Jobs and the environment
Our country is going through a tough time with the economy; this has forced some people to make some tough decisions. One problem that we are experiencing is pitting environmentalists against workers in the coal mining industry. The state of West Virginia seems to be ground zero for this battle as coal miners feel their livelihoods are being threatened by environmentalists who want to shut down mining operations that are considered to be destructive to the earth.
There have been court battles and many protests on both sides of the issue and no one seems to be winning. In the meantime, miners are continuing to work and make money providing coal to American manufacturers. The beauty of the mountains continues to be decimated by the mining. I hope we can find some kind of solution soon.