Appalachian politicos never really cared about the miners. The proof? Name one who ever complained about the investments in mining productivity. Longwall mining, mountaintop removal all slashed labor requirements/mined ton.
https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/1449385953563381767
To be clear, rising labor productivity is good to the extent it allows us to create more wealth per labor hour (and subject to making sure that wealth is shared). But you can't celebrate rising productivity in the coal sector and lament it in the larger energy sector.
Coal is a uniquely labor-intensive fuel. The industry has worked hard to cut their labor needs, first through automation, then through bankrupting miner's pensions. But all pushes to lower cost, less labor-intensive energy eventually squeeze out coal as a fuel.
Politicians who advocate for the interests of coal mine *owners* have always used miners as props in their photo ops. But their actions belie their pretty words. Watch their feet, not their lips. /fin
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