Awake

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid

Just wanted to pass along a tidbit from yesterday's Economic Reporting Review (Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research)...

Friends in the White House Come to Coal's Aid
(Christopher Drew and Richard A. Oppel Jr. New York Times, August 9, 2004, Page A1)

This article reports on the close ties between Bush administration officials and the coal industry. The Bush administration has supported the coal industry on a variety of environmental and health and safety issues.

This article reminded me of how important it is to have leaders (and followers) that have integrity and how destructive the consequences are when this is not the case. It also reminded me a myth I used to believe in which it does not matter what one president does or doesn't do because somewhere down the line a policy or legislation will come along that reverses or fixes the harms of "X" policy or legislation. I think I thought this because of (mis)interpreting Schelsinger's cycles of American history that I read about in high school which left me with the (false) impression that everything will eventually balance out (in the political and policymaking realm) and I needn't worry about one man's position because another man will come along with a polar opposite viewpoint and subsequent policy or legislative proposal. This is a falsehood. There are real harms being done. Real people being killed. Real injustices being committed. Real air, water, and soil being poisoned. This article says that:

Although pollutants from coal are among the biggest contributors to acid rain and global warming, coal is also plentiful and secure, with domestic reserves that could last for 230 years.

What is 230 years? How long does it take for a hill from the Appalachians to regain its former glory and beauty? How long does it take for water to be drinkable again? I actually don't know if any amount of time can repair these things. But I am realizing one thing: in 4 years, a White House administration can do damage to people and the Earth that can never be reversed, repaired, recinded.

I am only thankful that there is one King who has compassion on those who are oppressed and mistreated and who has declared authoritatively a reality in which justice and accountability will be reckoned with and the consequences of that reckoning cannot be illuded, avoided, paid off, talked through, compromised or mitigated due to good behavior.

The catch is, this work of justice and accountability has been delegated to we kings and queens as well. We must not falter in our responsibility to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

Alright, I'm stepping slowly and deliberately off the soap box. ;-)

Happy moral outraging.