>>520930281
There are a mountain of issues you could talk about. Some which I didn't even know about like this anon mentioned >>520946862 despite living here my whole life.
The only other thing I can add is that the local family dynastic politicians routinely cuck and stifle small businesses in the hopes of keeping real estate open for corporations like fast food, walmarts, etc. It's hard to change things in that situation, so most worth a damn will leave for greener pastures.
Still, it's not all so bad. This hardship has been forging an identity that may pay off dividends in the next couple of decades. I don't remember Appalachian being such a common moniker when I was a kid or teen as I do now, and it's something the people here might rally around to better things thanks to.