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question everything

(47,479 posts)
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 04:27 PM Apr 2017

Coal miners may lose their health insurance

For decades, being a coal miner has come with a deal: Work in dangerous, unpleasant conditions for years, and in exchange, get lifelong health-care benefits and a decent pension. Now, though, part of that deal is jeopardy, as the funds that provide those benefits have dwindled.

When Congress returns next week, legislators will be under intense pressure to fund health-care benefits and pension plans for coal miners that are otherwise set to expire at the end of April. The United Mine Workers Association is urging Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act, which would use money from a fund dedicated to cleaning up abandoned mines to instead shore up former mine workers’ health care and pension plans, which have been decimated as coal companies have filed for bankruptcy and stopped contributing to health-care and pension funds. America has a “moral commitment” to the nation’s retired miners, UMWA president Cecil E. Roberts wrote in a statement last month.

https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/04/miners-pensions/523980/

There was also a story on PBS, profiling former miners with black lungs

Some 22,000 retired union miners and their widows will lose their health care if Congress doesn’t act. Many have chronic lung diseases. Their union benefit health plan supports clinics like this in Southern West Virginia and helps them pay their medical costs.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/coal-miners-much-needed-health-care-collides-budget-showdown/

====

And I can't help it: with all the health problems of mining coals, why would we want to help the ones who want to go back, who voted for the T, and who, of course, expect us to treat them once they do acquire black lungs and cancer? A recent story showed some who say: I like being a coal miner. Fine, go ahead, but don't expect the rest of us to provide for you and for your family.

I am getting tired of all the deploreables who still cheer T even when their "benefits" like meals on wheels get cut.




23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Coal miners may lose their health insurance (Original Post) question everything Apr 2017 OP
Sorry ProudLib72 Apr 2017 #1
"Thanks for your votes. GWC58 Apr 2017 #16
Meh, either way is fine with me, nt geek tragedy Apr 2017 #2
They voted for the party who despises health care so they might get their wish. LonePirate Apr 2017 #3
I feel like a broken record... nycbos Apr 2017 #4
You get what you vote for you stupid mofo's. Doreen Apr 2017 #5
So agree, Wellstone ruled Apr 2017 #14
Coal miners may lose their health insurance. LenaBaby61 Apr 2017 #6
Just part of making America great again left-of-center2012 Apr 2017 #7
Big deal... physioex Apr 2017 #8
Yes, big deal. They may have caused Hillary losing PA (nt) question everything Apr 2017 #9
Loose your insurance Runningdawg Apr 2017 #10
LOSE! "Loose" is pronounced like "moose" and "goose"! WinkyDink Apr 2017 #18
22,000 retired union minors standingtall Apr 2017 #11
I think teachers, waitresses, mechanics and everyone else in the country should have guaranteed Vinca Apr 2017 #12
Seems like a good time to hold some political rallies gratuitous Apr 2017 #13
That's a shame. BlueStater Apr 2017 #15
He was right... eleny Apr 2017 #17
Sealing America's Fate, again............. n/t DFW Apr 2017 #19
How about we stop sending people into the coal mines altogether? lindysalsagal Apr 2017 #20
Well, yes. This is what Hillary said and was pilloried by the T question everything Apr 2017 #22
and a whole bunch of other folks are in that boat too.... dembotoz Apr 2017 #21
My Dad died from black lung, yortsed snacilbuper Apr 2017 #23

GWC58

(2,678 posts)
16. "Thanks for your votes.
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:55 PM
Apr 2017

Now fuck you, fuck off and just die already!" If Trump didn't say this I'm pretty sure he thought it. Oh sure, I have sympathy. Not for these fools, though! Had a chance to vote for someone who'd have been a fighter for you. You voted against your own best interests. My sympathy is for all of those, us, that voted not for Trump but instead voted for the capable, completely competent candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton!

LonePirate

(13,424 posts)
3. They voted for the party who despises health care so they might get their wish.
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 04:36 PM
Apr 2017

That should make them happy, shouldn't it?

nycbos

(6,034 posts)
4. I feel like a broken record...
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 04:36 PM
Apr 2017

... but to paraphrase Airplane! "They voted for Trump they knew what they were getting into. I say let em crash"


Doreen

(11,686 posts)
5. You get what you vote for you stupid mofo's.
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 04:38 PM
Apr 2017

NO, YOU SHITHEADS, IT IS NOT OBAMA'S FAULT!!! It is YOUR fault. I am so glad you are going to suffer what you voted in for me and others.

 

Wellstone ruled

(34,661 posts)
14. So agree,
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:47 PM
Apr 2017

they cast their Votes and as long as it was a Authoritarian White Male,they were all in for that.

Ignorance is Bliss!


There are probably millions of retirees that had their Pensions wiped out in Bankruptcy Courts and never replaced by Congress. If you were lucky,Pension Guarantee Board picked it up at maybe 10%.

Runningdawg

(4,516 posts)
10. Loose your insurance
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:04 PM
Apr 2017

loose your access to opioids. Imagine a nation of addicts all going cold turkey at one time. Imagine every police dept and hospital trying to deal with that. It's going to get ugly.

standingtall

(2,785 posts)
11. 22,000 retired union minors
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:25 PM
Apr 2017

Who seriously thinks everyone of them voted for Trump? A large group of miners losing their healthcare that covers black lung disease casting their votes for the very same people that once paid doctors to tell them black lung disease didn't exist. I get the anger,but no one should be celebrating them losing their health insurance.

Vinca

(50,271 posts)
12. I think teachers, waitresses, mechanics and everyone else in the country should have guaranteed
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:41 PM
Apr 2017

health care, too. You make choices in life and coal miners apparently made 2 bad ones: being coal miners and voting for Trump.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
13. Seems like a good time to hold some political rallies
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:46 PM
Apr 2017

As Samuel Johnson once noted, "The prospect of being hanged focuses the mind wonderfully." I wonder if any miners (active or retired) might be receptive to a little counter-campaigning? Send a Democratic star into mining country for a little rally, talk directly to people about how the Affordable Care Act could be helping them, as well as mentioning which party has a better record of supporting unions and working people. Chat with the local stations and newspapers and give them some content without the Fox news filter.

We don't have to win every last vote to carry a state; a swing of 3-5% is enough in a lot of them.

BlueStater

(7,596 posts)
15. That's a shame.
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 05:52 PM
Apr 2017

Maybe they should have used the brains they have in their heads instead of just mindlessly believing a con man's bullshit.

lindysalsagal

(20,686 posts)
20. How about we stop sending people into the coal mines altogether?
Wed Apr 26, 2017, 06:41 PM
Apr 2017

We never figure in the cost of medical assistance when we think we're getting a good deal on using coal to keep the lights on.

The fact that the mines are even open makes us all culpable. Instead of closing the borders, close the mines, and start building clean energy industries.

Oh, yeah: And take care of the people who got sick so we could watch Faux snooze and porn.

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