• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

The US coal industry

B

Buling

New member
Joined
Jun 16, 2017
Messages
6
Reaction score
0
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Undisclosed
Hello, new here on this forum. I'm from Europe, Sweden. I have a question.

Trump says he's going to start the coal industry in the United States. But why is it abandoned in the first place? Does it have to do with environmental regulations that Trump should change? Or was it not profitable? Should the state of the United States pump taxpayers money into businesses that do not manage on the open market? Best Regards ...
 
Buling said:
Hello, new here on this forum. I'm from Europe, Sweden. I have a question.

Trump says he's going to start the coal industry in the United States. But why is it abandoned in the first place? Does it have to do with environmental regulations that Trump should change? Or was it not profitable? Should the state of the United States pump taxpayers money into businesses that do not manage on the open market? Best Regards ...
Click to expand...

Regulatiin and political signals that it would no longer be supported in future probably required a risk premium that the price differential of coal to other sources increasingly covers less. Proba5there is more, but that is certainly a driver.
 
Buling said:
Hello, new here on this forum. I'm from Europe, Sweden. I have a question.

Trump says he's going to start the coal industry in the United States. But why is it abandoned in the first place? Does it have to do with environmental regulations that Trump should change? Or was it not profitable? Should the state of the United States pump taxpayers money into businesses that do not manage on the open market? Best Regards ...
Click to expand...

Neither. It was regulated out of business. The government put regulations on the industry that it couldn't meet. Trump has overturned some of those regulations. I don't think Trump cares about coal. His main interest is in recovering jobs, including those that mine coal.
 
Coal has been on the decline for decades. One of the biggest reasons is the rise of natural gas. The "War on Coal" rhetoric is politically useful in coal country, but it isn't the main driver. I'm sure some regulations have some effect, but they are not nearly as damaging as gas.
 
fmw said:
Neither. It was regulated out of business. The government put regulations on the industry that it couldn't meet. Trump has overturned some of those regulations. I don't think Trump cares about coal. His main interest is in recovering jobs, including those that mine coal.
Click to expand...

Ok, but this makes it more confusing. What regulations are you talking about? Who introduced them , when and why? Would be appreciated if you could explan that. You do not have to write an entire essay, just the necessities. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Buling said:
Ok, but this makes it more confusing. What regulations are you talking about? Who introduced them , when and why? Would be appreciated if you could explan that. You do not have to write an entire essay, just the necessities. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I will let you look up the details. The regulations were put in place by President Obama in the hopes of stopping the use of coal in the U.S. It was an environmental motivation. I'll let you look up details on the web.
 
MrPeanut said:
Coal has been on the decline for decades. One of the biggest reasons is the rise of natural gas. The "War on Coal" rhetoric is politically useful in coal country, but it isn't the main driver. I'm sure some regulations have some effect, but they are not nearly as damaging as gas.
Click to expand...

In other words, it is market forces that control the mining industry, for coal, which is the reason it is declining? There are others better (what better now is in this case) and cheaper alternatives. But what about Trumps plan? Subsidize jobs in the coal industry?
 
fmw said:
I will let you look up the details. The regulations were put in place by President Obama in the hopes of stopping the use of coal in the U.S. It was an environmental motivation. I'll let you look up details on the web.
Click to expand...

Aha, ok. Thanks!
 
Buling said:
In other words, it is market forces that control the mining industry, for coal, which is the reason it is declining? There are others better (what better now is in this case) and cheaper alternatives. But what about Trumps plan? Subsidize jobs in the coal industry?
Click to expand...

Trump doesn't have any sort of plan for coal beyond removing regulations. Coal states already slash taxes on coal companies to try and keep them competitive. It's an up hill battle that coal will eventually lose.
 
The problem is quite the same as in many other western countries where old industries have become obsolete and or competed out from low-wage countries. Pumping goverment assets and supporting these areas is just counterproductive. I have seen this in Sweden, England, France and other western countries. Nobody has the solution as I know. It is a good idea to improve the labor force, increasing education can well be a solution. But what do I know.
 
Buling said:
The problem is quite the same as in many other western countries where old industries have become obsolete and or competed out from low-wage countries. Pumping goverment assets and supporting these areas is just counterproductive. I have seen this in Sweden, England, France and other western countries. Nobody has the solution as I know. It is a good idea to improve the labor force, increasing education can well be a solution. But what do I know.
Click to expand...

The issue is whether the government should push companies out of business in order to speed up an agenda or whether the economy should operate without so much government meddling. Coal may be obsolete to you but it isn't to the miners. When the economy decides that coal should be replaced, then it will be replaced without government intervention.
 
fmw said:
The issue is whether the government should push companies out of business in order to speed up an agenda or whether the economy should operate without so much government meddling. Coal may be obsolete to you but it isn't to the miners. When the economy decides that coal should be replaced, then it will be replaced without government intervention.
Click to expand...


If its gvement to blame. Anyway so, what's interesting will be what to do? Abandon these places or create new industries there? I will not write on your nose what I think you should do in the United States. I dont have the answer. This is a problem that is shared in many western countries. Do you have a solution, thats great! There is actually good exempel.

Close the boarders and introduce taxes on forigen goods and services? That is an idea that have been submitted. I do not know if about the way forward? It seems so old-fashioned. How is the discussion about this in the United States?
 
fmw said:
The issue is whether the government should push companies out of business in order to speed up an agenda or whether the economy should operate without so much government meddling. Coal may be obsolete to you but it isn't to the miners. When the economy decides that coal should be replaced, then it will be replaced without government intervention.
Click to expand...

Perhaps they should push them out for sodomizing Appalachia.
 
Buling said:
If its gvement to blame. Anyway so, what's interesting will be what to do? Abandon these places or create new industries there? I will not write on your nose what I think you should do in the United States. I dont have the answer. This is a problem that is shared in many western countries. Do you have a solution, thats great! There is actually good exempel.

Close the boarders and introduce taxes on forigen goods and services? That is an idea that have been submitted. I do not know if about the way forward? It seems so old-fashioned. How is the discussion about this in the United States?
Click to expand...

The correct thing to do is nothing. Leave the private sector alone to develop and innovate. Government should protect people, not try to run the economy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom