Darn, if the South isn't rising again!

by David Grand
July 29, 2009

Ever since the end of the Civil War, many southerners have boasted that "the South will rise again." And lo and behold, if it hasn't turned out to be more than just wishful thinking on their part.

For the South's population is (according to the U.S. Census Bureau) expected to increase by about 43 percent between 2000 and 2030. And it's not because its closed furniture factories are back in business, or that the textile mills are no longer "hanging by a thread," but in large part because of the invasion of foreign auto makers into Dixieland.

There's 19 foreign (nonunion) auto plants currently in operation below the Mason-Dixon line, who've received a total of $3.6 billion in state/local subsidies. Japan auto makers lead the pack with 15 assembly plants, along with three German plants and one South Korea plant.
And come November of this year, Kia (another South Korea assembly plant) will begin production in West Point, GA., a small town with a population of 4,200, which was on the verge of becoming a ghost town.

I can only imagine the celebrating that went on in that one-horse town with townspeople singing Dixie in the streets and bars, and with more than a few "walking on a slant" (a Southern colloquialism for being drunk).

Kia has already received 47,000 applications for the 2,500 maintenance and production jobs, and for 3,000 supplier-based openings. Production workers would start at $14.90/hr. and top out at $23.50/hr. hr. Maintenance workers would start at $20.80/hr. hr. and top out at $27.00/hr.

While that's a far cry from the $50/hr. average pay (factoring in benefits) they got working for the Big 3, the cheaper living costs and generous benefits package Kia offers could more than make up for the difference.

Among the benefits are: medical, dental, vision and prescription drugs coverage; a 401(k) savings retirement plan; paid vacation time; (2 weeks +); paid holidays (average 14); a Health Center and cafeteria service.

Here's a few tips, for those considering heading to the Peach State:

• Don't take their slow talking ways to necessarily mean that they think slower.
  o Don't ever mention, even in jest, General William Tecumseh Sherman's "march to the sea" in the Civil War, that left Georgia in ruins.
• Don't give the "finger" to those driving pick-up trucks with Confederate flags on their antennas.
• Don't dare display the American flag on the Confederate Memorial Day, held on April 26 to honor those who died, in what they refer to as "the War between the States," or the War of Northern Aggression."
• Don't misinterpret women you meet calling you "honey" as showing a romantic interest in you.
• Don't be alarmed in finding that their school system is inferior to the one you knew. (Georgia ranks 32nd among the states in reading and math tests.)
• Don't turn your nose up at restaurants' menus of such favorite, southern dishes as grits, fried okra, hush puppies, poke salad, redneck caviar (potted meat), chitlins, possum pie and hoecake.
• Don't shy away from imbibing a glass or two of "moonshine" (corn whiskey) at parties you're invited to (even it makes your eyes roll and hair stand on end).

To improve your chances of being hired, I'd suggest you order a tape from Rosetta Stone. com, to learn basic conversational skills in the Korean language. ("Heng uen el bil uoh" (Korean for hope it helps.)