United Mine Workers of America, the union representing mineworkers, has for the first time

[elleng]

NEW: invited every Democratic presidential hopeful to tour a coal mine and discuss their thoughts on finding a place for coal workers in the nation’s energy future.

https://trib.al/BUqM2CX

[htuttle]

1. They should shift their business models to building seawalls around cities

Kind of like coal mining in reverse.

[Sherman A1]

2. THE FREEDOM DIVIDEND from Andrew Yang's Policy Page

Andrew would implement a Universal Basic Income, ‘the Freedom Dividend,’ of $1,000/month, $12,000 a year for every American adult over the age of 18. This is independent of one’s work status or any other factor. This would enable all Americans to pay their bills, educate themselves, start businesses, be more creative, stay healthy, relocate for work, spend time with their children, take care of loved ones, and have a real stake in the future.

Any change to the Freedom Dividend would require a constitutional amendment.

It will be illegal to lend or borrow against one’s Dividend.

A Universal Basic Income at this level would permanently grow the economy by 12.56 to 13.10 percent—or about $2.5 trillion by 2025—and it would increase the labor force by 4.5 to 4.7 million people. Putting money into people’s hands and keeping it there would be a perpetual boost and support to job growth and the economy.

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED

Approx. 40 million Americans live below the poverty line.

Technology is quickly displacing a large number of workers, and the pace will only increase as automation and other forms of artificial intelligence become more advanced. ⅓ of American workers will lose their jobs to automation by 2030 according to McKinsey. This has the potential to destabilize our economy and society if unaddressed.

Good jobs are becoming more and more scarce and Americans are already working harder and harder for less and less.

It is necessary to support and preserve a robust consumer economy.

Many Americans are stuck in the wrong jobs because of a need to survive.

There are many positive social activities that are currently impossible for many to do because they lack the financial resources to dedicate time to it, including taking care of a child or sick loved one, and volunteering in the community.

GOALS

End poverty in the most direct manner possible: giving people money

Move our economy into its next stage of development – human capitalism – with a focus on improving everyone’s quality of living

Prevent the massive disruption that will accompany the rapid development and adoption of automation and other AI technologies

Allow people the freedom to switch jobs, move, innovate, and contribute to society

Turbo-charge the economy by providing income to those who are most likely to spend it

An Excerpt from The War on Normal People

Universal Basic Income, or UBI, is a version of Social Security where all citizens receive a set amount of money per month independent of their work status or income. Everyone from a hedge fund billionaire in New York to an impoverished single mom in West Virginia would receive a monthly check of $1,000. If someone is working as a waitress or construction worker making $18,000, he or she would essentially be making $30,000. UBI eliminates the disincentive to work that most people find troubling about traditional welfare programs – if you work you could actually start saving and get ahead. With the growing threat of automation, the concept has gained renewed attention, with trials being run in Oakland, Canada, and Finland as well as in India and other parts of the developing world.

Today, people tend to associate Universal Basic Income with technology utopians. But a form of UBI almost became law in the United States in 1970 and 1971, passing the House of Representatives twice before stalling in the Senate. Versions of the idea have been championed by robust thinkers of every political persuasion for decades, including some of the most admired figures in American life. Here’s a sampling:

Thomas Paine, 1796: “Out of a collected fund from landowners, “there shall be paid to every person, when arrived at the age of twenty-one years, the sum of fifteen pounds sterling, as a compensation in part, for the loss of his or her natural inheritance,. . . to every person, rich or poor.”

Martin Luther King Jr., 1967: “I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective — the solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income.”

Richard Nixon, August 1969: “What I am proposing is that the Federal Government build a foundation under the income of every American family . . . that cannot care for itself–and wherever in America that family may live.”

Milton Friedman (Nobel-winning economist), 1980: “We should replace the ragbag of specific welfare programs with a single comprehensive program of income supplements in cash — a negative income tax . . . which would do more efficiently and humanely what our present welfare system does so inefficiently and inhumanely.”

Bernie Sanders, May 2014: “In my view, every American is entitled to at least a minimum standard of living . . .There are different ways to get to that goal, but that’s the goal that we should strive to reach.”

Stephen Hawking, July 2015: “Everyone can enjoy a life of luxurious leisure if the machine-produced wealth is shared, or most people can end up miserably poor if the machine-owners successfully lobby against wealth redistribution. So far, the trend seems to be toward the second option, with technology driving ever-increasing inequality.”

Barack Obama, June and October 2016: “The way I describe it is that, because of automation, because of globalization, we’re going to have to examine the social compact, the same way we did early in the 19th century and then again during and after the Great Depression. The notion of a 40-hour workweek, a minimum wage, child labor laws, etc. – those will have to be updated for these new realities. What is indisputable . . . is that as AI gets further incorporated, and the society potentially gets wealthier, the link between production and distribution, how much you work and how much you make, gets further and further attenuated . . . we’ll be debating unconditional free money over the next 10 or 20 years.”

Warren Buffett, January 2017: “you have to figure out how to distribute it . . . people who fall by the wayside through no fault of their own as the goose lays more golden eggs should still get a chance to participate in that prosperity, and that’s where government comes in.”

Bill Gates, January 2017: “A problem of excess [automation] forces us to look at the individuals affected and take those extra resources and make sure they’re directed to them in terms of re-education and income policies . . .” (Gates later suggested taxing robots.)”

Elon Musk, February, 2017: “I think we’ll end up doing universal basic income . . . It’s going to be necessary . . .There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better. I want to be clear. These are not things I wish will happen; these are things I think probably will happen.”

Mark Zuckerberg, May 2017: “We should explore . . . universal basic income so that everyone has a cushion to try new ideas.”

Nicole Sallak-Anderson, June 2017: “Creating a world where UBI is our foundation would go a lot further towards equality between the sexes, for in doing so we acknowledge that the work of the home is real, and we free women from the economic constraints that childrearing has come to bear upon us, much more than our male counterparts.”

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/the-freedom-dividend/

[elleng]

3. Thanks

[Sherman A1]

36. Certainly

[rpannier]

29. Thanks again for your posts

Good someone is there to keep us informed of what Mr Yang's positions are on issues.
I've watched the videos you've posted and the one's you've recommended
Thanks for your work

[Sherman A1]

35. My pleasure

Thank You Kindly

[myohmy2]

4. and...

...every Dem candidate should take up the offer...

...many might say that coal is obsolete, a thing of the past but the Union Mineworkers shouldn't be...

...if as a nation we decide to transition away from coal, how do we retrain and support our miners in the process?...what kind of programs will effectively retrain miners into greener jobs of the future?...how do we have greener jobs waiting for retrained miners as we give our miners first crack at those jobs?

...or do we want to continue supporting coal production in some greener way?...or whatever...let our candidates respond and answer the miner's questions and concerns...

...this is why trump won, he listened, he had no helpful intent or policy, but he listened...let's do trump one better, let's listen and develop industrial policies that will actually benefit our workers instead of only benefiting the greedy fuckers on wall street...40 years is enough...

...try it, we might actually win...

...no more excuses...

[Blue_true]

21. The candidates should visit.

The issue is that cleaner energy than coal is now available and will continue to be. On top of that, even in coal country, some mining companies are producing natural gas from ground that they used to dig for coal in, using far fewer people. Even the most advanced steel mills are using natural gas and advanced ceramics to do what coal slag used to do, and the ceramics can be reused a number of times.

Coal mining is dying and there is nothing that Trump can do for votes that will save it. Even if all air and land pollution regulations were relaxed, the fact is coal causes power and industrial plant parts replacements and cleaning maintenance cycles for production equipment that natural gas does not, that can be worth tens of millions of dollars of lost money per cycle, with 2-4 cycles per year. Business decisions are killing coal, and unless Trump grants future liability protection from health related lawsuits from dirty air and water, companies won't take the risk of using coal. Even if Trump waived future liability damages, a future president could just as easily reinstate them, leading to instant financial ruin for companies that bit on Trump's con.

I see a two pronged solution for coal country. First, we need a program to train young people for jobs that we currently outsource, jobs that can be performed from a remote location, second we work at taking advantage of some of the features of coal country that can't be matched anywhere else, the natural beauty, lots of underutilized real estate, ect to build a new local economy that is unique to that location, third we provide relocation assistance to the people that have marketable skills to move to more economically vibrant parts of the country.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. I understand that the miners are incredibly proud of the dangerous work they do...

but if coal is not going to survive in the world economy, it is time for a new gig....and you may just have to move on from your rural homes to where that job is. Maybe it is time to let it go.

[elleng]

6. and we have to HELP them (and their states) FIND those gigs and places,

NOT just mouth bologna.

[Thomas Hurt]

8. oh yes all for retraining programs, free college, apprenticeships in other trades.

[JI7]

25. they refuse any help that would move away from coal

[elleng]

26. 'they' who?

[JI7]

27. out of work coal miners

[elleng]

30. I doubt they will refuse any help when/if the reality is made clear,

along with plans for reasonable alternatives. NO CONs allowed.

[KitSileya]

34. They certainly rejected Sec. Clinton's proposals to help them.

If statistics and polls are to believed, they chose to vote for Trump's lies rather than Sec. Clinton's sincere and well-thought out plans to re-train and help them when coal shuts down completely.

Why should we believe the United Mine Workers of America is sincere in their invitation to the Democratic Party hopefuls when their members would rather vote for a racist sexual predator who promises them the moon than the Democratic nominee who showed them she had solutions for them?

[SMC22307]

48. They heard it before and they didn't trust her.

You may not understand why, but they didn't. I just learned down-thread that many are turning to all-important beekeeping. Good for them, and good for us.

[Skittles]

15. it's strange, they seem to have no problem telling others to "pull themselves up by the bootstraps"

[Blue_true]

22. Some of them, most of them, can't afford to move to other parts of the country or even their states.

They simply don't have the money, even if they have the skills.

Our companies outsource millions of jobs than can be done from a remote location. How about inducing those companies to source those jobs to coal country people that get trained to perform them. Coal country is beautiful country with a unique climate, why not look into whether we can't help build new industries there that can't be outsourced. Lastly, for people that have immediately transportable skills, help them move and get housing in areas that are economically vibrant and need their skills (this last one can be applied to other places that have skilled workers that an be moved to where jobs for them are).

[elleng]

31. Good thoughts.

[Mr.Bill]

7. I know one thing.

I'd rather see my grandchildren working in a solar panel factory than a coal mine.

[elleng]

9. Haven't they moved to china???

(I agree, my grandchildren.)

[Mr.Bill]

10. Many of them are in China.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

[elleng]

12. Of course not;

does have to be in 'businesses' interest to move here.

[Blue_true]

23. How do you not make it that way?

Solar panels have a high labor component, as long as that is the case, they will stay in China of cheaper places. If the production becomes fully automated, not many jobs will be created by brining in manufacturing back.

We need a jobs plan for coal country that takes advantage of unique features of that area that can be easily duplicated elsewhere, and we need to encourage companies to source jobs there that can be done remotely and are now going to India and other places.

[Mr.Bill]

24. The same way the government helps numerous industries.

With tax incentives and other financial aid. It's done with oil, agriculture, coal and any number of industries. Do more of these things with renewable energy.

[Blue_true]

41. The issue is the labor component.

Automation is slowly eliminating that. But automation means very few jobs will be created by bringing that industry back. The only reason to bring it back would be for national security, but a handful of rather small operations can satisfy that need.

[ooky]

11. Trump's coal plan isn't working for them?

Sounds like he needs to ramp up some more lies for them.

[elleng]

13. Which he will do. WE have to counter with some REALITY, and QUICK.

[ooky]

14. Perhaps reality is setting in for them. I hope.

No doubt we need to jump on the invite. As soon as he sees this he will be scheduling some quick magat rallies in WV and Ky.

[elleng]

16. Yes he will.

I wish I had confidence that we could jump in credibly too. Senator Sanders did a pretty good job in WV 'last time around,' as I recall.

[Wellstone ruled]

17. Appears what is scaring the

heck out of the Miners is the fact that Coal in dead and they see their futures pretty darn bleak. No jobs,no health care,and no hope of any retraining programs.

Many are seeing the real effects first hand in Eastern Kentucky,Opioid Addiction the norm for out of work Miners and their Families. Plus the highest poverty rate in the nation.

[elleng]

18. Right.

Real, serious problems. Any among us able to propose fixes?

[Wellstone ruled]

19. Here is something that smacks

reality in the face. You can only retrain just so many to be Computer Coders. That seems to be the Politicians new go to job recommendation. Now what? Yes we need Electricians,Plumbers and other tradesman,but,who the hell can afford the freight for the training,most of the training is now Privatized and if your 50+,you just do not take on that load of crap.

Watched hundreds of late forties and early fifties folks get caught up in that nightmare with maybe a handful actually getting gainful employment while hundreds of others with the same skill set being kicked to the curb. Retraining hundreds for a few jobs does not work,it only placates the Political Class.

[elleng]

20. ;-(

[RockRaven]

28. If they were open to being re-trained to install solar panels* then sure they've got a future...

but we were inundated with stories/think-pieces about coal workers who rejected re-training programs/new jobs/different industries during the last election...

And yet coal is going to die -- not because it's dirty, not because it's clean, just because its... f-ing more expensive than other energy sources.

*[yeah, I know solar panels are not a panacea; that's not the point, it's just an example]

[elleng]

32. 'Stories.'

hrc told them (maybe misspoke?) jobs were gone, while Senator Sanders seemed to give them hope.

[Wellstone ruled]

33. Read the same stories.

Fully understand the Group Think that takes over when there are massive Job disruptions. As a shop Steward and Board Member of my Local,well,held lots of hands until we finally found jobs for our 250 members when we had a Midnight Bankruptcy hit our Company. It took the best part of two years to fill the bill,but we made it happen. Do remember only a couple needing the Vocational School due to their special physical needs. And living in a progressive Blue State these folks ended up in super shape.

Again,that was thirty years ago.

[Peacetrain]

37. The candidate that realizes the miners of Appalachia, are not only workers in the guts of a mine

but are people with a unique culture..I can give you a history of how they were and have been abused by mine companies, stealing mineral rights from people.. but they have adopted the miner as their identity over the years.. they have developed a culture and they are proud of what they have accomplished . so the candidate who can address the mountain people with compassion .. will get their full support.. people know the coal years are over.. they just do not want to be talked down to as if they are stupid.. I did not support Bernie Sanders last time.. but he did not talk down to them.. so kudos to Sen Sanders on that

[elleng]

38. Thanks, Peace.

I recall an excellent segment on WV by Anthony Bourdain, went into the cultural aspects of the area.

[IronLionZion]

39. Every little town needs plumbers, electricians, welders, etc.

There are jobs out there for people who want to work with their hands if they aren't interested in tech or health care.

There are around 50,000 coal miners in America. We can get these people retrained in other jobs in their own communities if they don't want to move. There is no need to prop up a dying industry that can't compete with renewables or natural gas just to save these jobs.

Retail workers are in the millions. And they are totally screwed.

[elleng]

40. Out-Of-Work Appalachian Coal Miners Retrained As Beekeepers FEBRUARY 26, 2019 AT 6:14 PM

'The declining coal industry has left nearly 100,000 former miners unemployed in West Virginia.

But a new nonprofit called the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective hopes to bring a new, more eco-friendly industry to the region: beekeeping.

The charity was founded with funds from a $7.5 million settlement from a lawsuit against coal mine company for violating the Clean Water Act.

The money has been used to fund environmental restoration projects and to develop sustainable economic opportunities in the once-thriving region that now has the highest unemployment rate in the country.

So far, the collective has trained 35 former coal miners as beekeepers, and will train 50 more in a few weeks.'>>>

https://returntonow.net/2019/02/26/out-of-work-appalachian-coal-miners-retrained-as-beekeepers/?

[SMC22307]

42. I cannot rec this post enough.

I had never heard of that program!

[Peacetrain]

43. one third of our entire food production in the United States is dependent on bees

for the crops to develop.. Its a very good thing

[SMC22307]

46. There's been so much distressing environmental news lately...

I gotta say this is making me do a little jump for joy.

https://vimeo.com/285560780

[elleng]

44. THanks. Ditto

[SMC22307]

45. Lovely promo video about the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective...

https://vimeo.com/285560780

[elleng]

47. Thanks