Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

To the families and loved ones of my co-workers, victims of the Sago Mine disaster:

The explosion happened soon after the day shift arrived at the mine face on January 2, right after we got out of the man-trip. I do not recall whether I had started work, nor do I have any memory of the blast. I do remember that the mine filled quickly with fumes and thick smoke, and that breathing conditions were nearly unbearable.

The first thing we did was activate our rescuers, as we had been trained. At least four of the rescuers did not function. I shared my rescuer with Jerry Groves, while Junior Toler, Jesse Jones and Tom Anderson sought help from others. There were not enough rescuers to go around.

We then tried to return to the man-trip, yelling to communicate through the thick smoke. The air was so bad that we had to abandon our escape attempt and return to the coal rib, where we hung a curtain to try to protect ourselves. The curtain created an enclosed area of about 35 feet.

The entire letter is well worth reading.

Here's what the AP story says about the rebreathers:

In a statement, ICG said that the miners' air packs, also known as self-contained self-rescue devices, or SCSRs, were tested by federal investigators.

"ICG was informed that the SCSRs found at the barricade were deployed and showed evidence of use," the mine company said. "The federal investigators did not note any defective SCSRs and all appeared to be in working order."

At one time, I had faith that the federal government could be trusted, that defective equipment would have been noted. That faith is gone. I now believe that this government is run by people who put the interests of corporations over the lives of workers.

I don't have much more to add because words are failing me.

I've worked in highly dangerous jobs before and I know the risks that can entail from working with heavy equipment. Last year a heavy metal door swung loose and struck me in the back of my arm. The door weighs 500 pounds according to my boss. My left arm was deep blue from my shoulder to my elbow. A co-worker had been so frightened when the door came loose he could not  shout out a warning. It is best he had not. I would have turned into it and it is likely my skull would have been shattered. As it is, he came running up. The first thing he said was "I thought you were dead." To my credit, the blow had not knocked me off my feet .

So I know that certain jobs carry dangers. It's the price we sometimes pay to earn a living to care for our families.

But we can and should as a society do everything to lessen those dangers.

I'll leave on this note from the AP story:

Martin "Junior" Toler, 51, and Tom Anderson, 39, made another, last-ditch attempt to find a way out but were quickly turned back by heavy smoke and fumes, McCloy said.

"We were worried and afraid, but we began to accept our fate," he wrote. "Junior Toler led us all in the Sinners Prayer."

We do not have to accept our fate quietly. We are not yet trapped like those miners. Come election day, we can take back our country from those who are making it less safe.