Vance’s background is also similar to a friend of mine whose family left the foothills of Southern Appalachia to move further south. My friend used to visit extended family “up in the hills” as a kid.
Like Vance, my friend’s family had many problems, including with substance abuse. And my friend also went into the military. But unlike Vance, my friend didn’t go to Yale or make a fortune as a venture capitalist. He also didn’t write a book about his that propelled him into politics.
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