Energy and jobs are never far from the minds of voters and
politicians alike, so it was no surprise that the congressional debate on
Thursday between U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Salem) and Democratic candidate
Anthony Flaccavento turned on these two issues.[1]
Both candidates are fighting for the 9th Congressional District’s
U.S. House seat.
Mr. Flaccavento reiterated his vision of building “an
economy from the bottom up”[2]
by focusing on local businesses that can create jobs sustainably.
Mr. Griffith, meanwhile, acknowledge the importance of small
business but prioritized putting “the brakes on federal environmental
regulations”[3]
that Griffith claims make it difficult for businesses of all sizes to survive.
While Griffith contented himself with blaming federal
environmental regulations for job loss, Flaccavento pointed instead to the low
cost of natural gas, decreasing reserves of coal, and the mechanization of
mining as key reasons why the 9th Congressional District has lost so
many jobs in the coal sector.
Flaccavento stated, “We can invest far more in clean coal
technology and sustain as many jobs as we can. We must also work to diversify
and broaden the base of jobs.” Griffith responded that we shouldn’t throw away
today’s jobs for the promise of jobs tomorrow.
Griffith is missing the point, however. He is right in
stating that coal “is not finished,”[4]
but coal as a forceful driver in job creation inside the U.S. is. For all of
the reasons that Mr. Flaccavento named, and more, coal cannot be the engine upon
which any productive economy bases a significant portion of its employment
hopes on.
Too often, our politicians look at the short-term solutions
to our country’s or our local area’s woes. Given the nature of politics in our
country, this is easy to understand. Politicians want to take the road most
traveled, thereby increasing their chances of staying in office.
At this point in time in our country’s history, however, we
need bold political representatives who are willing to risk their political
necks to take the right actions for individuals in the present and in the
future.
Flaccavento is not demanding coal to be wiped out of
Virginia’s energy portfolio. What he is asking is for Virginia and the 9th
Congressional District to look further down the road into what is possible.
While coal won’t be dead anytime soon in the U.S., it’s ability to create jobs
will. Without a broad-based blueprint for diversified job creation, where will
job seekers in the coal industry turn to for work?
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