‘War on coal’ a political ploy

I have had it with this talk of the war on coal. I appreciate what the coal industry has done to keep electricity prices low. But now it is cheap natural gas that is helping keep prices down.

The good people who work in the coal industry are being strung along by members of Congress. They just use the “war on coal” catchphrase to hoodwink people into believing that they can bring back jobs and to lay blame on the Democratic administration and to get themselves re-elected.

I am a friend of coal, but I am also a friend of cheap natural gas, clean air and clean water. The coal industry is a friend of profits through the exploitation of mine workers, their families and the environment. This is evident in the industry’s actions to limit, if not eliminate, the pensions of retired coal workers and the reclamation of the land.

It saddens me that the way of life that coal has provided is coming to an end, but I am sure some would agree that that life was not that good if they contracted black lung or were injured in a mine accident. I hope all this talk of economic revitalization for coal counties is forthright and action forthcoming.

This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 7:02 PM with the headline "‘War on coal’ a political ploy."