Tuesday, January 03, 2006

My Thoughts Are on West Virginia

What the Hell.

This sort of stuff isn't supposed to happen anymore, we're in the glorious age of technology.

I've been glued to the television since they (finally) decided it was worthy enough to pre-empt the normal lineup of blowheads on every day. Glued to the set, waiting for some bit of good news.

What a horrific way to start a new year. Christ. I mean come on, look at these people. They get paid shit for working in the mines, these are not well off people living off latte and lithium. They're like farmers, the true 'salt of the earth' and backbone of America. They have faith and family and friends and small hope that some of their kids will get out through venues like the military.

It makes me tear up every time they show the church the family members are in, I admit this freely.

What the fuck, why was this company allowed to operate as normal with 208 violations in 2005? They wouldn't let a restaurant go on with 208 violations, I don't get it. One body has been found, those poor families. We have a body, we can't identify it, the other 12 are still missing. I can't even imagine..

I can't turn the channel, I don't want to turn the channel. I can only sit here and stare and hope along with so many others watching safely from a distance and surrounded by their families.

Here's to hope.

1. What do you think runs this age of technology? Electricity. And more than half the electricity in the US comes from coal. And my state, West Virginia, mines coal.
   Coalminers rake in $50,000 plus a year with good beenfits. This was a nonunion mine

   Don Surber  on  01/04  at  12:46 AM

2. I noticed you were in West Virginia, I clicked
   over to see if you had written on it.

   I guess I’m somewhat of a naive New Yorker,
   you would just think there would be ways of
   keeping miners safe.

   50k?  That wouldn’t be much in NY but I don’t
   know the cost of living in WV.

   Thank you for stopping by and commenting, it’s
   certainly a pleasure to meet you.

   WebKittyn  on  01/04  at  12:53 AM

3. I was following this last night with a mixed sort of horror. By the time I went to bed, I was tired of watching it, and yet I couldn’t turn away. Then, this morning, just when I think it can’t get any worse, it does.

   I can’t even imagine being those families right now…

    on  01/04  at  09:13 AM

4. I couldn’t believe it when I went to Yahoo News and say that (after being told by Webkittyn that they had found 12 survivors) that in fact they found one live person and the rest were dead.  They found them huddled together, and its juts sickening to think about those poor souls having to leave this world in that condition.  Yes anyone working that job knows that it could be possible for that to happen, but I think Webkittyn is right, you’d think we’d be beyond this kind of horrors.

   What I think will be shown in the months to come under investigations will be the real horror of it all.  As pointed out the company was in 208 violations of Safety Laws, and unlike a resteraunt which would be shutdown, and as Don pointed out, the government turns a blind eye because they are pumping out the source of our electrical generating fuel.  Its the same as Oil Companies, they will ignore things for the bottom line and the almighty dollar.

   From what I’ve read in the past and just knowing those types of areas and economy, the workers are paid good.  In Northern NY 50k is good money, but such as WVA and NNY we are a lower economy than say Southern NY.  The Aluminum workers here in Massena make roughly 50k with good benefits under the steelworker union, and they may not be working under the same condition, they are still working a highly dangerous job, molten metal, high voltage electricity, still dangerous.  My father who has worked there for 35 years as seen alot, such as one recent accident involving a 30-something year old guy.  They poured a new batch of aluminum into one of the smelting pots, and there was a hammer inside.  This hammer melted and exploded, blowing out vapors and destroyed this guys lungs.  He’s disabled and crippled for the rest of his life.

   My heart goes out to these families, I was told they celebrated for three hours ringing the church bells that their boys were alive, only to be told that no, they were not.  Its a shame and you’d think that in 2006 we’d be past mine collapses and horrid problems.

   I hope this mining company gets slapped around if it turns out to be their fault for slacking on safety which caused the explosion.  But it might be mother nature to blame, pockets of gas that suddenly escaped.  Don’t forget we are humans who are digging under a mountain.

    on  01/04  at  10:33 PM
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