Jobs vs. Health

By: Richard Campi

Clean coal is a misnomer. All coal production is DIRTY and bad for everyone’s health. This is an absolute fact. Yes, newer technology is more efficient and cleaner, but remains very, very dirty and unhealthy as it is mined and burned.
Appalachia, especially West Virginia has the lowest life expectancy in the United States and it has the worst air quality in the U.S. (Indiana is #2 worst.) Although many other factors are involved, coal is most responsible.
What is the trade off? Logically we should consider clean air. Renewable energy, such as wind, solar, algae, etc. are directions that will energize our personal health along with the health of the planet earth.

We all have to die of something sometime anyway. We have all heard or express this lame-brained rationale…especially from addicts. Education seems to be a foul four letter word to many. Work for your good health, exercise, eat better foods, and think for the day after tomorrow. You have all heard this also before. It’s too much trouble to exercise, stop smoking, resist gambling (waste of logical mental health), be a good neighbor, including sharing in keeping the surroundings clean and orderly. These and many other aspects of life are choices in the way we live. The choice of a profession or the jobs we take impact the style of our living and should benefit the environment. Breathing clean air is paramount to having “a sound mind in a sound body”. Those of you that read and think this through are more likely to be in the chorus of like-minds. Those of you that do not read probably cannot make better choices any way. Are you one that chooses making money over striving for good health for yourself and others? Referring back to a “sound mind” and “resisting gambling,” the only time I’ve succumbed to crap shooting is when I’ve had food poisoning!