Anyone Watching 20/20 Tonight?

**AmyBoz** · 02-13-2009, 10:23 PM

It's so sad. It's Diane Sawyer from central Appalachia, with people living in extreme poverty. You think you struggle, then you see this and it puts it all in perspective.

**Debbie-cat** · 02-13-2009, 10:31 PM

Yes, I know. I am watching it as well and it is so sad.

**savininfl** · 02-13-2009, 10:34 PM

Oh yes it does!!! I think this is a WONDERFUL episode just at the right time in life. I really want to send the highschool football player something, am I crazy?!?!!!! It's very sad, oh now were on to the heros.....

**guest002** · 02-14-2009, 01:07 AM

I'm DVRing it and watching it in case I get distracted by doing stuff 'round the house.

**pip** · 02-14-2009, 08:35 AM

We weren't home so I missed it. I like these types of documentaries, so I'm hoping I can find it on the web to watch. It sounds like it was a good one to see.

**khjmom** · 02-14-2009, 08:42 AM

I watched it last night...it broke my heart to see how some are still living in the US. It shouldn't be that way. It did make me more appreciative for what I do have.

**Michelle** · 02-14-2009, 10:23 AM

It really does put things in perspective, and it's hard to see people living like that

**guest002** · 02-14-2009, 11:38 AM

Wow! Heartbreaking. It's a shame more government resources aren't readily available for those who truly need it. Watching this made me feel like I was rich in comparison, not middle class.

I do have an observation....Did you see it when the 2 y.o. was given Pepsi in her sippy cup? I almost died. I mean water is better than a soda!

**AmyBoz** · 02-14-2009, 12:12 PM

I did...and when the dentist said that people put Mountain Dew in their babies bottles.

My kids are 8 (next week), 5 (tomorrow) and 3 and they've never even tasted soda. I can't imagine giving it to a little kid like that.

However, I wonder about the quality of their tap water, because that wouldn't be healthy either if it is contaminated, and they certainly can't afford bottled water.

It's just so sad.

**Marie78** · 02-14-2009, 01:02 PM

I was horrified by many things that I saw. My heart goes out to some of them. Especially the football player that wants a better life for himself then what his family had provided. It's also sad to see how hopeless many of them feel.

If these people had clean running water in their homes, there is no need for the kind of dirtiness I saw. My grandparents grew up very poor (with well water) and they instilled in my parents and my parents in me that there is no excuse for living in a filthy environment. You can take care of what you have, even if you have very little. That made me wonder if they didn't have water available...because if they do, it's lazy not to keep your things in better condition.

I was horrified that there was soda in the house, but no veggies. One young girl said her mother gets $530 a month in food stamps for the 3 of them and they usually run out of food by the end of the month. How is it that 3 people can't eat every day for $530 a month. I guess if you buy soda and name brand items it would add up quickly. The girl also forgot to mention that mom also feeds a free loading boyfriend that drinks soda and doesn't work to contribute to the well being of the family.

Soda costs more than bottled water. I have no idea why anyone would choose to put soda in a baby bottle over water. We buy bottled water (32 pack) to drink instead of soda here (we can't stand the taste of tap with the chlorine and bleach smell) and it costs less than 13 cents a bottle, where the soda cans (generic brand) cost at least 25 cents a can around here. I only saw name brand sodas in these houses, so I can only imagine they are spending more than 25 cents a can to put soda in their kid's bottles. There just isn't an excuse for some of the behaviors I saw. Maybe these people were never taught simple skills, but do people need to be taught that soda is worse for a baby then water? I know that one mom with two daughters might be lonely, but does she need to feed a boyfriend that doesn't contribute to the family finances in any way? I'm mad for the children....these children deserve a better start then what they have been given.

**Mom23boys** · 02-14-2009, 01:18 PM

DH and I watched it. I was hoping that the football player would make something of himself and move on with his life. I can't believe that they said he even went to Nashville and couldn't find work. In the end, he will end up just like the rest of his family. What about his step-brother and the step-brother's half sister?? I was appalled!! I hope justice prevails in that case.

I was touched by the dentist who travels into town to help them with their rotten teeth. I just wish he was able to get through to them about the Mt. Dew. I was shocked that they all drink soda even the babies!!

After watching that show, I know how good we actually have it. I feel for all those people. There is really no jobs there for them to better themselves, except the coal mines and that is a very dangerous job.

**SweetPea** · 02-15-2009, 09:37 AM

If you missed it, the episode is available on abc.com

**RaineyDaye** · 02-15-2009, 04:09 PM

Frontline did a documentary a few years ago called Country Boys that follows two boys from this region in Kentucky. It is long, but well worth viewing. It is not quite so depressing as the 20/20 story, but you really get involved with the struggles and triumphs of these boys and their families.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/countryboys/

**The Muse** · 02-16-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by SweetPea

If you missed it, the episode is available on abc.com

Do you have a link? I just went to abc.com and the latest episode posted is from 2/6 and is about yacht murders.

**Gardengal18** · 02-16-2009, 03:10 PM

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/

I live up near the old long ago shut down coalmines of NorthEast Pennsylvania (Slatington/Carbondale/Lehighton areas) Life is pretty much the same there since the coal mines closed and Bethlehem Steel shut down. A lot of people who live in these areas commute into New York City or New Jersey for work simply because there is none to be found locally. The commute is a hellish 3 hour one way ordeal in all kinds of weather. I'm usually up at 5am out the door by 6:30 and don't return home till almost 9pm every day. And I have plenty of neighbors who do the exact same on a daily basis. When one has to put a roof over their and their families heads and food in their belly, they do what they have to do. I wish there was local work that provided a "living wage" but until then we do what we have to.