The news stations should shut up on the whole mining issue when it comes to safety violations

Watching the news the last day we keep hearing about all the violations over the last few years from the company that owns the mine, followed by things like "It was bound to happen", etc.

You idiots have 24 hour news stations and if you had spent a few minutes on real news instead of Tiger Woods, et al, maybe one of your 'reporters' would have investigated this company (and others) a long time ago and people would have been aware.

Now watch the politicians and others come out of the wood work to fix this problem that 'no one knew about'.

And what do congress critters have to do all day? They have a staff, don't those people look into things - especially things like this when there were violations issued by the government?

between Bush Admin 'regulators' and the mine owners.

gossip.

relentlessly reporting the Massey Mine was getting fines
over and over. Emphasis ng the number of fines. Why
the mine was unsafe???? This tragedy may have been avoided.

issues.

following a mining "accident" Congress did enact a tougher regime of inspections. The scumbags that own the mines immediately started a process where they appealed damned near every violation. The way the idiots crafted the legislation there can be no penalties levied while the violations are being appealed.

Pretty smart move on the part of the mine owners. These assholes know it's a lot cheaper to train new high school dropouts to mine than fix violations and pay fines.

Until Congress actually puts some teeth into the inspection system, such as shutting down mines automatically after a certain number of violations or failure to fix an already levied violation this will not change. Pricks like the asshole that owns Massey don't give a shit about anything except the bottom line. If he lost any sleep over the last couple of nights I'll guarantee you it was due to worry over harsher inspections, not the loss of his employees.