"those parts of the State got the shaft from their states governments."

What? Do you have the law or legislation to prove this statement?

"what I've seen these areas got Confederate Reconstruction...crummy roads, utilities, work projects, whatever"

How did the Confederate government run the counties in East Tennessee in 2007?

Have you traveled in Mississippi, or Louisiana? Way worse than East Tennessee...home of 'Dollywood', Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Dolly's Splash Mountain, the Great Smokey Mountains National Park...and the biggest tourist destination for Southerners in the deep South. I notice you didn't mention going to Memphis, how can statements like those above be made such without logical comparisons?

How about the Average House Hold Income for Eastern Tennessee?

Knoxville 39,982

Asheville 44,139

Johnson City 46,252

Chattanooga 45,960

How about the Average House Hold Income for Western Tennessee?

Memphis 45,285

Jonesboro 44,033

Jackson 45,863

Pine Bluff 39,418

http://www.ersys.com/usa/47/index.htm

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WOW! How about that?

Looks like their doing just fine and maybe better than their western brother and sisters.

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David Upton