The largest mining disaster in the last quarter century doesn't have to be a downer.
Massey Energy on Monday drew an upgrade to buy from hold at S&P Equity Research... "We believe that the financial impact of the Upper Big Branch mine tragedy to Massey Energy will be immaterial"
Notice that "hold" was as bad as it got for Massey. Sure, a few people died, but the profits look great.
If you're expecting bad operators to clean up their act, it won't happen through the marketplace. But hey, I'm sure David Brooks will tell you that if those miners were simply hard working, they'd have been rich mine owners instead of the guys at the other end of the shaft.