmother used to take in ironing to make ends meet as Texas offers no social services to speak of and my grandfather rode a wagon in the Oklahoma land rush and was born the same year Custer got what was coming to him. So it wasn't really all that long ago.
I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s on a small island off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. And we grew up dirt poor, It was a situation where the whole town depended on the iron ore industry and when they shut their doors in the 1960’s those who decided to stay had no other job options. I remember my mom having to be really creative with potatoes, some days that was all we had and I thought we were lucky to have that. And being from a town the used to mine iron ore for over 100 years, it eventually seeped into the water table, there were constant “ boil water” advisories. I made the decision after high school to leave and I did, do I miss it, yes sometimes, but since then drugs and high crime rates have ravaged the place I used to call home. So, you see it is not just the U.S, it is everywhere.
I spent a week on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I did what I could like building decks onto some of those trailers so kids would stop falling 3 or more feet everytime someone left the door open. I mowed yards where the kids bikes were discovered among the tall grass and they'd thought them to have been stolen. I'd love to go back because I met some absolutely sweet people. There's a truly humbling experience to he had there.
@@floridahiker1503 Awe thank you so much. What an amazing compliment. I agree that we definitely need more people to care and love people who are strangers and are less than perfect human beings. Maybe not necessarily like me LOL but definitely with a huge heart.
Although the smell in Bombay beach can be horrible, it’s actually a pretty interesting and weird place to visit. A few years ago, some LA artists and musicians had some kind of art/music festival, and they left some really trippy art installations all over the desert. I heard they wanted to continue it, but maybe Covid interfered or something. I can’t remember exact details. In the same area, you can visit ‘salvation mountain’ and slab city. Both are worth looking up, there is no end to the weirdness found out in the middle of the desert. A lot of really cool art can be found too
Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah have changed to some degree in the past ten years. There is a modern grocery market that welcomes tourists. Residential and tourist-friendly development is springing up to the west, nearer to Hurricane, Utah. There is off-grid, ranch type property, rental cabins, and a tiny house resort as well.
@@johnmorgan692 I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️
My husband had a flat tire near Gary, Indiana late at night. He had no choice but to change it. He began to notice he was surrounded by young kids looking for trouble. He placed his 45 cal on his lap. Changed the tire at break speed. Tightened every other lug nut. Got in the car and the hell out. A few miles down the road stopped to secure the tire. Thankful he was safe.
I used to have to drive through from western NYS to school in Chicago in the 70s. Gary and South Chicago were absolutely terrifying (once saw a car burning roadside by an abandoned south Chicago steel mill). Detroit was worse; in the early 70s, there were gangs driving on the road that would hit a car then kill the driver when he/she stopped to exchange information. I thank all the gods that may be my car never broke down going through that I-94 corridor.
Yes, Gary, Indiana, should be on your list. I grew up about two hours from Gary in a farming/small town community. Many non-farmers lived in town and would drive to Gary to work for US Steel-an easy drive via the Indiana Toll Road. My older sisters got their nursing degrees at Gary Methodist Nursing School associated with Gary Methodist Hospital in the 1960s. It was an exciting drive there and back as a little girl when we took them to school and back. It used to be a great place. Then US Steel left as did other related businesses. Now, Gary is dead. Just take the Chicago Skyway and look out over the collapsed roofs and broken windows and graffiti everywhere. My husband was driving back home from Chicago a while back and got lost when he took a wrong turn and missed the Indiana exit onto the Skyway. He wandered a bit, and stopped at a stop sign in an empty kind of area. All of a sudden, a policeman put on his siren and stopped him. “Who are you? Where are you from?” Really grilled him. It turned out that nobody ever stops at any sign in the area my husband was. They have murders and carjackings all the time. “Follow me and l’ll get you to the Indiana Toll Road and never come back here again.”
78-yr-old Brit here. Old enough to know that not everywhere in the US is sugar and spice and all things nice but some of these places took my breath away. We've got our bad bits, too, but none of them are as desperate as the places shown here. Good commentary; sympathetic, non-sensational and not mocking.
everyone of these places he mentioned is controlled by socialist forces; democratic and liberal...the good thing about this is that in America there is a path of exit from that way of life if a person so chooses...most people dont want to do that because they'll have to work and lose their government benefits....I know people like that and I know people who have gotten themselves out of that situation, also.... in other countries especially socialist countries, no path exists ...
WOW! Thank U 4 posting this...maybe it will help bring consciousness 2 the need 4 reform & aid 2 these areas! What a hard choice as 2 which (if I ABSOLUTELY HAD 2 choose) I wud live....I just can't choose...this is SO SAD!!!😩
Me too, and I live in Baltimore. It's two cities, of course. One full of professionals like me -- so many major institutions here -- and the other, well, the other would normally be on a list like this.
Cleveland too. They were both in the top 5 for largest populations in America (around 1950). Cleveland’s population has shrunk so much, it’s smaller than Wichita, Kansas
My Grandpa grew up in Detroit in the 1930's. At that time Detroit was one of the richest city's in America. The Architecture and Workmanship on the 1900- 1940 buildings are very unique. Buildings today are not built with artistic architecture. Sad what Detroit could have been today without the corruption.
I love the shout out at the end of how terrible O-Town is. Native Floridian myself who absolutely abhors the Orange County/ Orlando area. Other than Wekiva & Rock Springs Avoid At All Costs. 😅
I’m a life-long West Virginian, and this is sadly true. I lived in Logan County for a few years when my late husband worked for the Public Health Service. Even northern WVians don’t like to go there. But, I will say it can be harder to be poor in city ghettos. Some here may have to use wells and septic, but at least they can have chickens and gardens to provide food. My father grew up very poor in southern WV (he has a Ph.D., his bother is a DVM, and I have a Ph.D. - we’ve stayed to help with the Appalachian brain drain), and his experiences were much less traumatic than friends I have that grew up poor in cities. For instance, my dad’s Family was dirt poor, but never had food issues because of the land. My best friend who grew up in a city with 8 siblings had it much worse. They had to drink watered down milk. At least in Appalachia there’s always someone with a cow. Finally, some of the greatest American music has also come out of Appalachia. Just like New Orleans and blues, bluegrass and traditional Appalachian music has made significant contributions.
Thank you for the nice things you said about WV...i was born and raised in Buffalo Creek. Man is our town, but Logan was the big town. I’m 70 yrs old, and I never desired to live anywhere but West Virginia.
Yeah, I live in the Huntington Metro area, and I'm a lifelong West Virginia. There are current parts of the state I don't go to unless I have to, I mean they are wastelands. Huntington has a lot of burned-out buildings and empty lots, the job market sucks or doesn't pay well. Yeah, I've been saving up to move to work in the field I trained to do.
That sounds like my dad, he was also one of 8 siblings! And they had well water as did we growing up. I didn’t realize not everyone had well water til friends would visit and try to drink out of the tap like noo stop lol it tastes like eggs 🤧 WV is still really beautiful tho to visit. My sister and I drove down there recently and everyone was nice
I’ve been to a couple of these places. You certainly didn’t exaggerate on what I can speak to. If anything you didn’t show anything near the worst. It’s heartbreaking. I will say that the people, in the two areas I can speak to, are some of the absolute kindest and generous people in the world. Even those who have resorted to the drug and alcohol issue to cope are not the mean type of folks. They are often gentle and kind without the alcohol. kind. It’s just heartbreaking. The focus on the changes needed are more on the punitive side and not on the loving side of humanity. It is just so heart wrenching. Thank you for bringing it to the light.
There's quite a few FLDS folk in and around Richfield, UT, 3 hours north of Hildale. Nothing like this, I just bring it up 'cuz it's real strange running across these people at the Walmart or a restaurant. They're not social, I've tried saying "hello" or "pardon me" whenever I'm by a group of them (they're never alone in public), but they usually look straight down and walk quickly. The men are never with the groups of women it seems. Most groups have a matriarchal woman among them to guide them through the stores and out. They talk amongst themselves, occasionally see them laughing. Real odd folk. And they really do all look alike.
@@christopherwilcox9654 Yep, I used to live in Kanab, and I know what you mean. Some people would ltell me that as they drove past/thru there, they just felt a feeling of dread or something "bad." I just know i always went exactly the speed limit. Last thing i wanted to do was be pulled over there.
We moved to Logan County Wv about a year ago. Savannah Ga to Las Vegas and then here. We do not live in the city of Logan but about 15 minutes away. Yes, you do see addicts and blight but I feel so much safer here than anywhere we lived before. People here harm themselves but in Savannah and Vegas, they harm you. People here are kind but are victims of so many social determinants. Rural areas score low in education, healthcare, and proper nutrition and suffer from generational poverty. This place was also victimized by the pharmaceutical industry. These people work(ed) hard manual jobs and have real pain. Oxycontin came in and offered pain relief and they gave it out like candy. They were treating real pain. Then that blew up and the government decided that no, they can't have that anymore but they were hooked and they STILL had very real pain. So then heroin and fentanyl came in and that's where it is today. Poor people with pain and poverty, it's a really bad mix. But there is also beauty here. I don't worry about sitting in my yard at night, I don't jump at every loud noise like I did in Savannah or Vegas. It is green and lush, there are rivers running through almost every town. And the housing, it's still so incredibly affordable here. I bought a massive house, very private for ridiculously cheap. I work from home so I don't depend on the limited jobs here. Our towns are 4 wheeler and UTV friendly so we ride ours, ride trails, sit by the river and enjoy the peace and quiet. When I was 20, it would have seemed like hell. If I had to find work here, probably the same. At 40 and having lived in places where there were murders all the time and you never felt safe I feel like I can breathe again. Look up with murder rate...since 2010 there was ONE. For us it is an amazing place with some really kind and really strong people. I feel like I can make a change here and I think that as more people work from home, these unspoiled areas will come back to life. To me it really is "Almost Heaven"".
Thanks for this informative content. It made me remember a local news story while I was passing through Detroit in 1968. Police were interrogating a thief who had broken glass and stolen jewelry from stores in one part of the city. When asked why he committed his crimes during daylight hours, the perp replied that he was afraid to carry money around at night.
I met a southwest Virginia hillbilly in the 90s. His father was a coalminer and he grew up with an outhouse. He charmed the pants off of me, quite literally. RIP Steve. 💔
you're keeping his legacy alive by sharing your moments here. now a brazilian guy from a coastal city (me) knows how charming hillbilly steve was. he didnt forget you either, for sure. thank you for sharing this lovely short story 💛
The video is 3 years old, I would love to see an update to see if it’s gotten any better since the pandemic and all the money they’ve given to help people.
When my kids were little I would take them to Mexico and we would stay there a few days and I would explain and show them that even though those people were poor, their houses were kept clean and maintained as much as they could. Some of them even had dirt floors and yet they swept and cleaned them. Being poor has nothing to do with cleanliness. " There's a thin line between love and hate. So is there for rich and poor, cleanliness and dirtiness, and disciplined and not disciplined. That thin line is you and your mentality." Solid Future Mastermind
Well said. I was raised by my grandfather, in my youngest years, he would tell me the same thing. "Even if you are poor, you can be clean." Another saying I heard from him: "Even if you can't afford an education, you can read; therefore, you can teach yourself." The lessons here: you can come from nothing, but with EFFORT and the WANT to be better, you can (and will) be.
@@rolmodel12. Until you can't afford water, or cleaner. That only works to an extent. It's very easy to end up in a place where you have no access to ways to clean yourself or your environs adequately, and you'll find very quickly that public spaces don't appreciate you using the restroom sink for a spit bath.
Solid cluelessness, more like. The distance between rich and poor becomes greater, quantitatively, every day. Your mentality has nothing to do with objective reality. If you think it does, go stand in front of a Mac truck and try using your mentality to change its course.
@@dierdriu Having the will to better yourself should not cost a thing. Finding a way to do so, might; but, you gain much more. I think it is a good investment. It is an outlook, an attitude. You can have it, whether rich or poor. But, if you think you can change "objective reality" or stop a "Mac truck" with a good outlook, then, yeah- you're unstable, or on hallucinogens, or maybe just an idiot. Regardless, maybe it's better they go out quick and believing in themselves. Better than being a miserable asshole.
I recently found your channel. As a geography junkie and road trip addict, I really love your contents. This video, however, is the one that shocked me the most. I just learned that extreme poverty is so close to us. It’s unbelievable that very few attention and support has been provided to many of these places.
I'm glad you found the channel. I try to generally keep things positive on the channel but sometimes negative things need to be pointed out. Most stuff about these places is just making fun of them.
Mass majority don't care. Folks are happy with their Budweiser and Nascar. Just ignorant and self absorbed. If fox news doesn't mention it it doesn't exist to them.
This video is proof that no matter how bad you may think your life is, someone, somewhere else has it worst off than you. It's also motivation to work harder, and smarter to improve your life.
Poverty is no excuse for the amount of litter in the yards of that reservation. I guess they never seen the old commercials with the native American crying about someone littering.
As a semi-truck driver, I delivered in Logan, WV. and can say that the people were friendly. However, it was really a desolate, worn-down city that looked like it never had or will have an opportunity. It is so cut-off from everything.
Man, you are a breath of honesty in social media. No political agenda, no sensationalism, no hogtied political correctness. Just rational and fact-based, yet not ashamed of an honest, informed opinion. Thank you for your work to shine some light on our national self-awareness. By the way, amazing array of photos.
Yo, I live in New Orleans and honestly the places hit hardest were bad before Katrina. Rent has gone up so much in the last 15 years but hourly pay has not. And in a city like this it really is neighborhood by neighborhood for crime or wealthy vs poor. Anyway an interesting video. Geaux Saints :)
I lived in a destitute neighborhood in New Orleans whose struggles were obvious to the eye. However below the surface the neighborhood had a deep sense of community and familial connections that are a rarity in modern society. That spirit in combination with the unique and irrepressible cultural traditions made it the richest place in which I have resided.
I'm glad for you guys. However, community shouldn't arise in just poverty. I hope the city and state governments make serious changes to improve the living standards of people who grew up in conditions like you did. NOLA is a very unique city in the US and it's a shame that some parts are just so destitute. Should the quality of life improve I hope that that communal feeling doesn't fade away in favor or individual pursuit.
All right geography king who watched your whole video and it was very interesting to me, so I want to say thank you for posting that video and taking your time out. I’m a Bakersfield in a live in Bakersfield it’s not like any of those places, sexually very very chill other then all the thieves in town
Nice job on approaching this video with maturity and professionalism. This is clearly a channel for knowledge and not cheap entertainment. I’m officially a fan and subscriber
My husband grew up in the 9th district of New Orleans in the 70’s and early 80’s. He was one of the few white students and his dad was one of the infamous dirty New Orlean cops. Some of the horror stories he’s told me just break my heart.
@@creator4413 his dad was a dirty cop, in New Orleans, the town were people just go missing, no one would have bothered him much if at all, this was back in the 70’s and 80’s very different than today, not saying better or worse, but very different.
2 года назад
@@charlesprice7608 no one actually 'missed' these scumbags ... it was for the greater good if you think about it
I like your presentation and personality...subbed. Oh and by the way.I guess the West VA /Kentucky area is where I would pick.I believe the temps are OK and out of some of the other places,these people really can't help it (they really can't help it in the other areas either).I am a retired nurse and maybe could get a job trying to help these people (Traveling nurse...but I'd conceal a gun).
I’m a nurse in South Dakota, albeit on the other side of the state. We get patients from the rez at our hospital, and it’s honestly heartbreaking the lack of medical care and resources that our own citizens lack. The level of poverty on pine ridge and the other reservations is surreal.
These people seem to be brainwashed into thinking they are nothing. But in reality, that rez is rich and the food they eat and how they live can be changed. But if you have the leadership to keep these people down and depressed and feel worthless then Pine Ridge will stay that way.
The offices in DC have plush carpeting and leather furniture but the Indigenous people have no running water and live in shambles...check Trail of Broken Treaties.... it's beyond disgusting and heartbreaking... shame on The U.S.
@@margocaldwell8109 I mean I used to work with who was Turtle Mountain Chippewa would always say you can trust the government just ask a Native American.
I worked on the US or six years, mostly in county hospitals. I was shocked by the degree of poverty I saw. Many of the people I met were decent, har working people. Definitely not lazy, drug addled complacent people. Just people with no future, no hope, no opportunity. I had a great deal of respect for these people who continued their lives, doing the best they can.
It's really sad about Detroit. There are a lot of vacant buildings but if you look at some of these buildings the architecture is absolutely beautiful. You can tell by looking at it that one time this was a beautiful city
My parents moved there in 1951. It was beautiful then. Now, it's just a typical democrat led city. Look them up if you don't believe me. I've traveled all over this country and it's always the same
I will also say that when living in Appalachian Ohio after Katrina I went with a large group of about 50 to help rebuild homes in New Orleans. Most of us thought our worst places were better than their worst places. Also, you don’t need a lot of money to help people after a disaster. You only need compassion and a willingness to work hard.
I went down after Katrina and helped get natural gas stations in St Bernard’s back online. I have to admit even with all the devastation, my first thought was how clean the roads actually were. Having worked there prior, the ability to just come in and bulldoze the streets clear was actually an improvement. Still keep in contact with many guys I met during that time to this day.
West Virginia and Kentucky are absolutely heart-breaking; complete failure on behalf of their state governments to actually provide the services these people need to survive.
@@guitrr That is because from the end of the Civil War until a few decades ago, the areas were run by the Democrats. It is going to take a long time to undo the damage done by the Democrats.
@@guitrr they voted democrat with the unions for 80+ years while they were sold out to foreign owners and replaced with automation. Trying to judge everything through a modern tribal view with no understanding of history is ignorant and shows no real empathy to what happens here or WHY they now vote Republican
I used to live in Appalachia. So true. Imagine being born in there in poverty with relatives who lacked ANY practical skills and only a handful of families have all the wealth and privilege. It is very medieval. The right last name can get you a quantum leap in socio-economic advancement. I got out but because of my poverty, my "niche" social skills, etc I have only progressed so far. You are decades behind regular people in other parts of the USA in terms of personal development. The main problem is that you lack mainstream references and experiences with which to connect to people. It IS a THIRD WORLD place.
Yeah, I realized that when I read Heaven (VC Andrews). It was an entirely different world to mine even for children. It was definitely based in some part of reality. I also saw well off people have problems too, though not having food to eat, security, different problems.
same with me in a shitty rural outskirt of San Antonio. You'll go to even the shittiest metropolis in the US and everybody's got a leg up. The United States is a shithole because of how large it is. So what if someones from Camden, they got Philadelphia walking distance from them. Or someone who is from a shitty neighborhood of Houston, they got a straight shot road to abundant arts and industry from like 5 different downtowns to choose from. New York, that's just plain privilege. People from important cities grow up next to job after job after school after school after community service event Rural Texas is hell, specifically south and southwest and west texas of temperatures 100-110. Louisiana, Miss, Georgia Alabama, those places kreeped me out anyway
What an interesting video. I’m from Philly so I guess I fall into the Detroit/Chicago urban ghetto thing. I currently live in western Maryland, which is closer to West Virginia than Washington DC especially given traffic. I don’t venture far into West Virginia very often and definitely not at night, but to be fair, To be fair, I feel the same about Baltimore. Fun fact: West Virginia has/had one billionaire, their governor. Shocking.
This is truly heartbreaking. I was feeling bummed about not being able to save money for Christmas then I see this and realize how fkn fortunate I am to have a roof over my head and enough food to last until my next paycheck. I’m so glad this video showed up in my feed.
Sometimes things are so tight that I go hungry for a day or two, and I'll set my alarm for 3:30am, when my paycheck shows up in the bank, and I'll go eat.
Hey guys. I wanted to address the content of this video as after three years it's now showing up in a lot of folks' recommended videos and getting a ton of views. At the time that I posted this video, the channel had less than 1,000 subscribers and most videos had views in the hundreds. The majority of subscribers were geographers and nerdy folks interested in places. I was able to use terms like "ghetto" and "third world" knowing that viewers would put those terms in context as slang. But with this video now being tossed around the political media circles and being recommended to folks who watch a lot of political videos, many people are pouncing on it as a political tool. "Of course these places suck, they're Democrat cities", or "Of course these places suck, they're Republican states". I take pride in this channel being above politics and cringe when videos are used to push an agenda. I could've definitely presented the info in this video better and more professionally, although I do stand by the actual content.
Specifically for Chicago, I have posted a new video that addresses some of what I spoke about here, and how I myself am partly to blame for some misguided opinions of Chicago. If you're interested in a new (and frankly, much better) overview of Chicago, please do check out my more recent video on the city.
ruclips.net/video/ckCoFSQgeP4/видео.html
I appreciate you ❤️ A man that stands by his work and words, but not too prideful to be self-aware or aware of others. And because of this, I am subscribed! Keep up the good work.
Well said and agree. Poverty is rampant in both Red and Blue states. To say it's the fault of one party is inane. Neither party has fixed it in either Blue or Red States
I really enjoyed your video.
If you had to choose one of these places where would you live?
Kyle, keep doing what you do! It perfect
You look a little bit like Bruce Springsteen when he was younger.
My truck broke down in one of what was probably the poorest areas of Southern West Virginia. I managed to coast into a small town, but it was Sunday morning and nothing was open but a convenience store. The town appeared to be a whole lot of nothing. My truck was full of expensive gear (telescopes, computers and camping gear), so I couldnt just lock it up and come back the next day. Anyway, the girl in the convenience store called to one of the auto shops in town, and the owner skipped church, came in and fixed my truck. When I went to pay him, he said 'No charge' because he saw the veteran license plates on my truck. I insisted on paying, but he wouldnt budge. Nicest and kindest people Ive ever seen in my life. Since then, Ive realized that many of the most charitable people youll ever met are also some of the poorest. It still blows me away that people would be that nice to a stranger.
Was this by chance flatwoods?
people who know the value of a dollar and an hour's work.
It’s also stunningly beautiful in many places that haven’t been destroyed by mining.
I had a similar "breakdown" story in Fillmore Utah treated like royalty by the locals Godbless them.
I had to get gas in southern WV and was treated like trash. No response even when I greeted them and nasty looks. I’m a black guy, and I’m not saying they are racist but they sure weren’t friendly.
This video could also be titled " places where houses are still affordable in the US"
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Move to a Midwest small town I have a 3 bed 2 bath 2 car garage huge fenced yard sunroom shed with loft all for 108000
Although the air hurts your face in the winter and we just had a tornado 20 miles north but its cheap
You can find all that in small town downstate IL for even less!
Lol 🤣
My daughter-in-law had a business trip to Chicago so my son went with her. One day, he decided to take the train out to a car museum. As the train got farther away from the business district, the sketchier it got. There was an elderly black gentleman sitting across from him on the train and he noticed my son was getting nervous.
He asked him where he was trying to get to. My son told him and then the man said “Son, you look like you got a few dollars in your pocket. I suggest when this train stops you get right back on one going back into the city”.
That’s what my son decided to but when he got off, he didn’t know where the station was that he needed. He was nervous about walking around and it was starting to rain. My son then saw a policeman and went over to ask him for directions. The officer had my son get in the car and the officer drove him to the correct train station he needed.
It ain't that bad... As anywhere, yes any where always be aware of the surroundings... Cuz, the best neighborhoods don't mean the safest...and ain't no trains out there...🤔🤔🤔 to get away...
That's common in most cities. It's that massive sewer rats that is freaky.
@@moralfortitude...2217 Bruh. Let me tell you right now statistically Chicago is way more violent than most cities. As it stands now it is a whopping 67% more dangerous than the national crime average. It also had the highest number of homicides in the ENTIRE country in 2022.
Well you don't sound too grumpy to me Darlin' 😘😉
@BYRRD oh so live, there ???
My daughter went to Pine Ridge reservation, she celebrated her 15th birthday there. She made friends. She enjoyed meeting the people, but she told me how poor it was there. We aren't rich or middle class ourselves... I'm glad you talked about Pine Ridge
Of all the US road drifters you are simply the best. No smug sarcasm, no over the top mocking. You could have had a field day with these places but instead presented an excellent sober rendering. Always interesting and unique views. Dog's adorable as well.
Thank you!
yeah. That's good to point out. He isn't sardonic and snide, but nor is he blind. He does a pretty good job at this.
I agree... and the content was both interesting and insightful, without a lot of time-filling fluff. I usually don't even bother viewing any video that is a list like this, the top ten whatever or 8 worst whatever... I usually pass on these because they are either overdramatized or sensationalized or just pure garbage content... this was a pleasant surprise, subscribed because I find geography interesting and you deliver good solid no-nonsense content. thanks!
@@GeographyKing Where did you search the photos for these eight places? They are really amazing, sometimes Nat’l Geo quality :-)
Well said. I was struggling to come up with a paragraph That summarize my thought about this video and then saw that you had written the perfect encapsulation.
Big issue with places like Detroit and West Virginia is their whole economy was only built on 1 industry. Once that one industry declines the whole area goes with.
The difference being that Detroit at least has a giant metro population to drive new industries and at least have some hope of improving. West Virginia doesn't have even remotely enough people to shift gears.
Legal hemp could revive the Appalachian economy...
The same that happened with Venezuela, except it doesn’t get blamed on socialism. 🤔
Declined by design most going to Communist China.
Company towns.
I've been out to Bombay Beach and the Salton Sea and honestly I love it out there. It's surreal to see a massive sulfuric basin in the middle of the desert with rotting fish in the salt crystal sand and the bizarre art made from decades old boats and cars and homes. It is really like nowhere else, it's like you've gone to another dimension.
I’ve been to a New Mexico reservation, New Orleans (a couple of years after Katrina) and Perry County, Kentucky. All these places filled me with sadness. After seeing the film “Nomad,” I never realized a town could lose its zip code for being totally abandoned. Such was the fate of Empire, Nevada. I thank you for pointing out communities or neighborhoods in decline. I believe you’ve only begun to hit the tip of the iceberg. I wish there was a magic pill to cure all the parts of forgotten America.
Magic Pill is stop worrying about rich assholes and help real people.
My hometown is on a Native American reservation in Arizona. My mother made the decision to move my brother and I to the city for better educational opportunities and to avoid the rampant poverty that was all around us. This meant leaving my grandmother behind but she wanted her sons to excel, which we did. Today I live a very comfortable life thanks to those opportunities my mother gave me, and I am forever thankful to her for this.
Referring to my comment that some people choose to live in poverty, your story is a perfect example to the contrary👍
My grandmother worked as a teacher at one of the Navajo boarding schools just off the rez. Said the folks would rather not see their kids for weeks or months at a time, knowing they would be fed, clothed, and receive a better education than anything the rez had to offer.
Why do the reservations still exist??!!!
@@qjtvaddict property rights, now.
Arizona is ranked #47 in education. Red states are always last. Shocker. Hanging dry classes at trump university is not education.
The people in Richwood, WV really touched my heart with their kindness in 2016 a couple months after landslides buried much of the town, yet they pulled together and still held their summer parade. A damaged church offered me a free burger, a disabled resident befriended me and told me all about his family roots. I’ll never forget my humbling and positive experience there.
My Mother was born in and grew up in Richwood. I have so many fond memories there and still have relatives in the vicinity. Good people there.
The problem with West Virginia is that the people refuse to leave. I am from Culloden and left in 1952. Ghettos are caused by lazy uneducated people. Yes lazy. Few of the poor even have library cards. You can read your way to an education for nothing. It's free. 20 years ago, I read a book and got a job making $345.
You know…….y’all must be white, because I’ve never been treated well in places like Richmond or Ashland. That’s where I saw my first skinhead with nazi tatts. Pretty impu
You're the "correct" skin color that's why
Just reiterates that "money doesn't make good people." I grew up in church, and have noted that we are often better when we're humble. Sadly, humbling experiences are what put us there.
Success isn't everything.
Being kind and good is.
I live in Crete Greece, I am 45....I've always considered myself lucky enough to have parents that offered everything to my sister and me. I try the same for my kids.
After watching this video , I feel many times luckier.
It is unbelievable how stupid human race is....spending uncountable resources for wars, drugs, spaceships etc while basic needs and problems of millions of people haven't been (and will never be) resolved...
💯 in agreement.
"Out of sight, out of mind", and wealthy people always have enough money to keep from having to see ugly things.
@@alexstokowsky6360
Being wealthy is not a character flaw. Cut the crap.
@@TheBatugan77 NIce. I never said that. But I will say being greedy is a character flaw. And of course, the wealthy can live in their gated communities and send their kids to private schools so they don't have to see or associate with people who would remind them of their excesses. Guilty much?
Driving through Navajo nation in Arizona is also very depressing. Miles and miles of abject poverty. My Wife is from Mexico and it shocked her. I'm from Detroit, you're spot on there.
It is. I got lost there in a storm one night. Street signs all had spray paint covering them. No internet at that time so I had no idea where I was.
I remember being poor growing up, but our neighborhood cared about each other and it was a clean neighborhood.
Well said....your community and people who discuss and watch the neighbourhoods are the best!!! Rich or poor
Mine were poor and filled with crackheads who’d kill a kid for a rock. You’re lucky
I was talking to a girl the other day who had grown up in the city, but then her family had moved to the suburbs to have better schools. She commented that people (in the suburbs) didn’t help each other like they did in the city. I found that very enlightening.
I remember being poor growing up too💯💯 look at us now, grown up🤷
We were so poor that if I hadn’t been a boy I wouldn’t have had a thing to play with.
Back in the early 90s, when I was a young naive kid from Portland Maine, I took a job as travelling salesman and was able to "see America"
After a few months I found myself working downtown Chicago, and got lost , on foot, after entering a highrise building and exiting the wrong side. After a few blocks, I was in an area of such decay , it was surrealistic . Block after block of silent abandoned buildings, stripped cars, garbage, needles ,empty crack ampules and a general absence of humanity ...a Ghost Town in the middle of a Major City and I stuck out like Casper! Eventually I found a sm
store, that was open (despite it's outward appearance) & was fortunate enough to find that owner was more aware of my danger than I was as a dumb white kid. He insisted I stay inside his store till I could get a ride outta there. He also suggested I remove my gold cross necklace and watch, keep them in my pockets, move my wallet to my front pocket and never return. I gained some valuable wisdom that day .
* Cheers to that unknown gentleman. 🍸👍
Well isn't that a beautiful story.
Back in my more open-to-new-experiences years, before I had an automobile, I hated taking buses, so I used to hitchhike occasionally . . . mostly in suburban and exurban NJ and I never had a problem. This was in the 1970's.
5 years later, I owned an automobile and would occasionally pick up hitchhikers. Mostly because I was bored driving alone, and probably because I was empathetic to those who didn't own an automobile.
I did this once on a weekend trip from DFW headed East towards Louisiana and picked up a smooth-talking, friendly man who was quite interesting to talk with as he was intelligent and friendly.
I dropped him off and waited in the car while he met with some of his (not-sure-how-they-were) relations in the poorest rural setting near Shreveport/Boisser City that I had ever been to . . .
Imagine a field of small 1-room shacks with bunk beds and minimal electricity and plumbing.
In most of them, 2+ generations of women, plenty of kids and not a grown man to be seen.
Yupp, this is how poor people live(d) and I had no idea. 40 years later, I remember it vividly.
Chicago has many fun neighborhoods.
And I always thought Portland was a ghetto. I avoid that place.
In the early 1980's, I was a physician in training who rotated through the ER at Henrotin Hospital. Our clientele consisted largely of gangbangers from the nearby Cabrini Green projects and drunks/partiers from nearby trendy clubs and bars on North Clark and North Dearborn streets. About as diverse and contrasting demographics as you could hope to find; really a borderlands situation! I was told the ER was the 2nd or 3rd busiest in the city, though the hospital it was attached to was comparatively tiny; most of our patients who needed admission were sent on to Northwestern or Cook County after triage and initial treatment.
What's crazy is that the US allows any citizens to live like this
I'm new to your channel and wanted to say I really enjoyed the couple videos of yours I've seen. You're straightforward, honest, and speak earnestly about things that capture your interest. I fully agree with your assessment of these areas, particularly the rural areas and ghettos. It is ultimately sad that these exist in the way they do. Things *should* be better than that, and it's rare that anyone with the ability to do so bothers enough to.
It’s such an interesting phenomenon, how some of the poorest places contain some of the kindest hearted people. One year my brother and I got stuck in a rural Appalachian town during a snowstorm trying to get to a larger resort town. We were helped by countless local people at several points along the way. I will never forget it.
It’s called southern hospitality. You won’t get that up north
@@vtheg4842 Is that so? You don’t know the rural Midwest.
@@edl6398 you’re right. Like most people, I don’t because no one lives there
Its almost like people that aren’t driven by money and greed actually care about other people.
@@vtheg4842 job. B,b
I never, ever forget just how insanely lucky I am every day of my life. I cannot imagine living in abject, crushing poverty.
You are truly blessed by God. Pray and thank Him always 😊
I grew up in poverty and the lessons I learned through poverty are enshrined in the love and caring that we had for each other. The love of family that exists in abject poverty has lessons to teach that are to be envied by the well-to-do and rich.
You wont have to imagine for long thanks to the demorats
That’s not luck.
@@jesussaves7973 god has nothing to do with it.
Geek- Me KING! informative and production quality high, from having the interest and putting in the time. Glad you found me with it. Glad you broke them down into categories, and with the exception of Salton Sea, nothing to make fun of. Kyle, I guessed 3 out of 8, you pulled the rest by surprise, shock and provided a teaching moment for a quarter hour. Now that it's known, time to pray and do something about it. Take the ones that really got worse to make the worst compared to the ones that have been the worst. Some moved from moonshine to meth, they always had the same pain, same problems. Now subscribed, looking forward to seeing, hearing and learning about new places! Yes, congrats! Impressive stats, you earned and deserve the kudos! LC
It’s sad that everybody sees black or white but if you ask me those kids looked equally sad. I hope we can overcome our problems and start helping out each other.
My mom always told me, just because were poor doesnt mean we have to live like trash.
Exactly. Like the guy standing there with all those cans on the ground. He can store them better & then take them to be recycled & maybe get a few bucks back. Or don’t. But the cans don’t have to be all over the ground. I shouldn’t talk though...I need to go clean something
😮 Wow, just wow.... These are people who are so poor they are without hope. And you found a way to look down on them. Clap. Clap. Clap.
I don't wana make excuses for laziness but honestly. Are you offering to drive them where they need to go? Are you paying for garbage disposal and dumpster rentals? Can you take the time to teach them the things they need to learn that noone else taught them? Like how to read or cook? Or clean them selves and their homes? Will you lift them up or do you intend to just talk down to them on the internet?
@@evanjuleen you dont need to be able to drive to live in a city
or even a bigger town the only place you need a car is if you live in the mountains or near farm land otherwise you can walk
second if you dont have shit why would you need a dumpster sure a trash can but even that can be burned
there is no excuse to be poor when this country has every freedom you need to become a middle class or even rich person
Your mom always told me don't stop until I scream.
cleveland's motto is "at least we're not detroit"
That's quite an accomplishment! 👍
There economy is built on lebron James and most of the places look like a scooby doo ghost town.
@@MrSmity We’re so retarded that we think this is art 🎨
Alabama's motto, "At least we're not Miss."
As in many lists of "worst of the US" have places like MS and AL last but AL is only 49 to MS's 50.
Come on down to Cleveland town everyone
Thank you, your videos are always so interesting!! Unbelievable that these places exist now in the modern age!!
Straight to the point and no messing around, great summary.
The poverty in that part of West Virginia looks awful, don't get me wrong, but the landscape is breath-taking.
Yup, its on par with Western North Carolina. They just need to manage it better and take care of their people.
i agree
I’m from Ohio, and as soon as you cross the river it starts getting sad real quick 😂
Really anything from Athens and down is bad
I've always lived in West Virginia but only been to Logan County once. That was a very long time ago.
I've been low income all my life and have lived in low income areas. I have no problem with not having much money but I wish there was a place where I could live that was people like myself who keep their homes clean, don't commit crimes, don't abuse their children and animals. Surely there must be some place for us low income people who want some kind of quality of life.
Montreal
If you find that place, let me know.
There are lots of places like that. I don't know where you live but you are going to have to get out of the city. I grew up in a small town in southwest Ks. with 280 people. It is the kind of town you are looking for. But you will need a car. Today it has a church, cafe, gas station, grade school, post office, and that is it. The nearest town of 1,200 is 8 miles away, the nearest theater is 30 miles, the nearest Walmart is 80 miles. There are lots of towns like this in the western part of the US.
@@Automedon2 What's stopping you? I live just outside a town of 320 ppl and still get 50Mbps internet, so WFH is possible.
if you're going to do the remote thing and the worst road you're looking at is compacted dirt gravel then I strongly recommend buying a smaller fuel efficient car.
Upstate NY isn’t awful, plus houses are fairly affordable (somehow)
In these areas, no one seems to know how to use a trash can. Yikes.
When I was little & growing up and something would happen to me and I would feel pretty bad about it like it was the worst thing...Then my Mother would say to me, you know there are people who are far far worse off than you!!! After seeing this and how some people are living in a country so wealthy as America. I live in Australia, and we have down-and-out areas also but nothing like that. Thank you for posting your videos.
I grew up in Chicago, and it's always been tough town. But even driving at 80 miles an hour through Gary Indiana scared the living hell out of me.
I went to Gary once. My late cousin lived in Chesterton, Indiana and one night when I went to visit (I live 5 hours away in Northeast Ohio) and couldn’t sleep so I was looking up documentaries and found one on Gary. It used to be Thriving city, with theaters, a big civic center and lots of shops downtown. The documentary might have been called, “Stagnant Hope” but don’t quote me on that. So after watching this doc, I got curious. So I took my car (which I suppose was a little dangerous considering I would’ve had out of state plates) and wanted to see Gary for myself. My cousin was this tiny little half Mexican half Scots-Irish lady and maybe 5’1” about 135lbs and drove for Gary Transit for over 15 years, and she used to tell me growing up not to stop in Gary for anything!
My point being, I never once while I was driving around, did I feel unsafe and I’m a 5 foot nothin, 130lbs 35 year old white lady. I went to Michael Jackson’s childhood home there, waved to some neighbors that lived a few blocks away (I went in the summertime) and felt all right being there. It was sad but neat to see the city. I think the saddest part for me was, on the boarded up windows of the theaters, they have the wood painted as if people are still in the ticket taking booth. 😞
Yeah Gary is depressing AF even just driving by it
I was going to mention Gary if no one else has. Yes, it's bad but is actually so burnt out that it's not nearly as bad or violent as it was. Those who remain are actually hard working and mostly friendly, just trying to make it type. If you're ever driving through, check out Kelly's Soul Kitchen and get the best fried catfish with mild sauce around. Also El Norteño has really good but unique tacos.
Gary is a bastard lol. I've been all over meanest town I ever saw
Gary I heard is the most violent per capita. He forgot one.
I'm so glad you included the native reservations. These really are something you have to see to believe. It's very sad
I'm on the east coast and only visited once, but south eastern WA reservations there were houses I visited with particle board for the floor and there were tarps in the living room to keep the rain out. Was really sad
And we only have the federal government to blame for that.
@@KnivingDispodia I don’t know why they adults and capable human beings
I’ve always thought that they don’t want government help
@@Lildoodirty If you "don't know why" it's because you've made the choice not to acknowledge centuries of discrimination, lies, theft, and genocide at the hands of the US government and US citizens, and you'd rather blame the victims instead.
Pine Ridge is the first area that came to mind when I saw the title of this video. I was a delivery driver for almost 30 years and P.R. was my route for several of those. The first time I went there, it was a huge shock. I had been to inner city ghettos and crime ridden cities but I thought I was in a 3rd world country when I went through Pine Ridge, Manderson, Wanbli, Oglala and Porcupine.
Dude, I commend you on your bluntness and straightforwardness! It's actually kinda refreshing! I am originally from Detroit but have been gone from there for years now......but it a weird sort of way I miss that "hell hole"!....go figure...
Hey, here's my brainstorm idea: all US Congresspersons are offered an all expenses paid 1 week vacation to one of these areas. The catch is they have to stay at least 3 days. Who's with me? Lets see how many US Congresspersons can actually life the lifestyle of the people they expect to vote for them.
They keep voting themselves raises they are millionaires but they will vote down any thing for the destitute
Awesome idea, they can start Poverty Bed n Breakfast.
Free bed bugs and glass of dirty water for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
No tents, RV’s or Campers allowed.
Live it like the locals.
These congresspersons of yours are the employees of money and power. They do not care about you or anyone. This video is good evidence for my hypothesis.
Corporations have hundreds of lobbyists working for them, they go to Washington and give them bags of cash to make laws that benefit them. Screw the people that sent them their to represent them. Michael Franzese just wrote a book called Mafia Democracy it compares how the mafia and the government are ran the same way.
Why do you think congresspeople are somehow responsible for how these people live? Why not look to the local governments in charge of these places, or the people themselves to see if maybe their own choices are causing this poverty?
Your congressperson represents you for the federal government. They don't control your water, your power, your housing.
This video really made me realize how lucky I am to live where I do.
Life can put us anywhere anytime. You never know what might happen.
Same here.
Me too. I am fortunate enough to live in a nice city in Michigan and plan to move to Montana when I finish school!
Same I’m lucky to live here in Arizona. Didn’t even know the u.s had places without running water since this country has so much money
@@icecreamjunkie6790
Cool I always wanted to go to Montana.
Thanks for the video and your note about the language you used. We’re all learning. Being open to learning, growing, and understanding perhaps the most important part!
If I were forced to choose one of these places I would choose WV. Although there are poor areas like you depicted, conversely there are lots of decent areas like Huntington. My late mother was born and raised in WV and anytime we would go to visit her there we noticed that the majority of the people we met or dealt with on a daily basis were very kind and willing to go out of their way to help you or make you feel welcome.
I lived in Huntington myself. Well, Barboursville actually. Not a lot of "rich" (ostentatious) people there, but rich in heart and patient with newcomers is the norm. Didn't want to leave.
Thanks for respectfully mentioning the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Most people aren’t even aware this place exists, let alone it’s horrible circumstances.
This is awful. Their Congressperson (is it Dusty Johnson?) should be getting them Federal help. I'm generally not in favor of such actions, but this is certainly an exception.
Not to be contrary, but I lived there. Lots of money goes to tribal government. Not much gets used to make things better. It's a big problem. Still, some good stuff happening. Some good people.
No
its run by the Fed Gov
They are supported by federal welfare, they do not own the land, Indian counsels run the reservations, that’s the problem. The place where Indians own the land are prosperous. The government welfare keeps them impoverished, poverty is financially profitable for the counsels not the people.
Can you imagine if we invested in rebuilding our cities, instead of dumping billions in corporate bailouts?!
or paying millions of federal bureaucrats to sit around in offices with high pay, massive benefits, and no accountability for not actually doing any work or watching pron on work time etc.
@@us89na or send $ to other countries.
Those cities have already spent surreal amounts of local, state, and federal money on rebuilding projects. You can take a soul out of poverty but you can't take the poverty out of the soul.
Or giving millions of dollars to two University of Washington students
They have to have a financial way to sustain themselves and if most of them are addicts it would be very difficult. I donate to Appalachia even though I live in Alabama. My heart breaks that these places exist and us American's don't do enough for the others. They must feel forgotten. I guess if you commit a crime its the perfect place to hide.
In April of 1977 I was transferred from St. Paul, (Russell County,) Virginia to Williamson, (Mingo County), West Virginia in a managerial position (Asst. Trainmaster) with the Norfolk and Western Railway, now Norfolk Southern. My assignment lasted 7 years in one of the busiest parts of the rail network. Coal was king. Let me tell you about the citizens of that region (Rural Appalachia). There are none better! Yes, the geography of Appalachia is challenging. We suffered two major floods (1977 & 1984) that impacted the both Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. However, the strength and fortitude the people, especially those I supervised was nothing short of astounding. I recognize things are not the same now. Losing Coal has had a major impact on the economy and the opioid crisis has not abated to a significant degree. But my main point in posting this account is to praise the worthiness of people of Rural Appalachia, a people of principle and dedication, who took a young, somewhat inexperience supervisor under their wing and demonstrated what true professionalism (in the art of railroading) and compassion in life was all about. Those 7 years (1977-1984) were so important to me and I want others to know that I hold the people of Rural Appalachia in high esteem!
My dad grew up there and I've heard the stories from the 77 flood many times
They are people with a good work ethic, unlike generations of people in the Northern Democrat-controlled cities. These people have no work ethic. They have been raised on generations of government handouts and consider themselves victims every chance they get. They have been raised in the pollution of victimhood and everyone is a racist
Thank you for sharing with us. God bless you, and for your Channel updates
Living in eastern Kentucky is hard, even when you're middle class, our water has stopped working twice this week, we are under boil water advisories very often, we don't even think twice about it, it's just normal life. It's not unusual at all for our power and/or water to go out and it can be out for days. We have no infrastructure, no jobs, but plenty horrific poverty. And it's so hard to leave, but I am sick of it, I'm working to get out.
You can do it.
Stay strong, Kayla..
So what’s the reason? WHY is it so so bad. WHY haven’t the folks who live there made it better?
I pray you get out real soon babe. Keep pushing.
J Green many here do enlist, it’s sometimes the only way out, I was lucky enough to be able to obtain a master’s degree and a good paying career, so I’ll be able to get out it’s just a matter of preparing to in these uncertain times.
I grew up in Youngstown, OH (the place with the highest poverty in the US). I grew up way below poverty. I don’t take any offense to the terms you used. I’m replying because of something you said at the end - places like Youngstown do suck, but it’s also home. It’s not a strong tolerance that keeps people there; it’s a lack of options.
I’m not here to give you a hard time. I just wanted to add my experience. While the place where I grew up does suck and requires an incredible strength to survive, I also love it because it will always be home in my heart.
I like Ohio. It’s improving faster than its neighbors. I’m from KY. I get so sick of being judged about where I’m from. I’m fucking proud to be from there! I got out and I’m doing ok. Good day 2 y’a, stranger…
My father used to sneak Mafia photos in Youngstown in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s for Time and Life Magazines. In his motel after a day of sneaking photos he would tape the film canisters to underneath the closet’s shelves to hide them in case he got beat up or murdered.
Have you ever been to Pine Ridge, South Dakota ???
Okay, it is on the list. I'm actually surprised. People usually don't acknowledge it.
🥲yes indeed..home.
@@sockmonkey22 wow that’s scary..he was a brave man your father.
Nice vids and info. Thank you so much!
As someone living in England watching this makes me feel privileged
I was raised by depression era parents. We we raised to be grateful. In times of what some may perceive to be hardship, I’d be reminded that plenty of people in the world have far far less. Boiling water? My mom would say, “Thank goodness we have water to boil”. She came from Texas and was dirt poor (literally) after the crash of ‘29. They lost their home and had to live in a cabin with dirt floors. Unfortunately, about the time people start to forget the past it happens all over again.
Me too depression eta parents born into homes without running water and electricity and when my dad graduated from Texas a and m in 59 they packed up my 5 yr old ass and headed out of easy Texas for good to Santa Monica and never looked back. It's a bit different now but my hometown of Athens still has the same population it did 70 yrs ago but home prices are high. My grandmother used to take in ironing to make ends meet as Texas offers no social services to speak of and my grandfather rode a wagon in the Oklahoma land rush and was born the same year Custer got what was coming to him. So it wasn't really all that long ago.
Great full, that is the operative word. If more people were great full they would be better off.
I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s on a small island off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada. And we grew up dirt poor, It was a situation where the whole town depended on the iron ore industry and when they shut their doors in the 1960’s those who decided to stay had no other job options. I remember my mom having to be really creative with potatoes, some days that was all we had and I thought we were lucky to have that. And being from a town the used to mine iron ore for over 100 years, it eventually seeped into the water table, there were constant “ boil water” advisories. I made the decision after high school to leave and I did, do I miss it, yes sometimes, but since then drugs and high crime rates have ravaged the place I used to call home. So, you see it is not just the U.S, it is everywhere.
I spent a week on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I did what I could like building decks onto some of those trailers so kids would stop falling 3 or more feet everytime someone left the door open. I mowed yards where the kids bikes were discovered among the tall grass and they'd thought them to have been stolen. I'd love to go back because I met some absolutely sweet people. There's a truly humbling experience to he had there.
The world needs more people like you. Thanks for helping the Lakota.
good for you man - you sound like a good person
And a few months later...everything you did to improve things was gone.
I was tbere too.
Did you work with Re-member ?
@@floridahiker1503 Awe thank you so much. What an amazing compliment. I agree that we definitely need more people to care and love people who are strangers and are less than perfect human beings. Maybe not necessarily like me LOL but definitely with a huge heart.
Although the smell in Bombay beach can be horrible, it’s actually a pretty interesting and weird place to visit. A few years ago, some LA artists and musicians had some kind of art/music festival, and they left some really trippy art installations all over the desert. I heard they wanted to continue it, but maybe Covid interfered or something. I can’t remember exact details.
In the same area, you can visit ‘salvation mountain’ and slab city.
Both are worth looking up, there is no end to the weirdness found out in the middle of the desert. A lot of really cool art can be found too
Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah have changed to some degree in the past ten years. There is a modern grocery market that welcomes tourists. Residential and tourist-friendly development is springing up to the west, nearer to Hurricane, Utah. There is off-grid, ranch type property, rental cabins, and a tiny house resort as well.
Imagine watching this and having your home featured on it
I'm from Baltimore and I'm surprised we didn't make this list- we seem to make every other worst list.
Shout out from Detroit
😂😂
New Orleans ⚜
Feels bad man.
“This is where the blues music came from and you can see why” lmfaooooo man doesn’t hold back I fw it
@Big Valerie You know what "WTF" stands for but not "LMFAO"?
@Big Valerie dumbass lol
@Big Valerie dumbass lol
@Big Valerie
This is WHY there's NO
HOPE for our country!
.
You Falmouth people
Are ignorant!
@@johnmorgan692 I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️ I MISS THE RAGE⁉️ I MISS THE RAGE‼️
Extremely interesting...look forward to hearing more...just subscribed 😊
What a smart, honest, and well explained video.
My husband had a flat tire near Gary, Indiana late at night. He had no choice but to change it. He began to notice he was surrounded by young kids looking for trouble. He placed his 45 cal on his lap. Changed the tire at break speed. Tightened every other lug nut. Got in the car and the hell out. A few miles down the road stopped to secure the tire. Thankful he was safe.
Gary is a scary place. Lots of crime and drugs.
I used to have to drive through from western NYS to school in Chicago in the 70s. Gary and South Chicago were absolutely terrifying (once saw a car burning roadside by an abandoned south Chicago steel mill). Detroit was worse; in the early 70s, there were gangs driving on the road that would hit a car then kill the driver when he/she stopped to exchange information. I thank all the gods that may be my car never broke down going through that I-94 corridor.
Yes, Gary, Indiana, should be on your list. I grew up about two hours from Gary in a farming/small town community. Many non-farmers lived in town and would drive to Gary to work for US Steel-an easy drive via the Indiana Toll Road. My older sisters got their nursing degrees at Gary Methodist Nursing School associated with Gary Methodist Hospital in the 1960s. It was an exciting drive there and back as a little girl when we took them to school and back. It used to be a great place.
Then US Steel left as did other related businesses. Now, Gary is dead. Just take the Chicago Skyway and look out over the collapsed roofs and broken windows and graffiti everywhere.
My husband was driving back home from Chicago a while back and got lost when he took a wrong turn and missed the Indiana exit onto the Skyway. He wandered a bit, and stopped at a stop sign in an empty kind of area. All of a sudden, a policeman put on his siren and stopped him. “Who are you? Where are you from?” Really grilled him. It turned out that nobody ever stops at any sign in the area my husband was. They have murders and carjackings all the time. “Follow me and l’ll get you to the Indiana Toll Road and never come back here again.”
Gary is definitely on my list of bad places - and I'm from Detroit's suburbs!
@@peggybrilli2642 U.S. Steel is still in operation and yes the "city" of Gary is a dump
78-yr-old Brit here. Old enough to know that not everywhere in the US is sugar and spice and all things nice but some of these places took my breath away. We've got our bad bits, too, but none of them are as desperate as the places shown here.
Good commentary; sympathetic, non-sensational and not mocking.
It's disturbing indeed. I hope these people see better futures.
I agree. A non mocking straight forward factual vid
This is what capitalism brings.
everyone of these places he mentioned is controlled by socialist forces; democratic and liberal...the good thing about this is that in America there is a path of exit from that way of life if a person so chooses...most people dont want to do that because they'll have to work and lose their government benefits....I know people like that and I know people who have gotten themselves out of that situation, also.... in other countries especially socialist countries, no path exists ...
@@stevegold7307 If you think that eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, or Utah are controlled by 'socialist forces', you've got your own problems.
WOW! Thank U 4 posting this...maybe it will help bring consciousness 2 the need 4 reform & aid 2 these areas!
What a hard choice as 2 which (if I ABSOLUTELY HAD 2 choose) I wud live....I just can't choose...this is SO SAD!!!😩
This is the first time I haven’t seen Baltimore on an worst places in US video.
I really like Baltimore. I just revisited Baltimore after 27 years.
Well, they have an aquarium...that’s about it.
Definitely have their share of poor communities and abandoned buildings.
@@radorigami It is about the people you meet. The place is secondary.
Me too, and I live in Baltimore. It's two cities, of course. One full of professionals like me -- so many major institutions here -- and the other, well, the other would normally be on a list like this.
Baltimore metro is really nice but when you go outwards...it just
Id like to see how Detroit looked like in the 60’s must have looked amazing and ppl must have been optimistic
Cleveland too. They were both in the top 5 for largest populations in America (around 1950). Cleveland’s population has shrunk so much, it’s smaller than Wichita, Kansas
My Grandpa grew up in Detroit in the 1930's. At that time Detroit was one of the richest city's in America. The Architecture and Workmanship on the 1900- 1940 buildings are very unique. Buildings today are not built with artistic architecture. Sad what Detroit could have been today without the corruption.
@@kevind3185 Detroit was doomed when auto manufacturing moved abroad. I don’t think less corruption could have saved them.
It was THE place to be
@@michaelbledsoe9296 Detroit went down hill in the 1960's before the import cars were sold here in mass.
So hard to believe these places exist in the USA 🇺🇸. Very informative video!
I love the shout out at the end of how terrible O-Town is.
Native Floridian myself who absolutely abhors the Orange County/ Orlando area.
Other than Wekiva & Rock Springs
Avoid At All Costs. 😅
I’m a life-long West Virginian, and this is sadly true. I lived in Logan County for a few years when my late husband worked for the Public Health Service. Even northern WVians don’t like to go there. But, I will say it can be harder to be poor in city ghettos. Some here may have to use wells and septic, but at least they can have chickens and gardens to provide food. My father grew up very poor in southern WV (he has a Ph.D., his bother is a DVM, and I have a Ph.D. - we’ve stayed to help with the Appalachian brain drain), and his experiences were much less traumatic than friends I have that grew up poor in cities. For instance, my dad’s Family was dirt poor, but never had food issues because of the land. My best friend who grew up in a city with 8 siblings had it much worse. They had to drink watered down milk. At least in Appalachia there’s always someone with a cow. Finally, some of the greatest American music has also come out of Appalachia. Just like New Orleans and blues, bluegrass and traditional Appalachian music has made significant contributions.
& Dolly Parton from TN!💖
Thank you for the nice things you said about WV...i was born and raised in Buffalo Creek. Man is our town, but Logan was the big town. I’m 70 yrs old, and I never desired to live anywhere but West Virginia.
I’m sure that rampant drug use has taken the area down more than poverty.
Yeah, I live in the Huntington Metro area, and I'm a lifelong West Virginia. There are current parts of the state I don't go to unless I have to, I mean they are wastelands. Huntington has a lot of burned-out buildings and empty lots, the job market sucks or doesn't pay well. Yeah, I've been saving up to move to work in the field I trained to do.
That sounds like my dad, he was also one of 8 siblings! And they had well water as did we growing up. I didn’t realize not everyone had well water til friends would visit and try to drink out of the tap like noo stop lol it tastes like eggs 🤧 WV is still really beautiful tho to visit. My sister and I drove down there recently and everyone was nice
thank you...absolutely fascinating!
I’ve been to a couple of these places. You certainly didn’t exaggerate on what I can speak to. If anything you didn’t show anything near the worst. It’s heartbreaking. I will say that the people, in the two areas I can speak to, are some of the absolute kindest and generous people in the world. Even those who have resorted to the drug and alcohol issue to cope are not the mean type of folks. They are often gentle and kind without the alcohol. kind. It’s just heartbreaking. The focus on the changes needed are more on the punitive side and not on the loving side of humanity. It is just so heart wrenching. Thank you for bringing it to the light.
“Creepy” is the BEST way to describe Colorado City/Hilldale😂.
seriously. Driving through there you can tell something is wrong.
I got a " creepy" feel while exploring Temple Square in SLC I can imagine that creep factor amplified by a fringe sect .
Seeing the pictures of those women made me think of The Handmaid's Tale. It's like a small piece of Gilead transplanted into the real world.
There's quite a few FLDS folk in and around Richfield, UT, 3 hours north of Hildale. Nothing like this, I just bring it up 'cuz it's real strange running across these people at the Walmart or a restaurant. They're not social, I've tried saying "hello" or "pardon me" whenever I'm by a group of them (they're never alone in public), but they usually look straight down and walk quickly. The men are never with the groups of women it seems. Most groups have a matriarchal woman among them to guide them through the stores and out. They talk amongst themselves, occasionally see them laughing. Real odd folk. And they really do all look alike.
@@christopherwilcox9654 Yep, I used to live in Kanab, and I know what you mean. Some people would ltell me that as they drove past/thru there, they just felt a feeling of dread or something "bad." I just know i always went exactly the speed limit. Last thing i wanted to do was be pulled over there.
Isn't Bombay Beach where Trevor Philips lives?
yeah it does look a lot like Sandy Shores. Rockstar probably based the town after Bombay Beach
@@gameboygamer6498 they did
@@lilzigss I believe it’s based more on the town of Desert Shores on the other side of the Salton Sea, which isn’t much different anyway.
"The only thing they farm out here is methamphetamine!!"
Bombay beach is going to end up as some artsy expensive oasis like Marfa Tx
great channel again Sir!!
We moved to Logan County Wv about a year ago. Savannah Ga to Las Vegas and then here. We do not live in the city of Logan but about 15 minutes away. Yes, you do see addicts and blight but I feel so much safer here than anywhere we lived before. People here harm themselves but in Savannah and Vegas, they harm you. People here are kind but are victims of so many social determinants. Rural areas score low in education, healthcare, and proper nutrition and suffer from generational poverty. This place was also victimized by the pharmaceutical industry. These people work(ed) hard manual jobs and have real pain. Oxycontin came in and offered pain relief and they gave it out like candy. They were treating real pain. Then that blew up and the government decided that no, they can't have that anymore but they were hooked and they STILL had very real pain. So then heroin and fentanyl came in and that's where it is today. Poor people with pain and poverty, it's a really bad mix. But there is also beauty here. I don't worry about sitting in my yard at night, I don't jump at every loud noise like I did in Savannah or Vegas. It is green and lush, there are rivers running through almost every town. And the housing, it's still so incredibly affordable here. I bought a massive house, very private for ridiculously cheap. I work from home so I don't depend on the limited jobs here. Our towns are 4 wheeler and UTV friendly so we ride ours, ride trails, sit by the river and enjoy the peace and quiet. When I was 20, it would have seemed like hell. If I had to find work here, probably the same. At 40 and having lived in places where there were murders all the time and you never felt safe I feel like I can breathe again. Look up with murder rate...since 2010 there was ONE. For us it is an amazing place with some really kind and really strong people. I feel like I can make a change here and I think that as more people work from home, these unspoiled areas will come back to life. To me it really is "Almost Heaven"".
Thanks for this informative content. It made me remember a local news story while I was passing through Detroit in 1968. Police were interrogating a thief who had broken glass and stolen jewelry from stores in one part of the city. When asked why he committed his crimes during daylight hours, the perp replied that he was afraid to carry money around at night.
Bad Lt. • Sad and ironic.
Sounds like something from a stand-up comedian.
Kind of funny. The robber knew there are even more robbers that operate under the cover of darkness.
I met a southwest Virginia hillbilly in the 90s. His father was a coalminer and he grew up with an outhouse. He charmed the pants off of me, quite literally. RIP Steve. 💔
Literally?he probably never forgot you
@@scoutman yes, I know I never forgot him.
I met one in the early 90’s too! Nate Wade. The Natester!
@@clarkewegener9197 were your pants charmed off of you? ;)
you're keeping his legacy alive by sharing your moments here. now a brazilian guy from a coastal city (me) knows how charming hillbilly steve was. he didnt forget you either, for sure. thank you for sharing this lovely short story 💛
The video is 3 years old, I would love to see an update to see if it’s gotten any better since the pandemic and all the money they’ve given to help people.
Enjoyed your video so much
Bombay Beach looks like Sandy Shores from GTA 5
I THINK that’s what sandy shores was based off of but don’t quote me on that
@@austinchampion4041 you are correct, it is
I thought the same exact thing!
It is kinda, Sandy Shores is a compilation of Bombay Beach and this really weird hippy commune that I forget the name of at the moment.
@Grayson DeAscentis yessir, I believe u r correct.
When my kids were little I would take them to Mexico and we would stay there a few days and I would explain and show them that even though those people were poor, their houses were kept clean and maintained as much as they could. Some of them even had dirt floors and yet they swept and cleaned them. Being poor has nothing to do with cleanliness.
" There's a thin line between love and hate. So is there for rich and poor, cleanliness and dirtiness, and disciplined and not disciplined. That thin line is you and your mentality." Solid Future Mastermind
Right.
Well said. I was raised by my grandfather, in my youngest years, he would tell me the same thing. "Even if you are poor, you can be clean." Another saying I heard from him: "Even if you can't afford an education, you can read; therefore, you can teach yourself."
The lessons here: you can come from nothing, but with EFFORT and the WANT to be better, you can (and will) be.
@@rolmodel12. Until you can't afford water, or cleaner. That only works to an extent. It's very easy to end up in a place where you have no access to ways to clean yourself or your environs adequately, and you'll find very quickly that public spaces don't appreciate you using the restroom sink for a spit bath.
Solid cluelessness, more like. The distance between rich and poor becomes greater, quantitatively, every day. Your mentality has nothing to do with objective reality. If you think it does, go stand in front of a Mac truck and try using your mentality to change its course.
@@dierdriu Having the will to better yourself should not cost a thing. Finding a way to do so, might; but, you gain much more. I think it is a good investment.
It is an outlook, an attitude. You can have it, whether rich or poor.
But, if you think you can change "objective reality" or stop a "Mac truck" with a good outlook, then, yeah- you're unstable, or on hallucinogens, or maybe just an idiot. Regardless, maybe it's better they go out quick and believing in themselves.
Better than being a miserable asshole.
Thank you, it's a lot of interesting places to visit.
Very informative! I had a lot of fun with this. I probably would tolerate Bombay Beach, being of an artistic bent.
I recently found your channel. As a geography junkie and road trip addict, I really love your contents. This video, however, is the one that shocked me the most. I just learned that extreme poverty is so close to us. It’s unbelievable that very few attention and support has been provided to many of these places.
I'm glad you found the channel. I try to generally keep things positive on the channel but sometimes negative things need to be pointed out. Most stuff about these places is just making fun of them.
Ditto. Great channel.
@VxG Most people that are in these places would happily move if given just a little bit of a boost at their new locale
most of these people are mentally ill. And doing just fine, leave them be.
Mass majority don't care. Folks are happy with their Budweiser and Nascar. Just ignorant and self absorbed. If fox news doesn't mention it it doesn't exist to them.
This video is proof that no matter how bad you may think your life is, someone, somewhere else has it worst off than you. It's also motivation to work harder, and smarter to improve your life.
damn rights man
I see it as one proof that our political leaders (many of whom are millionaires) have no interest in serving the people they supposedly represent
How about working to improve others lives instead. The me society greated this.
@@Spiritlife01
People also have an obligation to improve their own circumstances, not just cry and blame others.
Poverty is no excuse for the amount of litter in the yards of that reservation. I guess they never seen the old commercials with the native American crying about someone littering.
As a semi-truck driver, I delivered in Logan, WV. and can say that the people were friendly. However, it was really a desolate, worn-down city that looked like it never had or will have an opportunity. It is so cut-off from everything.
Man, you are a breath of honesty in social media. No political agenda, no sensationalism, no hogtied political correctness. Just rational and fact-based, yet not ashamed of an honest, informed opinion. Thank you for your work to shine some light on our national self-awareness. By the way, amazing array of photos.
Yo, I live in New Orleans and honestly the places hit hardest were bad before Katrina. Rent has gone up so much in the last 15 years but hourly pay has not. And in a city like this it really is neighborhood by neighborhood for crime or wealthy vs poor. Anyway an interesting video. Geaux Saints :)
You may have a problem if you are that concerned with political correctness on an unrelated video.
@@anguishingquark very true
Yes. This is why I love this channel
I lived in a destitute neighborhood in New Orleans whose struggles were obvious to the eye. However below the surface the neighborhood had a deep sense of community and familial connections that are a rarity in modern society. That spirit in combination with the unique and irrepressible cultural traditions made it the richest place in which I have resided.
Totally agree with this view. Of what he's listed, I'd pick New Orleans as the most livable of all the "worst" places mentioned.
Yep. Some of the best times of my life were when I was “poor”, hanging out with “poor” folk in “poor” places.
I'm glad for you guys. However, community shouldn't arise in just poverty. I hope the city and state governments make serious changes to improve the living standards of people who grew up in conditions like you did. NOLA is a very unique city in the US and it's a shame that some parts are just so destitute. Should the quality of life improve I hope that that communal feeling doesn't fade away in favor or individual pursuit.
I was going to say the same. I love our city. The homeless situation is getting worse it seems. Could be because of the Pandemic too. :/
Good to know. This is the one I would choose after hearing this to live.
Some nice still photography in your videos and thumbnail. Well done.
All right geography king who watched your whole video and it was very interesting to me, so I want to say thank you for posting that video and taking your time out. I’m a Bakersfield in a live in Bakersfield it’s not like any of those places, sexually very very chill other then all the thieves in town
Nice job on approaching this video with maturity and professionalism. This is clearly a channel for knowledge and not cheap entertainment. I’m officially a fan and subscriber
Indeed. The professionalism is sublime.
Completely agree!!! You win my sub! Thank you for discussing this with compassion and respect.
My husband grew up in the 9th district of New Orleans in the 70’s and early 80’s. He was one of the few white students and his dad was one of the infamous dirty New Orlean cops. Some of the horror stories he’s told me just break my heart.
Did he get his ass kicked daily? Scary
@@creator4413 his dad was a dirty cop, in New Orleans, the town were people just go missing, no one would have bothered him much if at all, this was back in the 70’s and 80’s very different than today, not saying better or worse, but very different.
@@charlesprice7608 no one actually 'missed' these scumbags ... it was for the greater good if you think about it
@ Jesus, Ross! You're certainly a disgusting human being
@ And this de-humanization is why this American disaster continues.
I like your presentation and personality...subbed. Oh and by the way.I guess the West VA /Kentucky area is where I would pick.I believe the temps are OK and out of some of the other places,these people really can't help it (they really can't help it in the other areas either).I am a retired nurse and maybe could get a job trying to help these people (Traveling nurse...but I'd conceal a gun).
As a kid in the fifties early sixties, we used to go to the Salton Sea. Great fun camping, fishing, waterskiing. It was hot as hell, but really nice.
I’m a nurse in South Dakota, albeit on the other side of the state. We get patients from the rez at our hospital, and it’s honestly heartbreaking the lack of medical care and resources that our own citizens lack. The level of poverty on pine ridge and the other reservations is surreal.
These people seem to be brainwashed into thinking they are nothing. But in reality, that rez is rich and the food they eat and how they live can be changed. But if you have the leadership to keep these people down and depressed and feel worthless then Pine Ridge will stay that way.
This nation's neglect of our already so terribly harmed indigenous population is heartbreaking. Thank you for your work!
The offices in DC have plush carpeting and leather furniture but the Indigenous people have no running water and live in shambles...check Trail of Broken Treaties.... it's beyond disgusting and heartbreaking... shame on The U.S.
@@margocaldwell8109 I mean I used to work with who was Turtle Mountain Chippewa would always say you can trust the government just ask a Native American.
They are not "our" (US) citizens. Let this be a lesson...do not rely on the government for anything.
I worked on the US or six years, mostly in county hospitals. I was shocked by the degree of poverty I saw. Many of the people I met were decent, har working people. Definitely not lazy, drug addled complacent people. Just people with no future, no hope, no opportunity. I had a great deal of respect for these people who continued their lives, doing the best they can.
Depends on the company you keep. I've never met a person that you've described .
Yes saw a lot of that in rural PA and in rural Florida..poor people with great character and pride and no way out...
It's like that, all over America. Small pockets of kindness, in an unforgiving world
@bella Doesn't sound like company she keeps, just poor people in the area she was in. 😕
You have a big heart to see the good in others with great compassion. God Bless you
Thanks for sharing did not know about them.
People really don't understand how *poor* some places along the Appalachian Mountains are
It's really sad about Detroit. There are a lot of vacant buildings but if you look at some of these buildings the architecture is absolutely beautiful. You can tell by looking at it that one time this was a beautiful city
My parents moved there in 1951. It was beautiful then. Now, it's just a typical democrat led city. Look them up if you don't believe me. I've traveled all over this country and it's always the same
Detroit was amazing. So sad. Had the most beautiful high school ever.
Now days if you go to Detroit, the gangs Will kill you!!!
And Detroit is the only one moving forward. A lot has been done and there is a lot to do, but it's transforming.
@@johnbob4545 I really hope it does.
I will also say that when living in Appalachian Ohio after Katrina I went with a large group of about 50 to help rebuild homes in New Orleans. Most of us thought our worst places were better than their worst places.
Also, you don’t need a lot of money to help people after a disaster. You only need compassion and a willingness to work hard.
It always strikes me how the people with the least, are usually the ones who give the most in times of crisis.
You go, CKN. Most Americans have it so much better that the people in this video, and need to appreciate it.
I went down after Katrina and helped get natural gas stations in St Bernard’s back online. I have to admit even with all the devastation, my first thought was how clean the roads actually were. Having worked there prior, the ability to just come in and bulldoze the streets clear was actually an improvement.
Still keep in contact with many guys I met during that time to this day.
☺💙
Thanks for the info!
Just curious, any knowledge of the price of some of the property in some of your visits?
West Virginia and Kentucky are absolutely heart-breaking; complete failure on behalf of their state governments to actually provide the services these people need to survive.
And yet, they keep voting Republican 🤦♀️
@@guitrr democrats, republicans theyre all the same
@@guitrr Moscow Mitch is from there.😆😆😆
@@guitrr That is because from the end of the Civil War until a few decades ago, the areas were run by the Democrats. It is going to take a long time to undo the damage done by the Democrats.
@@guitrr they voted democrat with the unions for 80+ years while they were sold out to foreign owners and replaced with automation. Trying to judge everything through a modern tribal view with no understanding of history is ignorant and shows no real empathy to what happens here or WHY they now vote Republican
I used to live in Appalachia. So true. Imagine being born in there in poverty with relatives who lacked ANY practical skills and only a handful of families have all the wealth and privilege. It is very medieval. The right last name can get you a quantum leap in socio-economic advancement. I got out but because of my poverty, my "niche" social skills, etc I have only progressed so far. You are decades behind regular people in other parts of the USA in terms of personal development. The main problem is that you lack mainstream references and experiences with which to connect to people. It IS a THIRD WORLD place.
But you are articulate and smart. You can still learn those things.
Thank you for sharing your experiences
Yeah, I realized that when I read Heaven (VC Andrews). It was an entirely different world to mine even for children. It was definitely based in some part of reality.
I also saw well off people have problems too, though not having food to eat, security, different problems.
What is so different in social skills there? In what way do children grow up differently besides the materialistic and food related poverty?
same with me in a shitty rural outskirt of San Antonio. You'll go to even the shittiest metropolis in the US and everybody's got a leg up. The United States is a shithole because of how large it is. So what if someones from Camden, they got Philadelphia walking distance from them. Or someone who is from a shitty neighborhood of Houston, they got a straight shot road to abundant arts and industry from like 5 different downtowns to choose from. New York, that's just plain privilege. People from important cities grow up next to job after job after school after school after community service event
Rural Texas is hell, specifically south and southwest and west texas of temperatures 100-110. Louisiana, Miss, Georgia Alabama, those places kreeped me out anyway
What an interesting video. I’m from Philly so I guess I fall into the Detroit/Chicago urban ghetto thing. I currently live in western Maryland, which is closer to West Virginia than Washington DC especially given traffic. I don’t venture far into West Virginia very often and definitely not at night, but to be fair, To be fair, I feel the same about Baltimore. Fun fact: West Virginia has/had one billionaire, their governor. Shocking.
4 years later, an update is needed as our once great cities have gone downhill dramatically
This is truly heartbreaking. I was feeling bummed about not being able to save money for Christmas then I see this and realize how fkn fortunate I am to have a roof over my head and enough food to last until my next paycheck. I’m so glad this video showed up in my feed.
There are resources available to help you with Christmas. Do you have children?
Sometimes things are so tight that I go hungry for a day or two, and I'll set my alarm for 3:30am, when my paycheck shows up in the bank, and I'll go eat.
@@YTsux100pct._of-the-time.Jesus dude, do you have kids?
Yes! It has that effect on a lot of us i suspect.
Thank your President for that.