I found this to be a great reflection of life for much of America, not just Appalachia. Drug abuse robs so many of their dreams, like the mother. JD reflects how people can pull themselves out of a bad situation if they have one person to believe in them, even if that one person is yourself. Dysfunctional families are everywhere.
Those people who tie this to politics are way off! Those people who think that hard work, pride and ambition are things of which to be ashamed are selling themselves short. These are the qualities that make our country great.