What comes to mind when you hear West Virginia? Is it the mountains, hillbillies, or pepperoni rolls? When I hear West Virginia, I think of coal and how much we depend on it. Almost everyone in West Virginia has ties to the mine either directly or indirectly. For some families it’s their income; for others, it’s the way they get energy. So if everyone is attached to mining, then why do we shut down the mines? Coal has been a large part of Appalachia for a long time. We shouldn’t expand the coal mining industry, but we shouldn’t shrink it. Our nation depends on coal, and in my opinion an alternate energy source will never take over and eliminate coal. So this upcoming election means nothing to the coal industry. Voting democrat or republican -- I don’t think it matters. They just have to fight over something to entertain themselves.
-L
5 comments:
I think democrats and republicans just disagree to have a reason to start an agrument. How does it not make a difference if you vote for republican or democratic though? -M
I see your point of view but I can't help but disagree that the upcoming election does have the potential to change the coal mining industry. It should be made safer and left alone but it will not be because each party has a plan to change it. I suggest you look into it because who you vote for can have an impact on coal miners and our state.-R
It doesn't matter if you vote replublican or democratic because they say their views are diffrent and their plans for energy are better then the other sides. When it comes down to it nothing will change. This country depends on coal way to much to just drop it all and move to some other source of energy.
I don't think renewable energy was designed to eliminate coal, I think it was meant as a cleaner alternative to relieve the burden of demand on the coal industry and give it the chance to become cleaner itself.
On that same note, mines are usually closed because a) they don't meet safety requirements, or b) the coal mine owners shut them down because it's cheaper for them to close the mine than make the changes to make them safer and cleaner.
What do you mean when you say "we shouldn't expand it, but we shouldn't shrink it either"?
I disagree, the Democratic party has put a lot of effort into green technology, technology that has been created to one day take the place of envirnmentally unfriendly coal. The party has also begun to support and enforce EPA regulations (like the EPA's Utility MACT rule) that the coal industry claims makes it extremely expensive to run coal-powered plants; so much so that they fear there's a possibility that no more coal-powered plants will be built, lowering the price of coal and ruining local economies.
I don't know the Republicans' true position on the matter, but a point that they've never failed to make was the war they've had on the "War on Coal". Whether they're actually pro-coal or just saying so to get the votes of the coal-rich swing states of PA, WV, OH, and VA has yet to be seen, but this election will make an impact on coal either way.
It seems like we're going to have to choose the lesser of two evils...
- R
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