It would be nice to know if coal companies are being more responsive to safety concerns since 29 men died in Massey Mines. However, since no one went to jail, no punitive fines have yet been levied, and the mine was sold to another company… probably not. Regulation without consequences is useless. But the families of 29 men are still without their brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, and grandfathers. Should we care since we don’t know them? Does it matter to the rest of us that strangers died working in a mine that had been cited many times for safety violations but never sufficiently punished?In a Civil Society, the first requirement of a Democracy, one would think the rest of us would want to protect those who are harvesting coal for our electricity as well as other workers in the nation. But talk of such things always comes down to the ‘bottom line". How much will it cut into share price and executive bonuses? After all, the suits don’t have to go into the mines, or drink the water being released into rivers, or any of the things to which most people are exposed.Mr. McDonnell graduated from Pat Robertson’s Regent University. He seems unable to separate church from state where moral issues are concerned, yet he always acts to enrich and empower the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Most recently, he cut the gas tax and raised the sales tax. Now people who don’t have cars as well as those who do will pay more at the grocery stores while those who can afford cars will pay less at the pumps. Why does it seem that so many people who claim to follow Jesus’s teachings have hearts like a lump of coal?Confusedly,C.
Nothing will stop “The war On Coal” until the greenies have to sit in the dark and they can’t charge their ipads, iphones and electric cars. Maybe then, they will figure out where electricity comes from…
The Post’s Rosalind S. Helderman reports on another development related to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell® — specifically that a coal company paid McDonnell’s wife $36,000 last year for consulting for its philanthropic arm.
McDonnell had listed First Lady Maureen McDonnell as a trustee of the United Co. charity on his financial disclosure forms, but she didn’t actually serve on the board. By listing her as a trustee, McDonnell didn’t have to disclose how much she earned from the company.
Virginia law requires politicians to report if a family member earns more than $10,000 from an employer.
Separately, Virginia police and the FBI are looking into a dietary supplement manufacturer’s gift of $15,000 to cover catering expenses at the wedding of McDonnell’s daughter.
Even with the laxest laws in America concerning accepting corporate gifts, the Virginia governor seems to be on the cusp (at the very least) of law-breaking. Why are so many pols so greedy and grasping? Regardless of party. Why are so many of them thieves? It is very tiring.
“Coal, Pipe lines = Jobs………Dem Libs will have none of That.”
If only it were that simple. Let’s forget about black lung, collapsing tunnels, accidents…hey, they’re just people. There are more of those where they came from.
Let’s talk about mining methods, instead. Lobbyists have written laws in West Virginia that allow the mining companies to literally blow the tops off mountains to get to the coal. That stuff goes downhill. If it chokes a river, damming it up, oh, well. No harm done, as far as the folks in Charleston are concerned. But every river spoiled is fewer fish available for food and a greater cost to make water safe to drink.
Love the way Toles gets the righties all in a froth. They spend their time here attacking “liberals” instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue. I’ve concluded liberal is a word that describes anybody who disagrees with Rush or Hannity or any number of highly paid media screamers.
Doughfoot almost 11 years ago
“She’s all mine.” — It’s funny how often the best part of a Toles cartoon is the small print in the corner.
chazandru almost 11 years ago
It would be nice to know if coal companies are being more responsive to safety concerns since 29 men died in Massey Mines. However, since no one went to jail, no punitive fines have yet been levied, and the mine was sold to another company… probably not. Regulation without consequences is useless. But the families of 29 men are still without their brothers, sons, fathers, uncles, and grandfathers. Should we care since we don’t know them? Does it matter to the rest of us that strangers died working in a mine that had been cited many times for safety violations but never sufficiently punished?In a Civil Society, the first requirement of a Democracy, one would think the rest of us would want to protect those who are harvesting coal for our electricity as well as other workers in the nation. But talk of such things always comes down to the ‘bottom line". How much will it cut into share price and executive bonuses? After all, the suits don’t have to go into the mines, or drink the water being released into rivers, or any of the things to which most people are exposed.Mr. McDonnell graduated from Pat Robertson’s Regent University. He seems unable to separate church from state where moral issues are concerned, yet he always acts to enrich and empower the wealthy at the expense of the poor. Most recently, he cut the gas tax and raised the sales tax. Now people who don’t have cars as well as those who do will pay more at the grocery stores while those who can afford cars will pay less at the pumps. Why does it seem that so many people who claim to follow Jesus’s teachings have hearts like a lump of coal?Confusedly,C.
avarner almost 11 years ago
Nothing will stop “The war On Coal” until the greenies have to sit in the dark and they can’t charge their ipads, iphones and electric cars. Maybe then, they will figure out where electricity comes from…
alan.gurka almost 11 years ago
Well, it’s been a long time since his last DC Metro jab, so my guess is we’ll get that first, before another global warming toon.
dairyman23 almost 11 years ago
The Post’s Rosalind S. Helderman reports on another development related to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell® — specifically that a coal company paid McDonnell’s wife $36,000 last year for consulting for its philanthropic arm.
McDonnell had listed First Lady Maureen McDonnell as a trustee of the United Co. charity on his financial disclosure forms, but she didn’t actually serve on the board. By listing her as a trustee, McDonnell didn’t have to disclose how much she earned from the company.
Virginia law requires politicians to report if a family member earns more than $10,000 from an employer.
Separately, Virginia police and the FBI are looking into a dietary supplement manufacturer’s gift of $15,000 to cover catering expenses at the wedding of McDonnell’s daughter.
pirate227 almost 11 years ago
All kinds of scandals popping here in the governors mansion in VA.
ossiningaling almost 11 years ago
Sounds like evolution to me. Didn’t God already create all the diamonds that exist?
hippogriff almost 11 years ago
avarner: We could generate it from all the hot air coming from those allegedly commenting on comic strips.
Rickapolis almost 11 years ago
Even with the laxest laws in America concerning accepting corporate gifts, the Virginia governor seems to be on the cusp (at the very least) of law-breaking. Why are so many pols so greedy and grasping? Regardless of party. Why are so many of them thieves? It is very tiring.
I Play One On TV almost 11 years ago
“Coal, Pipe lines = Jobs………Dem Libs will have none of That.”
If only it were that simple. Let’s forget about black lung, collapsing tunnels, accidents…hey, they’re just people. There are more of those where they came from.
Let’s talk about mining methods, instead. Lobbyists have written laws in West Virginia that allow the mining companies to literally blow the tops off mountains to get to the coal. That stuff goes downhill. If it chokes a river, damming it up, oh, well. No harm done, as far as the folks in Charleston are concerned. But every river spoiled is fewer fish available for food and a greater cost to make water safe to drink.
Again, remember that you cannot eat money.
attarian almost 11 years ago
Love the way Toles gets the righties all in a froth. They spend their time here attacking “liberals” instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue. I’ve concluded liberal is a word that describes anybody who disagrees with Rush or Hannity or any number of highly paid media screamers.