Michael Fiumano
Government 351
Summer 2020
Dr, Douthard Butler
First Writing Assignment
Introduction:
In order to discuss the necessity for government and examine what its role in society should be, it serves
us well to look at cases where government involvement can improve society. To that end we have read about
four coal mine disasters that have occurred in the United States over the past 75 years. Each case demonstrates
why humans need to set up .governments that reflect the values of their communities.
Case Studies Common Threads:
First though we want to see how in our society, government is expected to function by looking at the
common threads we see in each of the case studies of these coal mine disasters.
All four of these events resulted in tragic and unnecessary loss of life. How these terrible accidents occurred is
hotly debated by all parties involved. Owners tend to view these as accidents that could not be prevented.
Workers and their representatives view them as evidence of owners’ maleficence and government lack interest.
However, in all four of these cases the government acted as the arbiter of what should be done. Let’s look at
those in greater detail in
the table below:
Name, Date,
Location and
Nature of the
Event
Owners their
Views, Positions
and Causes of the
Event.
Workers and their
Representatives Views,
Positions and causes of
the Event
Actions Taken by Governmental
Entities and the Role of the
Government under these
Conditions.
Sago Mine
Disaster 1/2/2006
West Virginia:
Billionaire Wilber
Ross and the
International Coal
Group (ICG) are
the owners.
The Union of Mine
Workers (UMWA)
blamed the owners and
the Mine Safety Agency
(MHSA) not mandating
certain safety measures
such as rescue chambers,
enhanced two- way
communications
underground and not
Agencies involved in investigating
the disaster included state and
federal agencies such as the office
of the Governor of West Virginia,
The US Congress, The US
Department of Labor.
Explosion and
collapse of a coal
mine trapping 13
miners of which
only one
survived. A
The owners
identified the
cause as lightning
that ignited
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Congressional . wanted to conduct
hearings but the Republican led
Congress said that they would
rescue attempt
was delayed 12
hours because of
high CO and
methane levels in
the mine.
methane at the
Entrance of the
mine.
requiring tracking
devices to locate trapped
miners. They agreed that
the owners explanation
of a lightning strike
might have occurred but
they contended that the
cause of the miners’
deaths was the mine
owners lack of adherence
to safety rules, ignoring
Congressional mandates
for brick bulkhead seals
at the entrance of the
mine allowing instead the
use of cheaper foam
blocks.
Other contributing
factors according to
workers and their
representatives were lack
of responsibility and lack
of follow up by MSHA
even after it issued 168
safety citations from
April 2005 to December
2005 of which 91 were
considered to be serious
and substantial.
However, the owners
pointed out that all but
eight of the infractions in
question had been
corrected at the time of
the disaster.
Bingham Canyon
Mine disaster on
8/8/2008 in Utah.
This event
occurred two
years after the
Sago disaster.
The mine caved
in trapping and
killing 46 miners
The owners were
the Rio Tinto
Group and Mr.
Robert Murray a
prominent and
powerful donor to
the Republican
party. Robert
Murray appeared
at a press
conference after
the accident to
vent about media
prefer to wait for the MSHA
report.
One sticking point was the
owners’ refusal to allow the union
to participate in the investigation
and the presentation of findings to
the families.
The government acted as
mediator of the dispute between
management and the union and
eventually allowed union
participation.
The government acted as
regulator following the accident
by passing state and federal
legislation requiring improved
emergency response and
underground communication
systems as well as better safety
equipment
The workers’ complaints
are discussed in an article
by the World Socialist
Website. They contended
that the owners disregard
for their workers safety
was the root cause of the
miners’ deaths.
The Department of Labor agreed
that MSHA was partly responsible
because it did not function as the
enforcer of worker safety that had
been envisioned at its creation.
Instead it became an arm of the
industry rather than as a
government watch dog.
Indeed prior to the
accident this relatively
small mine had received
325 MSHA citations for
In this instance the Department of
Labor acted as enforcer and as the
arbiter of good practices and thus
as protector of worker’s rights.
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reports that the
cave in was caused
by dangerous
mining practices.
At that press
conference he
appeared with the
MSHA
Representative at
his side. He argued
that the mine
collapse was part
of a natural
seismic even and
was not the result
of any actions
taken by the mine
owners.
Centralia Mine
Disaster
3/25/1947
Centralia. Il
111 of the 142
miners in the
mine that day
died as a result of
an explosion.
safety violations from
2004 to 2008.
The workers however
were not impressed by
MSHA because they
viewed their presence
alongside Mr. Murray at
the press briefing as
proof of collusion
between the US
government and the
mining industry. At the
time though MSHA said
that they had not made
any determination as to
the cause of the collapse.
The website also pointed
out that the federal
government put an
industry leader in charge
of MSHA resulting in a
case of “wolf guarding
the hen house.” The
website also complained
that this allowed the
MSHA to change the
rules of the game to give
preference to owners
over workers.
Owner was
Prior to the explosion the
Centralia Coal
UMWA filed 52 charges
Company. Despite against the mine
numerous
operator. The State
inspection reports mining board did not take
that the mine had a any action to uphold the
dangerous amount unions charges.
of coal dust that
could cause an
explosion, no
action was taken to
force the owner to
clean up its act nor
did the owner take
any independent
action to save its
employees from
certain disaster.
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This is more of a case of
government not taking on its role
as protector of people’s safety.
Instead of following through on
the many complaints and negative
safety inspection, at all levels the
message was passed on to
someone else and no one saw to it
that there was appropriate follow
up.
Upper Big Branch
Mine, W VA
4/5/2010
explosion killed
29 miners. MSHA
said that the mine
had too much coal
dust and operators
were not in
compliance with
safety guidelines.
For example,
MSHA found
problems with a
type of tool used
in the mining
operation saying
that it had worn
out parts and
safety sprays near
the tool were not
working. When it
came into contact
with coal dust it
ignited it,
resulting in an
explosion.
Owner Massey
Energy denied
there were
problems with the
tools or the spray
and instead
claimed that the
explosion was
caused by the
miners ‘improper
use of the tools.
Workers and their
representatives believed
the MSHA version was
the cause of the
explosion.
Government agencies took the side
of the miners and soon rules were
put in place to protect them from
coal dust and more stringent
requirements were placed on
operators to clean up coal dust
which acts as an accelerant in a
fire and represents a serious
danger to the lives of the miners.
So, we can see that these incidents involved various predictable patterns from the owners, workers and
various government agencies. It is difficult to measure the results of government inactions since we cannot
predict accidents that have not occurred because of action. We can however tell when government action not
taken resulted in a disaster such as the Centralia mine explosion of 1947. Clearly when government works and
responds to people’s needs, it causes positive effects and when it does not respond properly, it causes negative
effects. It is also easy to see how competing government priorities can stymie progress. When considering coal
safety for example, the government must balance the needs of workers and the need to encourage economic
growth. Similarly, it must consider environmental concerns vs. the concerns of mine owners and operators who
want to ply their trade. Good governance looks at all situations from many sides and makes the best decision
possible. How that balance is reached depends in large part on the voters who ultimately decide who will
represent their interest best.
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The Necessity and Purpose of our Government
With respect to the political philosophy expressed by Mr. Benson on the role of government, I agree that
a government is necessary to protect the country from outside dangers and to promote the values enshrined in
the constitution. I don’t necessarily agree with all of his arguments such as his insistence that our government
must be God abiding (whose God?) or that the right expressed in the 2nd amendment is not open to
interpretation, nor am I a virulent anti socialist but I do see that he has immense respect for our constitution and
system of law. I too am a big admirer of Montesquieu’s view that power resides with the governed and I am a
huge admirer of our founding fathers’ determination to establish a government of the people and for the people.
Our constitutional framework has served us well and I hope it will continue to do so.
Our Kind of Community:
The United States is a liberal, pluralistic community as described by Pericles and discussed by
Aristotle in Ancient Greece. American citizens for the most part respect the ideas held in the Constitution of the
United States. We value the historical documents and words of our founding fathers and view our nation as one
that is good and moral. We view our country as exceptional but not perfect and we strive to perfect it through
time. Although we may fall short of our ideals, we recognize the importance of our laws and institution.
For the most part are we accepting of pluralistic points of view. We also want our leaders to reflect our
values including religious beliefs though we very much value individual spiritual paths that maybe different
from own. Above all we revere the rule of law and fiercely defend our political positions, sometimes in a far
too partisan way. As a nation we have struggled to maintain our pluralistic society and at times have failed.
However, through these struggles we have observed that our country continuously renews itself even as it
maintains a strong tie to the Constitution. It is reassuring to know that we have a system that has traditionally
self- corrected in difficult times. I see we are going through such hardships now and though I, like many others
am impatient for results and improvements, I am thankful our administrators carry out the corrective actions
called for by politicians who in turn are responding to the directions of their constituents also known as “The
Governed” who consent to the actions of those who actually govern.
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In terms of human nature, we recognize that “man is a political animal”. This is reflected in the
fierceness with which we assert our rights and we compete for the attention of those who lead us. As a people
we very much value our family structures and fight to have them protected and to have ever expanding
definitions of what constitutes a family. The humans who inhabit the United States seek to attain material
comfort and we admire those who attain it without resorting to inherited wealth but through hard and honest
work. Those of us who rise through our efforts are often viewed as natural leaders who are destined to rule
because they are good and moral. Though we at times reluctantly participate in civic life, we do so whenever we
feel that our way of life is in danger or needs to take on governmental task in a different and possibly better
way. We voice our dissatisfaction with government through our voting process and although we admire our
system of government, we are far more likely to take a stance when we are not happy with our leaders or the
direction of the country. Sometimes, we appear to be spoiled and unappreciative but have acted nobly when
need be. We see these aspects of our national personality now as we struggle to define citizenship and ask for
leaders who speak to our better nature.
One aspect of our society that expresses itself often to our detriment is our need for ever more material
wealth and our desire to gain more property which we and expect the government to protect and not take from
us. That many Americans view as one of the governments most important duties is a telling indicator of our
priorities. Now however, our economic well being has to give way to our need for safety and so we ask our
government administrators to carry on protecting our lives, supporting those among us who need assistance,
maintain and ensure the supply of essential resources such as protective equipment, medicine and foods. While
they are doing this, we also hope they protect the environment encourage scientific progress (vaccines anyone?)
and even promote steady and balanced economic growth. Right now, our government must be our benefactor,
regulator, custodian (reopening the schools?) mediator between the aggrieved and the angry among us and the
employer of many. We also ask them to avoid victimizing any of us less we get angrier still and act in protest
and at the ballot box. It is an important and difficult job, but our administrators and politicians have shown they
eventually are up to the job.
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