Why Rescue Utah Miners?

Critical Mass ^ | 8-20-07 | Jonathan Krive

[JKrive]

This past week, America has watched in anticipation as workers attempt to rescue six trapped miners in a Utah coal mine. Daily news conferences and minute updates have kept us on the edge of our seats, anxious for any sign that the trapped miners are alive. Murray Energy and the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration have deployed over 130 miners to dig into the mine. Without hesitation or question, local mining companies have devoted much of their resources to this rescue mission. No one ever stopped to consider the bottom line.

For a moment allow me to be blunt, and compose a train of thought completely antithetical to what I truly believe. Yes, we are talking about the lives of six people. But, in comparison, approximately 120 people die each day in a car accident. And over 1500 people die each day because of cancer. Are six people really that important?

In fact, considering how many people die each year, to devote the work hours of 130 miners to rescuing six people who might even be dead is almost absurd. We don’t even know if these miners are still alive.

This diversion from the normal course of work will cost the company millions of dollars, both in pay for the rescue miners and in lost production time. The rescue team has drilled several holes to give air to the possibly dead crew, holes which are useless for almost any other purpose. In the larger scheme of things, isn’t this a tremendous waste of time and money?

Of course, the answer is no. America has a gut reaction to reach out to the families of the trapped miners, to devote every resource available to reaching the trapped crew as quickly as possible, even if they are not alive.

[JKrive]

Please feel free to leave comments on my blog as well.

[stylin19a]

I hope others read the whole article,
otherwise...be prepared.

[ozzymandus]

The people who just read the headlines are going to explode.