My grandparents were stupid redneck hicks from Appalachia who moved the Midwest and became wealthy and well educated.

The current VP is a stupid redneck hick from Appalachia who … you can Google him.

Point is, one way of responding to regional decline (Appalachia was once the wealthiest part of America) is to move.

I know some rednecks from Appalachia who did learn to code. He retired from IBM a few years ago (that is IBM was a different company when he worked there than it is now) to a nice retirement in his little mountain shack.

Though I wouldn't tell the rest what they should do. The guy I know had to live in MN for decades (where I met him) away from the rest of his friends and family - that is itself a large cost in lifestyle that I question if money makes up for.