The first independent study of the disaster that killed 29 miners in West Virginia- a 113-page report produced by an independent team of investigators appointed by former West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin and led by Davitt McAteer, a former federal mine safety chief who has investigated other mine disasters in the state- found that the explosion was the direct result of safety failings by Massey Energy. It also notes the disaster could have been prevented by following basic safety procedures.
The report also faulted the government for a lack of supervision and general laxity in pursuing enforcement of safety violations. Massey had been cited numerous times for assorted safety violations, but evidence suggested the company continued to put profits before safety.
The official reaction from Massey was, "Who, me?"
"The thing that is most disturbing in the press is the idea that we as Appalachianers or as coal miners or as company executives don't really value life," said former CEO Don Blankenship at the National Press Club last year. "We certainly would never put profits over safety, and no one would want the experience of informing 29 families that they'd lost their loved ones."
Sure. Violations included antiquated safety equipment, ineffective safety reporting techniques and repeated instances of ignored warnings by miners. The report was unsparing in its denunciation of the company and its culture of profit over human life.
So what is the reaction of the Tea Party and its allies of less regulation and more of that good old free market? I don't know because I haven't heard anybody ask the question. Come to think about it, I haven't heard a lot of questions I'd like answers to:
1. Do you think less government regulation would provide a better environment?
2. Should the government continue its air traffic controller program or should it be privatized?
3. What controls should be levied on food and drug inspections or should they be abolished?
4. Who should be responsible for corporate misbehavior? If there is no government regulation, on what should an ordinary citizen depend?
These and other questions have to be answered before we're asked to vote for any candidate who calls for less government, lower taxes (for whom?) or more power for multinational corporations. The Republicans have already stated their support for continuing tax breaks to banks, oil companies, big pharma and multinational corporations that avoid U.S. taxes by moving corporate offices abroad. What other goodies do they have in mind? Amnesty for Massey Energy?