Thank heaven it burns clean. Otherwise it might pollute our lungs and kill us.

Ever notice if it's in the ground and we need it (fossil fuels, minerals), or want it (gold, diamonds), a lot of people end up dying? We should not stand for any further rebellion from our earth! If it continues, I will start changing my oil and antifreeze in the yard! Take that Blue Ball!

 It is not surprising that the prevalence of black lung is much higher in southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky.  Massey bought the politicians in this area one by one to hinder the EPA and MSHA. 

There is a fine example of "If we get rid of these burdensome regulations business will create more jobs". At the mortuary.

Your Right Wing bastards at work.

Thanks to the Repukes...

I really hope all the business people in the world who have cut corners to save money at the expense of workers are sent to the lowest level of hell.

Seems to me a huge failure of the federal government is to blame. They are the one's that are supposed to be enforcing OSHA. I really do not think the GOP runs down into coal mines and removes the coal dust mask from the workers faces.

Maybe we should make 3 new Federal offices to enforce the Occupational health and safety standards. One of them may start doing their jobs?

Ghostmaker, The GOP has nothing to do with the Federal Government ?

Are Partisans dumber than Independent thinkers or does it just seem like it?

 My father left West Virginia to join the Navy during WW2 and never went back. He knew that if he did he would end up in the mines and 3 of his uncles died of black lung desease. His 4 younger brothers followed him to the northeast and none of them ever went back except to visit. There is no reason for anyone to be exposed to the danger of black lung. Mining is dangerous enough and the prevention of inhaling dust is the easiest of preventable health problems.

What gets me ... is those same states are anti union, anti-Federal intervention and Pro-GOP.

If you are trying to make a point that --- it seems to be at the cost of many lives, needlessly. If you keep voting the same folks into office they see that as proof that you are happy with the way things are going.

It was just a few years ago when one of the coal ash mounds started polluting the river that feed water to the Memphis? Instead of forcing the coal company to cleanup its own mess your govenor and federal congress people wanted the Feds to pay for it out of Federal pocket.

These were the same people whining about the Federal budget being too high, states rights and too much regulatory interference from the EPA who had told them to fix that potential problem year after year before it happened, just as predicted.

OSHA, the EPA have tried to get thing right there, but the state governor and the GOP prevent them every step of the way. You have to help yourself before you start blaming the feds for not forcing the state to do its job.

Go figure....

The black lungers will vote for the very people responsible for their health problems..

"Although masks and breathing apparatus are available in most mines, Smith said many miners do not wear them. "They do not fit well with facial hair and many miners have beards," he said. Also they can impair communications underground."

So miners choose not to wear safety equipment, then whine about getting sick.

"Stupid is as stupid does." - Mamma Gump

Certainly there is the need for regulations and some of the trouble we are in now is the fact that the GOP has eliminated many regulations and, as a party, continue to try to 'unregulate' about everything else so that corporations will be able to increase their profits even more while not protecting employees, the environment or our national economy.

That's what greed, lack of regulations, and too many electricity-consuming gadgets will do to people. Coal is a dirty fuel, pouring toxic mercury into our children. The guy who ran Massey mine should be in prison or executed. The mining industry blows up mountains and ruins entire counties in its pursuit of Black Death and profits.

Wow, what a shock.

But really, why should the rest of us give a crap. These people in these heavily GOP populated areas deserve everything they are getting. If your dumb enough to work in a coal mine knowing the dangers. Don't cry about it if something happens.

 Coal miners get black lung because they refuse to follow the rules.  The safety equipment is provided, they just choose not to use it.  How is this the government's fault? Aren't all the miners adults? They all know what the hazards and consequences of their actions are, but still they choose not to comply. Put the blame where it belongs, with the workers who refuse to use their brains and then try to blame everyone but themselves.

Pride goeth before a fall...

Coal miners get black lung because they refuse to follow the rules. The safety equipment is provided, they just choose not to use it. How is this the government's fault? Aren't all the miners adults? They all know what the hazards and consequences of their actions are, but still they choose not to comply...

Normally, I might agree with your point - essentially, it is true and the proper way to address the issue.

Its hard to protect people from their own stupidity? Pride? Traditions?

However, I have seen similar legal requirements being overruled by group standards. As mentioned in the the article, wearing the masks brings in another problem - they are unable to hear verbal commands, warnings. In the dark mines your sight is already limited, I would guess that the drilling, blasting and mechanical equipment further overwhelms your hearing -they probably are wearing hearing protection too. Maybe there is something else which warrants the endemic decision to not wear the mask?

Personally ... I find it ill-advised to not wear the safety equipment - but I don't work there, don't understand the work standards or the miners culture.

Think about it this way - Hockey players resisted wearing helmet until it the last of the old-timer players retired (they had a clause which allowed them to play without helmets if they chose not to wear them). The players recruited after the new rule was in place had no such choice - they either wore the helmets or were benched. Most likely the reason the rule are ignored is due to lack of enforcement?

Rodeo riders have or had the same change pushed on them. the Old timers wanted to keep doing things the same way it had been back in the old rodeo days. You took your lumps, got back on the horse and got back to rodeo-in. If it was too hard, too dangerous for you - then go find an easier sport - no sissy's allowed! After a few years ... watching riders being paralyzed for life after being stomped or gored by a ton of mean bull who didn't appreciate a flea riding him like he was horse or something .... Professional riders are wearing "armor", helmets - and the fans still come. Its not being a sissy - its being smart.

Full disclosure: I also dislike being forced to wear a seat-belt... resisted it on grounds of personal choice, personal freedom. Finally circumstances changed to the point that I had a legal waiver to not have to wear one - if I chose. Funny thing happened .... now that its my choice, I wear one almost all the time.

"I think i have the black lung, pop... *cough cough*"

 It takes all three players - workers, company, OSHA/MSHA - to make this work.  To blame Republicans is paraoid and misinformed.

To blame Republicans is paranoid and misinformed.

BS...

It is not more Paranoid for blame Republicans than it is for them to preach that Liberals are the ones pushing for re-regulation, Stronger standards for health and safety or Medical care and corporate responsibility. It should not be a sentence to early death for a person to take a job or live near a mine.

Republican are self identified in resisting OSHA "interference". In other words - the blame is nothing less than repeating what Republicans are already admitting. How can that be misinformed?

Please explain how its defamation when its what they saying they stand for?

Wait until the miners get paid in company script.

"masks and breathing apparatus are available in most mines, Smith said many miners do not wear them. "They do not fit well with facial hair and many miners have beards"

Blaming big business for the consequences of peoples choices (wearing beards instead of masks), good job Eric and Bluelake

People have a lot of bad things to say about nuclear power, but coal is clearly the most dangerous source of energy!

It's about time to quit masking the antics of the present GOP, they stopped being "Conservatives" several elections ago. Fact is - most of their policies are closer to
"Regressive" than to Conservative. In almost every major area of current legislative debate, the GOP has tried to put things back to the 50's and 60's - where Business was King and workers were disposable. Every Anti-Union, step is regressive - an attempt to remove the mechanisms which prevent the most egregious, the most flagrant abuses of corporate power - even worse, led by lobbyist (fueled by excessive donations) they are attempting to not only remove safeguards put in place after identifying long term, systematic abuse forcing workers to work overtime, without pay or compensation, prevent them from seeking remedy though the courts when the company ignores their complaints ... these companies are attempting to enlist the Federal Government to rubber stamp these efforts at de-regulation. Essentially, putting workers back into the status of "serfs", owned by the companies - placed into endless financial servitude.

If Democrats = Liberal = Progressives.... Then Republicans = Conservatives = Regressives. Conservatives used to mean, lets move cautiously, slow progress to a rate that people, companies can absorbe and accomodate change. Unfortunately, today the "Conservatives" are advocating moving so slowly the they are now moving backwards and trying to take the country with them.

This is an example of what happens when you allow deregulation. People die just so the owners can make a profit. This is pure greed and you know it!