Posted on 07/26/2011 11:32:26 PM PDT by STARWISE
Complete title:
Right Out of Atlas Shrugged’: Hear an Exasperated Alabama Businessman Tell the Feds – ‘I’m Just Quitting’
***
Leaning against a wall during a recent Birmingham, Alabama, public hearing, Bryant listened to an overflow crowd pepper federal officials with concerns about businesses polluting the drinking water and causing cases of cancer.
After two hours, Bryant—a coal mine owner from Jasper—had heard enough and, in a moment being described as “right out of Atlas Shrugged,” took his turn at the microphone:
(note from audio site: For readers of my website, this is the audio of Ronnie Bryant at a public meeting in Birmingham on July 20, 2011. The recording was made on my iPad just to have a record of correct quotes, so the audio quality is poor since it wasn't intended for broadcast purposes.)
Transcript:
Nearly every day without fail…men stream to these [mining] operations looking for work in Walker County. They can’t pay their mortgage.
They can’t pay their car note. They can’t feed their families. They don’t have health insurance. And as I stand here today, I just…you know…what’s the use?
I got a permit to open up an underground coal mine that would employ probably 125 people. They’d be paid wages from $50,000 to $150,000 a year. We would consume probably $50 million to $60 million in consumables a year, putting more men to work.
And my only idea today is to go home. What’s the use? I see these guys—I see them with tears in their eyes—looking for work. And if there’s so much opposition to these guys making a living, I feel like there’s no need in me putting out the effort to provide work for them.
So…basically what I’ve decided is not to open the mine. I’m just quitting. Thank you.”
The Blaze contacted Bryant, and he remains as resolute as he was at last week’s public hearing. To him, it’s just not worth the time, money, and regulatory hassle to open up a new mine—even one located in a remote area with less environmental impact.
Agree. The comments on that story are worth reading. I am not a businessman but I would not bother either. When over half your labor goes to feed or satisfy the government it can’t be worth it. Corporate America is winning.... they already employ lawyers, accountants, and politicians to maintain compliance. The little guy who does it themselves does not stand a chance in today’s environment.
i shuttered my 12 year old florida software company about 18 months ago
i won’t open it again... in the US
they don’t want it, they won’t get it. hell if i’ll ‘give’ (under threat of violence) 50% of my labor/time so they can have luxury retirement packages
the $210k/yr retired california lifeguard just frosted it for me. hell, my godfather was ‘only’ getting $80k/yr after serving 26 years in the USAF. a retired one-star former asst joint chief, nato cmdr in europe, multi decorations, fighter pilot... MThatcher even gave him a jag for everything he did (which was promptly given to the ‘gifts’ dept i believe). $80k/yr. wtf
he should’ve been a life guard... (/sarc)
Thats OK Mr Ronnie Bryant of Alabama.
I understand why you gave up on opening that mine. If the EPA didnt get you from one angle, Obama’s proposed higher taxes (becasue you are a evil rich man)will nail you from another angle. /s
Major slaps of reality like this need to be told. The truth needs to get out there.
They voted for Obama.
Change is starting to hurt.
“They voted for Obama.
Change is starting to hurt.”
If they voted for obastard, I hope the change hurts. A LOT. And it WILL!!!
This is necessary to fundamentally transform America.
I quit a year and a half ago. I am no longer a producer.
I am now a burden on the ever inflating government budget.
I am sitting on the sideline waiting for the time when I can again be a productive citizen of a great country, but till then I have nothing productive to offer.
Francisco?
Roots
Image if all the power companies and coal mines decided to just shut down one day next week and stay closed. That would be the end of the Democrats and Obama.
The way the EPA is going to shut down old nuclear power plants and coal-fed energy plants, and mines, if we have another heat-wave like this, thousands of older and ill people are going to die.
Let’s start to put the blame directly on Obama and his leftist shithole the EPA.
It’s not like most small business is profitable. After wages, product, fixed costs, taxes and satisfying government regs there usually is not enough money to pay the owner minimum wage. Why do it indeed.
Read the thread. This is reality. This is being repeated across the country. Each event a small number and therefore isn’t deemed news worthy but in sum this is a big, big deal.
Death by a thousand cuts. Our primary economic problems are from within.
Same here. I couldn't stand the thought that the tax paid on my productivity was being used to destroy the very way of life our fellow countrymen fought and died for.
Quietly accumulating ideas and hoping to join the restoration of America but also hunkered down for a rough period I see on the horizon.
Nearly every day without fail...men stream to these [mining] operations looking for work in Walker County. They can't pay their mortgage.I hope this doesn't go viral, because then we can all still blame everything on the "RINOS".
They can't pay their car note. They can't feed their families. They don't have health insurance. And as I stand here today, I just...you know...what's the use?
I got a permit to open up an underground coal mine that would employ probably 125 people. They'd be paid wages from $50,000 to $150,000 a year. We would consume probably $50 million to $60 million in consumables a year, putting more men to work.
And my only idea today is to go home. What's the use? I see these guys--I see them with tears in their eyes--looking for work. And if there's so much opposition to these guys making a living, I feel like there's no need in me putting out the effort to provide work for them.
Madness. Rebellion is truly in the air.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And Obama is ready for it, counting on it. He will slap down any rebellion, so it will not be an easy one.
I want one.
At the same time, in my neck of the woods, the Bronze Horde’s underground economy grows by leaps & bounds, with little regulation at all. Restaurants with illegal workers/no signs in English, barbershops with no licenses displayed as per the law, anything is being done to keep their businesses open to prevent northern NJ from becoming the commercial ghost town it would be without a massive influx of illegal aliens.
Conditioning is still the most powerful shaper of minds. A million would-be Erin Brockoviches have nothing better to do than show up and spout Sierra Club nonsense.
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