Thursday, July 23, 2009
Hargrove / Hicks From the Sticks Tennessee-Boycotting Kentucky Coal Co.: Nevermind
Posted by Brantley Hargrove on Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 5:44 AM
The New York Times picked up on this silly little piece of interstate bitchery and called, in staid, gray-lady fashion, shenanigans on the coal industry.
To wit: "Coal mining is a relatively small industry in Tennessee, generating $67 million compared with tourism's $14.2 billion."
Translated: Relatively speaking, we get squat for letting you guys blow up our mountains. So, yeah, go ahead and insert those tourism dollars into the orifice of your choosing.
A TECO executive was quoted as saying, "We regret our previous action, which was an emotional response that doesn't benefit our 1,200 employees, the eastern Kentucky communities we support, the environment we work to protect or our neighbors in Tennessee."
Translated: Now that our temper-tantrum has been played out in the media, we realize we look like callous, plaintive douches. Our bad.
Comments (6)
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Yes great place with all the strip malls, tourist traps,sign everywhere, not to mention "second" homes all over the hills around Gatlinburg, sounds more like urban sprawl meets the beverly hillbillies. Thanks but no thanks I'll stay in good ole W.V.
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TECO stands for Tampa Energy Co. they are an out-of-state coal/power company based in Florida, so not really a KY company - although they do have an office in Corbin KY.
There is a lot more to the measures proposed by Mr. Alexander, just as there is a lot more to the arguments for coal.
You pictured a child crying in the corner-well, the reaction of our country will be much worse if this congressman gets his way.
He is single-handedly stopping the issuance of hundreds of permits. This alone paralyzes the coal industry in the state of WV. Miners are being laid off without much prior notice because of this sudden stoppage of the authorization of the permits that allow them to work.
Add to this the dismal bill referred to as "cap and trade" and not only will coal mining of any type stopped, the ability to pay for energy use in homes will be so high that many Americans will be forced to choose between heat and food, etc. It has been said that most congressmen and women haven't even read the entire 300+ page document!
We won't be standing in the corner crying, we will be kicking, screaming, and clawing to survive.
Common sense tells us that you can't force technology to catch up with our needs in a specific amount of time. Until real solutions and alternatives exist we will either continue to produce energy so we can keep the lights on as we find viable ways to develop cost-effective clean coal( and other clean energies) or we will all be left sitting in the dark.
While the intent is noble, the reality is harsh. Use it until you can find another means!
Yes, our family and friends are boycotting Tennessee-a favorite vacation destination. The clutter of the shops, malls, sinage, traffic problems, and the expensive attractions will no longer be our escape from the place we call "Almost Heaven".
BTW, if you think it is more cost effective to do underground mining ask the miners suffering from black lung, injured backs, and other health risks. My husband works above the ground to mine and reclaim land to its approximate original countour. Check out our post-mining locations for jails, golf courses, and so much more!
Let's get real before we get carried away!
to paula; very, very eloquently stated! every point she made is what our side of the argument has been trying to say for along time! thank you paula!
Maybe Tennessee will "whine" and "throw a hissy fit" when mining is banned, with no alternative or renewable energy sources available, at least none that will meet the electric demands of the nation. When everyone has $1200 or more electric bills every month and can't afford to vacation anymore maybe then somebody will realize just how devastating bills like that are in these tough economic times. The thing is, it's not just coal mining jobs directly that will be lost, how many related jobs such as suppliers will go along with that? Alot and it's a hit this economy just can't take right now. I think that Lamar Alexander should think long and hard about things, because you never know, you may just get what you want. Like the bumper sticker says, Ban Mining, Let the Bastards freeze in the dark!
Maybe Tennessee will "whine" and "throw a hissy fit" when mining is banned, with no alternative or renewable energy sources available, at least none that will meet the electric demands of the nation. When everyone has $1200 or more electric bills every month and can't afford to vacation anymore maybe then somebody will realize just how devastating bills like that are in these tough economic times. The thing is, it's not just coal mining jobs directly that will be lost, how many related jobs such as suppliers will go along with that? Alot and it's a hit this economy just can't take right now. I think that Lamar Alexander should think long and hard about things, because you never know, you may just get what you want. Like the bumper sticker says, Ban Mining, Let the Bastards freeze in the dark!
