A Bleak Outlook for Trumps Promises to Coal Miners

[DonViejo]

Donald J. Trump made coal a centerpiece of his campaign, holding rousing rallies with miners in hard hats, who he said had been neglected under eight years of the Obama administration. The strategy paid off, helping him score crucial wins in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Now, though, coal may prove a different sort of symbol — that is, of the challenges that the president-elect will face delivering on his many promises to restore struggling sectors of the American economy.

The United States coal industry and the jobs that support it have been in decline for decades as a result of environmental concerns, automation in mining and slowdowns in manufacturing industries that burned coal for power. And these days, no matter who is president, coal is at the mercy of market economics. Coal’s No. 1 rival is cheap, cleaner-burning natural gas — which could become an even more potent competitor under the incoming administration. The probable easing of restrictions on pipeline building and loosening of rules on gas exploration and production would mean more natural gas reaching the market.

Despite recent increases, coal’s price has been drifting downward for years. But the price of natural gas has fallen even more sharply. “I don’t think the Trump presidency will have a material impact on bringing coal miners back to work,” said Ted O’Brien, a coal analyst at Doyle Trading Consultants, a leading energy industry research firm.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/business/energy-environment/a-bleak-outlook-for-trumps-promises-to-coal-miners.html?emc=edit_th_20161120&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=57435284

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I don't think he cares much about the coal miners.......

He just wanted their votes and he knew telling them what they wanted to hear would get him there.

You know, it's all about him.

[spanone]

2. 'clean coal' more lies

coal is dead

[yallerdawg]

3. Table environmental regulation and enforcement...

why go down a shaft when you can take down the mountain?

Pappy's job is gone forever.

Trump just hustled them.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

4. Trumps Promises

for good things for anyone but the 1% are all going to evaporate.

[Budgies Revenge]

5. What...a...surprise....

If all you have is a passing acquaintance with the truth (and I'm probably being overly generous with that characterization), it's easy to promise anything and everything to get elected. Bring the coal mines back? Sure! Restart all the plants in Pittsburgh? Of Course! Make your hometown football team win every game this season? You Bet!

Unfortunately for all of these voters, Trump did not then, does not now, nor will he ever have the power to deliver on many of these promises (assuming that he even wanted to). What we need to be aware of, is that the Trump administration already has a plan for this---they will blame "obstructionist democrats" for every failed campaign promise--and the reality of the situation will not matter.

Many of these blue collar workers already don't trust news organizations--that point has been hammered home by talk radio and others since the Clinton Administration. Social media has still not figured out an effective way to filter--or at least mark--fake news stories, confirmation bias, and the continued influence effect will all be obstacles as well.

We have GOT to figure out a way to get our message out there over the next four years--and keep Trump from driving the narrative and spreading misinformation.

[duffyduff]

8. It was happening before Clinton.

It started with the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987. Almost overnight Rush Limbaugh went from being an obscurity to a national celebrity with his one-sided, hatefest radio program. No other point of view was required anymore.

The fact is these dudes have hated Democrats since the late 1960s, and this was a direct result of the passage of the Civil Rights Act and of the various protests by student activists. They also bitched about affirmative action and women being in the labor force, thinking that their "right" to make a decent living was being undermined by those unworthy. Nixon exploited the "hard hats," and they have never really left.

You can't fix them. They are willfully stupid. They have had THIRTY-FIVE YEARS to vote the right way, since Reagan began his wholesale campaign against unions, the middle class, and the American Dream, and they continue to vote the wrong way every single time.

[annabanana]

6. He rumbled into rural America with his wagon full of shiny chrome plated

garbage and told them it was gold.

Got any good recipes for snake oil?
Where do you want me to put this bridge?

In the old days he would have skipped town one step ahead of the sheriff.. or been tarred and feathered and run out on a rail..

[duffyduff]

7. He can't deliver on anything he said because he had no policies to begin with.

He simply had demagoguery.

Dumb shit suckers vote for this crap every single time.

Now try and tell me to feel sorry for these dudes.

[JHB]

9. Donald looks out for Number Trump. Period.

Now that he has your vote, what does he need you for?

Don't like it? Sue him. See how far you get with that.

[smirkymonkey]

10. Anyone who ever thought that coal mining was coming back is an idiot.

I am sorry for those who are jobless, but they are fools if they thought that Trump was going to restore their livelihoods. Learn some new skills and get on with it. Coal is never coming back.