The death of coal miners in West Virginia has everyone asking the man in charge, Don Blankenship (CEO of Massey Energy), why the lives of workers aren’t even worth meeting regulatory safety precautions.

Massey Energy has been cited for over 600 violations in less than 18 months for this particular mine.  Paying almost a million dollars in fines because of it.  These lapses include proper ventilation of the methane which most likely caused the blast that took the lives of twenty-five hard working Americans this week.

This isnt’ the first time.  In 2006, at one of their other mines, two miners died.  ”Wrongful death” cost Massey Energy over $4 million in damages.  That makes much more sense than investing in safety and people.  But hey, they make big profits…that’s all that matters.  Productivity is up, profits are up, and backs are broken by the class several rungs down from those enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Capitalism continues to evolve to new levels of disconcern and emotionless action.  Certain classes are just a wage to those who use the hard work of their subservients  to raise their class.  I bust my ass, but you get all the kudos and reep all the benefit.  It’s a sad reality that has existed since the dawn of the industrial revolution.

What is even sadder is in this town, where mining is essential to the residents’ vitality, people fear speaking out against this coal mining giant.  Despite Blankenship’s unscrupulous ways,  the folks that rely on whatever scraps are thrown their way are too afraid to speak their mind openly.

Blankenship gets to continue to tell his story.  The coal miners lost to the catastrophe of greed will never get to tell theirs.