I have been GLUED to the miners coverage and it has me wondering

how do they do this job. I would have a panic attack the minute I had to go into one for 2 minutes much less ALL DAY! I heard that the guy who survived is a certified electrician and didn't like this business but did it for the good wages. Are the wages really that good?

Anyway, my heart goes out to these families and I hope that there is a stinging investigation that leaves no stone unturned.

Why? There has been absolutely not one new bit of information broadcast since 3:00 am yesterday. The rest is pablum for the masses to keep us distracted. This is not that amazing a story. As sad as it is, miners die in coal mine accidents. It happens. Meanwhile, our government is crumbling before our eyes.

It's not just this story but the whole mining industry. I've learned quite a bit in the last 24 hours.

I'm so sick of the "why is this story amazing" comments. It IS amazing in more ways than one--to me and maybe others.

Just because the miners have been found doesn't mean that there isn't more to the story.

WTF? Why do people have to criticize posts like that?? If you don't have anything worth saying, how about keeping your childish comments to yourself??

Sometimes a subject will just hit you like that.

local stories blown up to the level of a national crisis, while - like you said - our democracy seems to be crumbling around us. seems like a deliberate distraction.

These people risk life and overall health to power American. Honest working men. Their plights should be all of ours.

but i still think the media plays up things like this to distract people from news that might be more damaging to the power elite. do you think they'll cover the related issues of mine safety and the union busting that led to this accident with as much diligence and non-stop coverage as the rescue? No, of course not - if even at all.

Not in any hope that the miners might live and their families not crushed, but so they would have a "story"

that really gets me--the continued safety issues that get swept under the rug due to the "power elite." I hope, I HOPE, that this incident rings a chord where real change can began to take place. The power of these families and their anger is a start.

And certain local stories become national news for many reasons: they strike a chord with people (which is what I think this story did), it's tragic (ditto), it's a slow news time (why Catherine Crier thinks the Laci Peterson story became so big so fast), etc. nd, to me, the miners' plight is important to PROGRESSIVES. It's a huge labor issue put out there for all to see and feel.

But they aren't. The "news" part has been done and over with for quite a while. Now we're inundated with pictures of people holding up candles and Miles O'Solidad asking grieving family members "how does it feel?" How the bloody fuck to the think these people feel? They're traumatized and heartbroken and angry. Is he expecting one of them to say "My dad was a dick, I'm glad he's dead?"

Your screen name kind of reinforces the "local" angle. This is your backyard. I understand your interest. I also understand the many, many tragic angles to this story. But have you heard anyone talking about these tragic angles? Is the media being introspective about their role in these people's heartbreak? No. Is the media digging deep into the relationship of the mine collapse to Bush's regressive safety policies? No. We're getting All Touchy-Feely, all the time. And the fact is, this has indeed been used to push the largest scandal in congressional history off the front pages and the morning news.

Don't anyone dare try to make this out to be an issue of me being an uncaring boob. These families have suffered unimaginable loss. My heart goes out them. I gasped with relief when they were "found alive," just like you did. I recoiled in shock when I found out it was bad info, just like you did.

Meanwhile, George Bush's policies go unchecked, the very core of our democracy has been shaken by the revelations of the most wantonly corrupt administration in history, and we're working on hour 32 of "what's it feel like?" stories from the Cabal news. Let's keep some perspective, that's all I'm saying.

It does bother me that people on here can be so judgemental about what other people find interesting. I find alot of subjects interesting, some other people may think are silly or boring. You too. Just like anyone on this board. You can be interested in things OTHER than what * is doing to America. Actually, I think we should be, or we'll all go mad. Sometimes we need to be "distracted" for a while.

Geez.

Lots of people can't find ANY job there.
Wal-Mart is considered a pretty good job in some areas.

I remember in 1990 or so, my WV Bro was driving 5 hours from Fairmont
to southern VA;
sleeping on his buddies sofa 5 nights
a week so he could earn 9.50/hr at a lumber yard.

There are VERY few people who 'like' working in a mine,
but alot of people who REALLY enjoy being able to feed their families.

Has anyone said?

his lung was partially collasped, but since he has been on the ventilator it has almost fully inflated. He is showing signs of improving.

BUT his family doesn't agree that he is doing well.

Heartbreaking.

purposes and I can tell you that you don't really notice how far down you are until you ask. Was down several miles once ...asked, was told ...started panicing ...so most just don't think about it, I would assume. Over here, underground mining pays very, very well ...

I have really been interested to learn more about mining, too, and I have. It really is another world down there, and maybe you just have to fall in love with it as its own place, or you will be too afraid to stay down there. Me, I would be whining for them to get me out of there. It is a certain kind of courage, that will ignore and live with a terrible, ongoing stress of that nature--all kind of threats hanging over you. That is what happens when there is no economic activity at all in an area.

All this coverage of the mine story has introduced me a little bit to the people of the area, and I like them. I have been totally haunted by a person named John Casto, who was on CNN with a video-clip statement of a few minutes earlier on the 4th, a powerful and compelling explanation of what happened as the news went from joyous happiness, as people thought the remaining group was all alive, to shock and grief as it changed, and the truth came out, that all were dead, but one. This John Casto had a real openness and honesty that was very affecting, especially a part about how at one point, people in the church were all happy about the miners they all thought were still alive, hundreds of people, yet when the pastor asked who wanted to pray for the one dead miner and the family, only about three people, and this John Casto, went up to the altar to give compassion for the one who was lost, and share their sadness. All the others just wanted to be happy and celebrate the living. Then, the ones who had celebrated minutes earlier, were themselves shocked and grief-stricken now. It was beautifully told. "...And you are my brother, and you are my brother, because I love Christ." There was a real "refusal to get angry" and an acceptance of even the hardship of life that I really liked. Not always the way to be, of course, but I liked the behavior; it had grace.

the falling down ceiling in the coal company's conference room. If the mining operation looks that bad outside, think of what their operation underground must have looked like. If they cut corners to save money on their operation above ground, you can bet they cut corners underground too.

I've traveled around the coalfields of WV all my life and I never saw so much rust on an operating cleaning plant. If I was an honest safety inspector the condition of that equipment above ground being so run down would raise a red flag, the minute I pulled up on that property.

if the quality of the mine could be addressed BEFORE these incidents happen then we could avoid the loss of life, but unfortunately as one reporter said changes are usually written in blood and that is such a travesty.

The sad truth is, that sometimes the loss of life is exactly what it takes to achieve the corrective measures required. The operators should know when they run an operation like that one, what it takes and what it costs, to make their operation a safe place to work. If they don't know, they should not be issued permits to mine coal in West Virginia, or anywhere else.

Was paying the CEO and stockholders the maximum sized checks, more important than running a tight ship? Did corporate greed and payola trump the value of human life? I think in this case it might have, but it wouldn't be the first time, in the mining industry's dark history, here in WV.

The UMWA needs to make sure these men didn't die for any other reason than greed, on the coal company's part. The UMWA should raise holy hell until the families of those men know the whole truth and not some pack of lies made up by GOP Cronies at the Department of Labor, to cover the owners of this company's ass. Why would the Department Of Labor protect that coal company? I believe the answer to that may be found in these stories below::::::


Political gifts of coal magnate exceed $800,000

Larry Addington's money went mostly to panel McConnell led
Frank E. Lockwood / Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) 28feb01

WASHINGTON -- Eastern Kentucky coal magnate Larry Addington has contributed more than $800,000 to political groups and candidates over the past three years giving more money to the Republican Party last year than such corporate giants as Exxon Mobil Corp.

Most of that money $500,000 was given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 1998 to 2000, while U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Louisville was its chairman.

http://www.mindfully.org/Energy/Coal-Magnate-$800K-Gift...

Who is Sen. Mitch McConnell's wife? Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao, is Mitch's wife...

Sago Mine Accident in West Virginia


Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao On the West Virginia Mine Incident

WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao issued the following statement on the Sago Mine announcement in Buckhannon, W.Va.:

"Our hearts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of the 12 miners who perished in this tragedy and our hopes and prayers are with the one miner who survived. Along with them, the nation has been riveted by the heroic efforts of the mine rescue teams and others, who rushed to the scene and put their lives on the line to try and return their comrades to safety. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is launching a full investigation to determine the cause of this tragedy and will take the necessary steps to ensure that this never happens again."

http://www.msha.gov/welcome.htm

***********************

Ross to move International Coal Group headquarters to W.Va.

ERIK SCHELZIG
Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - International Coal Group Inc., headed by New York billionaire Wilbur L. Ross, plans to move its headquarters from Eastern Kentucky to Charleston, The Associated Press has learned.

Ross cited better office space, the absence of a payroll tax and the proximity to the old headquarters - Charleston is about 65 miles down Interstate 64 from Ashland, Ky. - as reasons for the move.

"We don't have any mines that are right near Ashland anyway," Ross said in a telephone interview Thursday. "The Ashland headquarters is sort of a historic accident from the days when Addington controlled the company."

The Addington family ran what was known as AEI Resources Holding Inc. Ross bought the renamed Horizon Natural Resources Co. out of bankruptcy last year to form International Coal Group.

http://www.miami.com/mld/ohio/business/709/11969372.htm...

Coal mine reports spate of citations

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (AP) — A coal mine where 13 miners were trapped after an explosion Monday was cited 208 times for alleged safety violations in 2005, up from just 68 citations the year before.
Federal regulators' allegations against the Sago Mine included failure to dilute coal dust, which can lead to explosions, and failure to properly operate and maintain machinery, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

Ninety-six of the citations were considered "significant and substantial" by inspectors.

An official with the International Coal Group, which has owned the mine since March, said the Labor Department could have closed the mine if it were deemed unsafe

http://usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-02-mine-citatio...

I'm betting that the secretary of labor lets the coal company off the hook! * Any takers?

**************

SOOOOOOO how does this company's history of treatment of it's "Valued" employees look?

Miners' Benefits Vanish With Bankruptcy Ruling
By JAMES DAO

Published: October 24, 2004


SMITHERS, W.Va., Oct. 22 - After 31 years, Carl Leake retired last year from the Cannelton mine near here with what he thought was a rock-solid promise of health insurance for life under his union contract. And a vital promise it was: this summer, his wife was found to have breast cancer and her treatment has cost more than $200,000.


But last month, a federal bankruptcy judge in Kentucky authorized Cannelton's owner, Horizon Natural Resources, to terminate its collective bargaining agreements with the United Mine Workers of America. And just like that, Mr. Leake's guaranteed health insurance was gone.

"I figure we could lose everything if we have to pay her bills," Mr. Leake, 61, said.

Mr. Leake is one of nearly 3,800 union coal miners and their dependents in West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana whose company-financed health insurance vanished with a swipe of Judge William S. Howard's pen last month. The union has pledged to cover their health insurance for six months. But beyond that, many workers are facing a future with no insurance or monthly premiums they can barely afford.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/national/24miners.htm...

- as things seem to have gotten off track . . . from what I've heard, the wages are good. I heard on the radio that a man can make between $60,000. - $70,000. mining. That is damn good money in that part of the woods, probably better than being an electrician. There is always a need for mining - electrical work comes and goes with supply and demand.

My husband's family is from KY coal mining country. His grandfather died in a mine accident long before he was born. From what I understand, it is a job that you almost have to be born into to be able to tolerate. When you grow up around it, you understand it and don't fear it.

Many occupations are dangerous but we rarely think of them until there is a tragedy. I heard that one of the most hazardous jobs is commercial fishing yet I never think of that when I'm wolfing down crab-legs.