Another mining accident.. ok when is the "media" going to ask...

[southernleftylady]

Why all these accidents all of a sudden?? does it have anything to do with bush easing up safety guidelines because he is in bed with the corporations and not looking out for the little guys???

[carolinalady]

1. These accidents happen all the time-they just do not get

covered. It is the flavor of the day because of the Sago mine.

[electron_blue]

2. That was my first thought.

Not saying that the OP isn't right, also. But sure looks like CNN, etc. are playing this up over other tragedies bcs Sago is still on our mind.

Cute pics of the kiddos, OP!

[southernleftylady]

3. thank you ;) nt

[ohio_liberal]

6. Right on

The stories are not as exciting to TV viewers when they only involve one person or two at a time. This stuff happens regularly.

[catnhatnh]

4. As soon as the lead story leads.....

"twelve killed in cave-in at Fox News"....then you'll hear about workplace safety....

[Squatch]

5. The real question:

Why in the hell are we STILL using coal?

[onenote]

7. because its cheap

We should have been doing a lot more to develop and deploy alternative energy sources, including solar and wind. No question. But until that happens, coal is it. Currently, over 50 percent of electricity in the US generated by coal. Nuclear plants provide about a quarter, and I'm not too keen on increasing that percentage. Oil fired plants provide around 10%, and its (a) expensive and (b) no cleaner than coal. Hydroelectric dams provide 8% but damming up more rivers isn't a swell idea. Finally, alternative energy sources (wind, solar etc.) only give us 2% -- we have to do better, but its going to take a while, I'm afraid.

onenote

[Squatch]

8. Just how much longer is it going to take?

I mean, we've been burning coal since the industrial revolution! I'm sure that industry could have figured out a better way to generate power in the last 250 years than by burning a rock.