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| Re: Mine Safety and Bush [message #57887 is a reply to message #57885] |
Mon, 23 January 2006 12:58   |
Steve Eddy
Messages: 28
Registered: May 2009
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Chancellor |
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Let me qualify that last statement. The Federal Bureau of Mine Safety controls the issue of enforcing Mine Safety in this country. Just like the FAA controls the issue of Airline and flight safety and Just like the FRA controls the issue of Railroad safety. These administrative bodies are headed by political appointees whose job it is to enforce the safety standards enacted by the federal government.
The states don't do this because one; The government needs uniform rules and regulations across the whole country. Otherwise any state with heavily represented mining interests would have weak or unsafe conditions just like the airways or railroads.
Two; the mining companies are interstate and as such are federal issues.
The Executive Branch appoints the heads of the various regulatory agencies who then create and establish the regulations under which these agencies operate and they have the police powers required to insure compliance.
I don't know what your point is but that is how it works.
That's how it works, huh? Well if that's how it works, and the federal government has sole control over mining safety issues, then could you please explain the Virginia Coal Mine Safety Act (which I mention seeing as it was in the state of Virginia that both of these recent accidents occurred)? If things work the way you say, then you'd better alert the folks of Virginia that their state laws regarding mining safety are null and void. Apparently neither Virginia's Governor nor the members of the Virginia Assembly were aware of this as they amended it about a year ago in order to increase safety standards as well as civil penalties for violations that result in injury or death. se
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| Re: Mine Safety and Bush [message #57889 is a reply to message #57888] |
Mon, 23 January 2006 13:45 |
Steve Eddy
Messages: 28
Registered: May 2009
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Chancellor |
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On the side I have never seen a president with so many apologists for his incompetence. Whenever the Federal Government screws up the Bush fans run out to find a scapegoat. It's shamefull. He should be a man and accept his failures. The buck stops there; in the words of a real president. Stop apologising for his incompetence and lack of concern for the citizenry.
I make no apologies for Bush who I have never voted for and couldn't give two shits about. My gripe is with those who mistakenly believe that the sun rises and sets on Washington, DC, and that if Washington isn't doing it, then it doesn't exist. You said that due to the Bush administration (which conveniently leaves out the entire legislative branch which says something about your agenda here) safety is now almost non-existent in new mining operations. That's just complete and utter bullshit. There are state laws, regulations and agencies which address issues of mine safety quite independently of the federal government, such that even if the federal government did nothing at all with regard to mine safety, your statement would still be complete and utter bullshit. Your "buck stops here" comment while making for quaint political rhetoric ignores the fact that it is state and local government which has the greatest responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of its citizens. If anyone is being an apologist here it is you, apologizing for those entities which have the greatest responsibility and subsequently the greatest culpability with regard to any lack of safety regulations and their enforcement that there may be here. se
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| Re: Mine Safety and Bush [message #57893 is a reply to message #57892] |
Mon, 23 January 2006 19:38 |
Manualblock
Messages: 4973
Registered: May 2009
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Illuminati (13th Degree) |
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Well let me address the point of your post here. The mining industry is very labor intensive/dangerous and it's importance to the economy of this country is very high. I can't quote the exact figure but it is substantial the amount of energy we get from coal. I could look it up but I know you know.
The potential damage to property and lives in the event of an explosion or disaster is significant to say the least and the amount of resources needed to extricate and process coal is a significant figure of our GNP.
Those factors alone should be indicative of why the federal government is deeply involved in the regulation of the whole coal mining and energy supply infrastructure.
Then there is the issue of national security; during the energy crisis of the 70's the fact that we rely on coal to a great extent for our energy needs prompted many new legislative initiatives.
But as a simple logical explanation the federal government is deeply involved in every industry that is deemed of importance to our economy and security. Steel/coal/transportation/oil/electrical generating capacity/ you see.
Then from personal experience I can tell you that when lives are at stake; when a mistake or faulty process can kill people as it does pretty regularly in the coal industry; we take it very seriously. I would fax you a report on a train accident where a guy was killed due to a violation of the automatic block signal rules. The report is over 500 pages and it includes stuff all the way back to what the Engineer got on his SAT's. No shit. It's a different outlook when you are the guy in the white bronco they are rushing to the nearest emergency room for a drug test after an accident.
My point? They take the loss of life seriously enough to require that safe practices be monitored and controlled on the federal level so as to provide for oversight and uniformity of code.
One solid mine explosion could take out a town. There is not enough money in most state tax coffers to provide the kind and amount of oversight needed for these industries and they must be monitored by an agency that answers to the highest authority for the reasons I cite.
Thats the best answer I can offer. I am sure a good attorny who deals with the National Transportation Safety Board; or the Secretary of State could provide a much more complete answer. This is only my experience and small knowledge of how this stuff works.
On a personal level; would you really want to be in some coal mine 400 feet underground in a state where you know they have no resources to fund the agencies required to insure your safety? I mean they require by law that a mine safety inspector be onsight during all operations.So lets say it was a nuclear facility; would you want the local town councilman running the agency for safety of plant operations; Homer Simpson?
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