Yada, Yada

"Miners should never have to sacrifice their lives for their livelihood." A government official

"New safety measures taken since a deadly 2006 West Virginia mine explosion did nothing to save at least 25 more men who died under similar circumstances this week." Top headline - MSNBC - 04/08/10

Several days ago I suggested that all of the yada, yada we were hearing and would likely hear were just window dressing. Note that firs quote from a government official. Sounds a little like something other high placed officials have pronounced.

Now lets add in that second bit. New safety measures were added after the killings in 2006. So, how has that worked out for those who lost their lives this time? Geez, I wonder if the owners of those mines have put those measures into place? Or, if the foxes guarding the hen houses in the state and federal agencies have been strictly enforcing those new safety measures?

Never mind. Those were rhetorical questions. We know damned good and well that if the criminals involved in the longwall mining business put those measures into place, it done only on paper, by their lawyers. As for the regulators, they are just a guilty as the CONSOLs and Masseys of the world. They know as well as the companies that it's all a charade to produce a cover for the likes of CEO Blankenship of Massey.

Blankenship is available on the net with his diatribe against the government regulators who would destroy the lives of every single miner. He doesn't bother to tell those miners that longwall mining, and for that matter any other form of mining will kill them outright. Neither does he say that a goodly portion of the money that those mining companies make is spent lobbying against any law that would provide any measure of safety for miners of all stripes.

Longwall mining is not needed. Neither is mountaintop removal (destruction). Most of that coal is delivered to India and China for coking. It does nothing for the US, and less for those miners who died trying to make a living for their families. Unprotected by the companies they worked for and the governmental bodies who were supposed to be looking out for their health and welfare.

We will likely hear more words. Maybe even get some bit of action from the government. But, until those inside the mining companies make meaningful changes in the ground. And, the regulators begin to strictly enforce the laws, we will see this very sad scenario again and again.