Florida State Seminoles

[Cletus]

A lot cross but not many can stay legally. I think we should be far less restrictive with the people trying to come here from Mexico, Central, and South America. I just can't get my arms around the idea that people who value this place enough to risk their lives to get here and work their balls off in shitty jobs are the problem.

[Bklyn]

A long-awaited revival is under way in this beleaguered Central Appalachia community where residents see coal as the once and future king.

Trucks are running again. Miners working seven days a week cannot keep up with current demand. Coal mines, long dormant after the industry’s collapse, are now buzzing again with antlike activity.

“We load coal every day for the power plant in Virginia City,” explained Rick, a long-time supervisor for a major local operation who did not want to give his last name. “There's one shipment a week for Georgia Power, and one for Tennessee Eastman.”

The past month has seen a resurgence of the coal industry that once formed the backbone of the region's economy, and locals credit President Trump's aggressive, pro-energy agenda.
coal working Expand / Contract

In Wise County, Virginia, coal trucks are running again. (Johnny Giles)

Crippled by a slew of factors, from changing times, an emphasis on renewable energy, and the Obama administration's harsh penalties on coal-fired power plants, the area's economy took a devastating hit over the past eight years. Many of the people living in these mountains had nearly given up hope that the area could ever recover.

The smaller communities in this county in southwest Virginia, such as the towns of Appalachia, Pound and St. Paul, were the hardest hit, but the ripple effects were felt far and wide.

Prospects changed nearly overnight. President Trump had promised to do everything he could to lift the coal mining industry. Trump began to make good on his pledge last month when he eliminated the Stream Protection Rule, which had placed layers of regulations on the industry

Myopic.

[eCat]

A long-awaited revival is under way in this beleaguered Central Appalachia community where residents see coal as the once and future king.

Trucks are running again. Miners working seven days a week cannot keep up with current demand. Coal mines, long dormant after the industry’s collapse, are now buzzing again with antlike activity.

“We load coal every day for the power plant in Virginia City,” explained Rick, a long-time supervisor for a major local operation who did not want to give his last name. “There's one shipment a week for Georgia Power, and one for Tennessee Eastman.”

The past month has seen a resurgence of the coal industry that once formed the backbone of the region's economy, and locals credit President Trump's aggressive, pro-energy agenda.
coal working Expand / Contract

In Wise County, Virginia, coal trucks are running again. (Johnny Giles)

Crippled by a slew of factors, from changing times, an emphasis on renewable energy, and the Obama administration's harsh penalties on coal-fired power plants, the area's economy took a devastating hit over the past eight years. Many of the people living in these mountains had nearly given up hope that the area could ever recover.

The smaller communities in this county in southwest Virginia, such as the towns of Appalachia, Pound and St. Paul, were the hardest hit, but the ripple effects were felt far and wide.

Prospects changed nearly overnight. President Trump had promised to do everything he could to lift the coal mining industry. Trump began to make good on his pledge last month when he eliminated the Stream Protection Rule, which had placed layers of regulations on the industry

Myopic.

so was ignoring them while trying to elect a democrat

[eCat]

also, here's the pope getting a pizza

[crashcourse]

A lot cross but not many can stay legally. I think we should be far less restrictive with the people trying to come here from Mexico, Central, and South America. I just can't get my arms around the idea that people who value this place enough to risk their lives to get here and work their balls off in shitty jobs are the problem.

damned if we do damned if we don't

most come across the border pretty much are dependant on us as a society for one thing or another. medical care, social issues crime issues accompany many and who foots the bill for that--taxpayers. I think you have to show you can support yourself and if you cant those are the ones who need to go
our GDP is not going to go up with the current labor force projections--trump is going to need those workers who will take those jobs that cant be filled to build that wall

[eCat]

A lot cross but not many can stay legally. I think we should be far less restrictive with the people trying to come here from Mexico, Central, and South America. I just can't get my arms around the idea that people who value this place enough to risk their lives to get here and work their balls off in shitty jobs are the problem.

so your take is just saying fuck it to our immigration laws. The people from Africa , Asia and Europe that have to go thru a ton of red tape to be American citizens should just wait because the MeSo Americans have a geographic advantage and deserve it more than them.

[eCat]

A lot cross but not many can stay legally. I think we should be far less restrictive with the people trying to come here from Mexico, Central, and South America. I just can't get my arms around the idea that people who value this place enough to risk their lives to get here and work their balls off in shitty jobs are the problem.

damned if we do damned if we don't

most come across the border pretty much are dependant on us as a society for one thing or another. medical care, social issues crime issues accompany many and who foots the bill for that--taxpayers. I think you have to show you can support yourself and if you cant those are the ones who need to go
our GDP is not going to go up with the current labor force projections--trump is going to need those workers who will take those jobs that cant be filled to build that wall

not to mention that Mexico has an obligation to take care of these people. 80% of their exports come to the United States. We signed a trade agreement that created thousands if not millions of jobs in their country and Mexico believes that its citizens have a right to immigrate to our country unfettered to seek a life they are unable to provide for them - and in fact encourages them to do so.

[eCat]

A lot cross but not many can stay legally. I think we should be far less restrictive with the people trying to come here from Mexico, Central, and South America. I just can't get my arms around the idea that people who value this place enough to risk their lives to get here and work their balls off in shitty jobs are the problem.

damned if we do damned if we don't

most come across the border pretty much are dependant on us as a society for one thing or another. medical care, social issues crime issues accompany many and who foots the bill for that--taxpayers. I think you have to show you can support yourself and if you cant those are the ones who need to go
our GDP is not going to go up with the current labor force projections--trump is going to need those workers who will take those jobs that cant be filled to build that wall

I assume that it what Trump was focusing on with a merit based immigration system.

But priority number 1 is sealing that border up tight.

[Cletus]

I'm saying that the laws should be less restrictive not that there should be no laws. I think it's insane that people in Africa wait 20+ years in a refugee camp to get here. I think it's insane that we educate people from Asia and India and then make it hard for them to stay. And, I think it's insane that we treat people who walk hundreds or thousands of miles through a desert all to work for peanuts as criminals. The fact is that people from Latin America are going to have an advantage because of geography but that's the way it goes. These people make a positive contribution to our country and should be encouraged to come and stay.

[hedge]

There are illegal immigrants in NYC?? Who knew??

[eCat]

I'm saying that the laws should be less restrictive not that there should be no laws. I think it's insane that people in Africa wait 20+ years in a refugee camp to get here. I think it's insane that we educate people from Asia and India and then make it hard for them to stay. And, I think it's insane that we treat people who walk hundreds or thousands of miles through a desert all to work for peanuts as criminals. The fact is that people from Latin America are going to have an advantage because of geography but that's the way it goes. These people make a positive contribution to our country and should be encouraged to come and stay.

the world is full of people who would walk thru a desert to come here if they had the chance. 3 billion people in this world live on less than $2 a day.

You think we should allow all 3 billion to come here and live in America?


whats funny is I can remember years ago saying something about putting an ICE office at every emergency room and you said that was a great idea. We were both joking of course but you were fed up with illegals using emergency rooms as a health clinic just like I was.

When did you turn into Mother Teresa?

If you really had a soft spot for the impoverished of this world, I would contend they would be better served by us improving their lives where they are - instead of expecting us to take them on to serve menial jobs and be exploited by our business - competing with the masses we can't support now for unskilled and minimum wage jobs. Your own city is crying out for help to provide jobs and living wages for the impoverished American citizens that live there, trying to avoid being a victim of violent crime.

There will come a time soon when we recognize we need immigrants to replace the boomers who are retiring - but we don't do it by just flooding the country from our southern border without few controls or any concerns about the level of contribution these people will make.

[Cletus]

Years ago, I lived in a bubble which made me an ignorant asshole.

[eCat]

Years ago, I lived in a bubble which made me an ignorant asshole.

ahh..you met a woman

I get it.

[Saint]

If you're complaining that too many immigrants are taxing our social programs, I agree. We need to rework that. If you're complaining that too many immigrants are not paying their share of taxes because they work under the table (and that goes for their employers, too), I agree. We need to rework that.

If you're complaining that beaners are dangerous people who make you have to lock your door at night, dear god, please change your underwear. I can't listen to the fey bleating of these people who are eat up with the fear. For god's sake, please just shut up about it, whoever you are.

[eCat]

If you're complaining that too many immigrants are taxing our social programs, I agree. We need to rework that. If you're complaining that too many immigrants are not paying their share of taxes because they work under the table (and that goes for their employers, too), I agree. We need to rework that.

If you're complaining that beaners are dangerous people who make you have to lock your door at night, dear god, please change your underwear. I can't listen to the fey bleating of these people who are eat up with the fear. For god's sake, please just shut up about it, whoever you are.

in our backyard? no

pay attention to what is happening along the border with the cartels smuggling, the mules and the traffickers


Those Americans who live along there don't deserve protection?
\
then you have MS13

[hedge]

"pay attention to what is happening along the border with the cartels smuggling, the mules and the traffickers"

That's a direct consequence of our stupid drug laws. Change the laws and that problem disappears immediately...

[eCat]

"pay attention to what is happening along the border with the cartels smuggling, the mules and the traffickers"

That's a direct consequence of our stupid drug laws. Change the laws and that problem disappears immediately...

or secure our border

[Saint]

"Those Americans who live along there don't deserve protection?"

They choose to live there, don't they? Just like the people who choose to smoke and drink their way to exorbitant health care bills. I could go on and on. Instead of securing the border, which sounds good but is so complex and far-fetched that it's not a practical solution except for in political speeches and on message boards, why don't we address the problem directly?

If you're really talking about doing something, then why don't we invade Mexico? That made much more sense than invading Iraq in 2003 and even more now. Rather than some foolhardy proposal to build a 2,000-mile wall, why not just tell Mexico that if they can't handle their cartels, then we will. Oh and by the way, we just added a few million more taxpayers and some oil.

You know, that's the problem with most of you conservatives. You priss and whine about what ain't right but when it comes down to it, all you want to do is build a wall or some passive-aggressive bullshit that's just going to cost more money and won't work. Fuck it, I'm all for this invasion of Mexico thing now.

[eCat]

"Those Americans who live along there don't deserve protection?"

They choose to live there, don't they? Just like the people who choose to smoke and drink their way to exorbitant health care bills. I could go on and on. Instead of securing the border, which sounds good but is so complex and far-fetched that it's not a practical solution except for in political speeches and on message boards, why don't we address the problem directly?

If you're really talking about doing something, then why don't we invade Mexico? That made much more sense than invading Iraq in 2003 and even more now. Rather than some foolhardy proposal to build a 2,000-mile wall, why not just tell Mexico that if they can't handle their cartels, then we will. Oh and by the way, we just added a few million more taxpayers and some oil.

You know, that's the problem with most of you conservatives. You priss and whine about what ain't right but when it comes down to it, all you want to do is build a wall or some passive-aggressive bullshit that's just going to cost more money and won't work. Fuck it, I'm all for this invasion of Mexico thing now.

they choose to live there?

are you serious? They are Americans. Its American soil. We have an obligation to protect them.

We have foreign nationals - primarily for the purpose of bringing drugs into this country - that don't think twice about killing, hurting, stealing American citizens.

There are human traffickers that would cut and run at the first sign of trouble and leave people to their own vices in remote country.

That has to stop and its been a damn shame that our Federal government has looked the other way for the past 16 years just to be able to exploit these people for low wages and future voters.

[Saint]

So what's the difference between the people killed everywhere else in America by drug freaks? They don't think twice about killing, hurting, stealing their FELLOW American citizens. Why do the folks living in west or south Texas deserve a shitload of taxpayer money for their protection? And what happened to open carry? I thought we were about making our own way and shooting a fucker between the eyes if he looked like he (or she) was a no-good Mexican drug runner instead of calling 911.

Hey man, I get the problem but you're drawing arbitrary lines of protection and taxpayer expense and leaving it open-ended enough that anyone who wants protection is going to start whining about it and the next thing you know, the gov't and military is up in everyone's business. I know if you have family there (although if it's your wife's family that doesn't really count) and there's a concern but this is War on Drugs shit. You are not going to fix that problem by building a wall or even putting armed guards there 24/7. That's going to take a comprehensive plan that does or does not involve the Mexican gov't and will seek to destroy those cartels where they stand.

Or, as Hedge said, we could legalize it all and the problem pretty much goes anyway.