Almost, Heaven, West Virginia...

I didn't grow up in West Virginia, I grew up here. But I was born there. Both my parents are from there, and are graduate's of West Virginia University. Dad, the, "rocket scientist" was transferred out here in the early 60's when, Hercules moved their, "Naval Operations" (meaning the Nuclear Missile they launch from submarines) from, The Allegheny Ballistics Laboratory in WV, to the, Bacchus plant near, Magna.

I have no relatives who are or were in the Coal business. But it is West Virginia's Paycheck. No mines I knew of in my home of, Mineral County.

But the story of the mine explosion there last week really moves me. And not because of the loss of life. Mining is a dangerous business. But because of the absolute, negligence on the part of the Coal Company!

They were fined millions of dollars of the last few years for not venting their mine as they are supposed to, and other things. And yet payed only, $163K in fines while they dispute the rest of them, under rules implimented under the, Bush Administration.

Like the mine cave in that happened a couple of years ago in Central Utah that was caused by, "retreat mining", where the miners are taking the coal that makes up the pillars that hold up the top of the tunnel out as they leave. An extremely dangerous, and illegal thing to do. And people get killed. This was a bunch of death's caused not because of some natural act, or accident. It was planned! Poor people are easier to replace then ventilation systems, or bracing that will hold up the roof!

And they are a WHOLE lot CHEAPER to INSTALL! There are a shit load of them in West Virginia and Central Utah. You offer a guy in West Virginia, who has no other job offers, and no education because he can't afford it, $70K a year to go down in the mines all day, he's going to take it.

And since he doesn't have any education, he's going to believe the mine owners when they tell him they have state of the art safety equipment, and have done everything OSHA tells them to do. Even though they are paying fines for NOT doing what OSHA said they have to because it's cheaper than complying with the rules!

This was not a tragedy. It was a PLANNED tragedy! This was the coal company pushing it's non-compliance with regulations to the limit, until it gets caught. They gambled with the lives of the poor folks who have no choice but to work for them. They won. Saved millions. Killed a few poor folks in West Virginia. WTF. We don't care. And after they open the mine again, the poor bastards who live there will take the jobs again. Because they have to. They have no choice.

And there MIGHT be a ventilation system this time. Cause if there isn't? Well they got caught. They might have to actually pay the fines now.

The polygamists exploit the Mexicans in OUR, Utah mines. The, Murray Energy Company exploited the poor folks in, Carbon County. The Coal Company's of West Virginia have an endless supply of poor people who need jobs there. Yet, we keep burning coal.

Almost makes me mad enough to build a windmill! But, it appears, I'm the ONLY one.