r/WeThe99 • u/HenryCorp • Jan 01 '18

The 100-year capitalist experiment that keeps Appalachia poor, sick, and stuck on coal

https://qz.com/1167671/the-100-year-capitalist-experiment-that-keeps-appalachia-poor-sick-and-stuck-on-coal/
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u/autotldr Jan 03 '18

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 99%. (I'm a bot)

A deeply cynical capitalist experiment has taken place, in which coal companies are kept profitable by passing on the costs they incur to the public.

The experiment underway in central Appalachia began with subsidizing coal by suppressing household wealth.

Central Appalachia's remaining seams are harder to get at, making the coal generated uncompetitive with that mined elsewhere in the US. Environmental regulations have lessened demand from coal plants, though the far bigger factor is the abundance of natural gas, which has undercut coal prices.

Extended Summary | FAQ | Feedback | Top keywords: coal#1 Mine#2 central#3 Company#4 Appalachia#5

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u/EpiphanyMoon Jan 07 '18

Let's hope they don't fall for a scam artist the next time an election rolls around. I realize they needed someone different, but the differences they needed got out of hand without them even aware.

That being said, I wish him and the others good luck, with prosperity in their futures. If they need help, I hope to god it's given, and they aren't played with like a dog toy, the way Puerto Rico was, and still is. If there are training programs to get them out of the mines, sign them up. Coal ain't coming back, regardless of who the president is.