Right Out of Atlas Shrugged' : Alabama Businessman Tell the Feds – ‘I’m Just Quitting

[greenego]

Ronnie Bryant was vastly outnumbered.

Leaning against a wall during a recent Birmingham, Alabama, public hearing, Bryant listened to an overflow crowd pepper federal officials with concerns about businesses polluting the drinking water and causing cases of cancer.

After two hours, Bryant—a coal mine owner from Jasper—had heard enough and, in a moment being described as “right out of Atlas Shrugged,†took his turn at the microphone:

“Nearly every day without fail…men stream to these [mining] operations looking for work in Walker County. They can’t pay their mortgage. They can’t pay their car note. They can’t feed their families. They don’t have health insurance. And as I stand here today, I just…you know…what’s the use? I got a permit to open up an underground coal mine that would employ probably 125 people. They’d be paid wages from $50,000 to $150,000 a year. We would consume probably $50 million to $60 million in consumables a year, putting more men to work. And my only idea today is to go home. What’s the use? I see these guys—I see them with tears in their eyes—looking for work. And if there’s so much opposition to these guys making a living, I feel like there’s no need in me putting out the effort to provide work for them. So…basically what I’ve decided is not to open the mine. I’m just quitting

.

Thank you.â€

[G27]

Wow, that's huge.

Just the beginning, I'm afraid...

[bigwakes]

Phill Valentine read that story last night.

[Guest nicemac]

Wow, that's huge.

Just the beginning, I'm afraid...

+1

[Guest 6.8 AR]

"The Strike" begins.

Now, if there is a Henry Rearden- like person standing up there saying that next time,

you'll know the book was right on target. It is.

[JAB]

So, if he puts people to work then it is okay if his business does pollute the drinking water and cause cancer? I'm not saying it will but is he providing proof that it won't or simply saying, "You people shouldn't be bitchin' about this stuff 'cause I'm creatin' jobs," as if the other issues don't matter? I mean, I realize the economy is bad but still I would think that concerns over your family being made sick by the drinking water or increased risk of cancer for an entire community would be a valid concern vs. 125 or so jobs.

My grandfather in law was the assistant head of the department in charge of strip mine regulation and reclamation for the Tennessee Department of Conversation before the work was more or less turned over to the Fed under Alexander (whose good buddy and campaign treasurer was coal-company lawyer Fred Thompson.) I don't know about deep mining such as this guy is talking about but I do know that some (not all but some) of the strip miners would, apparently, try to get away with anything they could no matter how much it harmed the environment, drinking water or anything else for folks living in the surrounding areas.

Edited July 27, 2011 by JAB

[Lumber_Jack]

Coal mining is one of the most strictly regulated industries in our region. Now is there going to be some dirty water run otta that mine? For sure, but there are measures in place to filter that water, and if you're on municipal water it doesn't matter anyhow. And chances of well water being affected is so minuscule it's hard to calculate. I think his point is valid, you're not gonna get cancer because someone re-opens a coal mine in you're county.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

So, if he puts people to work then it is okay if his business does pollute the drinking water and cause cancer? I'm not saying it will but is he providing proof that it won't or simply saying, "You people shouldn't be bitchin' about this stuff 'cause I'm creatin' jobs," as if the other issues don't matter? I mean, I realize the economy is bad but still I would think that concerns over your family being made sick by the drinking water or increased risk of cancer for an entire community would be a valid concern vs. 125 or so jobs.

My grandfather in law was the assistant head of the department in charge of strip mine regulation and reclamation for the Tennessee Department of Conversation before the work was more or less turned over to the Fed under Alexander (whose good buddy and campaign treasurer was coal-company lawyer Fred Thompson.) I don't know about deep mining such as this guy is talking about but I do know that some (not all but some) of the strip miners would, apparently, try to get away with anything they could no matter how much it harmed the environment, drinking water or anything else for folks living in the surrounding areas.

He answered your "maybe" concerns. He wanted to put people to work, but, it has gotten to

the point it just isn't worth it to him.

Let's just avoid the risk altogether. I quit. You put me in a precarious position to capitalize my

investment and put jobs out there, so the hell with it. I agree with the operator. He's tired of

the people who require the "cake and eat it, too" way of life.

[hardknox00001]

Our gobermint, the ever increasing buracrazy (I know I mispelled it, it was on purpose), in an effort to appear "necessary" and to be doing something, will always continue to create new and tighter rules and regulations. We are at the point now that the gobermint has regulated us to a stand still. I would not be surprised to find out that they were considering legislation to outlaw breathing. All that CO2 we expell when we breath is contributing to *gasp* global warming.

I know this is impossible on so many different levels but I can't get this thought out of my head. That thought being, maybe we would be better off just closing down gobermint all together and send them all home. Then we can attend to/fix things ourselves as things happen. Now where did I leave that crack pipe..........

[Jonnin]

Our gobermint, the ever increasing buracrazy (I know I mispelled it, it was on purpose), in an effort to appear "necessary" and to be doing something, will always continue to create new and tighter rules and regulations. We are at the point now that the gobermint has regulated us to a stand still. I would not be surprised to find out that they were considering legislation to outlaw breathing. All that CO2 we expell when we breath is contributing to *gasp* global warming.I know this is impossible on so many different levels but I can't get this thought out of my head. That thought being, maybe we would be better off just closing down gobermint all together and send them all home. Then we can attend to/fix things ourselves as things happen. Now where did I leave that crack pipe..........

I think you missed the point of crap & trade. It is to open the doors to TAXING breathing, not outlawing it. And, get this... co2 is good for plants, the people behind this want to help the environment (which is done by planting more stuff which makes a place for animals too etc) they even call it the GREEN movement. This guy is just another in a long line of folks who cannot beat the system and gave up. At one time in my career, I was given a small raise that popped me up a tax bracket so I was earning less for getting a raise from doing a better job. I had to beg them to take it back until it could be increased by a certain amount.

[greenego]

So, if he puts people to work then it is okay if his business does pollute the drinking water and cause cancer? I'm not saying it will but is he providing proof that it won't or simply saying, "You people shouldn't be bitchin' about this stuff 'cause I'm creatin' jobs," as if the other issues don't matter? I mean, I realize the economy is bad but still I would think that concerns over your family being made sick by the drinking water or increased risk of cancer for an entire community would be a valid concern vs. 125 or so jobs.

My grandfather in law was the assistant head of the department in charge of strip mine regulation and reclamation for the Tennessee Department of Conversation before the work was more or less turned over to the Fed under Alexander (whose good buddy and campaign treasurer was coal-company lawyer Fred Thompson.) I don't know about deep mining such as this guy is talking about but I do know that some (not all but some) of the strip miners would, apparently, try to get away with anything they could no matter how much it harmed the environment, drinking water or anything else for folks living in the surrounding areas.

He had the permit to open the mine so he had already jumped though the hoops from the regulators. With all the regulations, don't think ground water contamination would be an issue. As far as cancer goes I know a lot more people that worked at Oak Ridge or Alcoa with cancer than people I know that worked in the mines.

[mav]

Going Galt. Gotta admire the guy. It is unfortunate that it has come to this.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

So, if he puts people to work then it is okay if his business does pollute the drinking water and cause cancer? I'm not saying it will but is he providing proof that it won't or simply saying, "You people shouldn't be bitchin' about this stuff 'cause I'm creatin' jobs," as if the other issues don't matter? I mean, I realize the economy is bad but still I would think that concerns over your family being made sick by the drinking water or increased risk of cancer for an entire community would be a valid concern vs. 125 or so jobs.

My grandfather in law was the assistant head of the department in charge of strip mine regulation and reclamation for the Tennessee Department of Conversation before the work was more or less turned over to the Fed under Alexander (whose good buddy and campaign treasurer was coal-company lawyer Fred Thompson.) I don't know about deep mining such as this guy is talking about but I do know that some (not all but some) of the strip miners would, apparently, try to get away with anything they could no matter how much it harmed the environment, drinking water or anything else for folks living in the surrounding areas.

Try this on for a minute. If you are the person with the money attempting to start up an operation,

of whatever kind, and you know that you are facing a mountain of regulatory agencies to hurdle

before you go into production, would you not consider what expanded costs you have to pay,

or would you just go all touchy feely and just "do the right thing" as required by those agencies,

knowing that not all those regulations mean a damned thing except taxation? Most of the regulations,

not all, are their to create winners and losers. They won't cure cancer. They won't cure Black Lung.

But the one thing they will do is fill a layer of bureacracy with someone's tax dollars. A mountainous

layer of government regulations are there only for that. If you pay attention and rid yourself of the

premise of how something sounds, instead of what something actually is, you might change your mind.

All red tape does is cost. Some regulations are workable, but the vast majority are wasted spending

and punishment for being productive.

I'm from the government, and I'm here to help.

Edited July 28, 2011 by 6.8 AR
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[chemprof]

As Rand says in her book, IIRC dialogue of Dagney, "...the rules exist to give someone a job, not whether it's the right thing to do or not..." (totally paraphrasing there, but you get the gist). Have friends who lived in socialist countries and could NOT believe the ineptitude of their govts just simply to "put people to work"--government work, that is. Now it's come home thanks to some very stupid smart people.

[gregintenn]

So, if he puts people to work then it is okay if his business does pollute the drinking water and cause cancer? I'm not saying it will but is he providing proof that it won't or simply saying, "You people shouldn't be bitchin' about this stuff 'cause I'm creatin' jobs," as if the other issues don't matter? I mean, I realize the economy is bad but still I would think that concerns over your family being made sick by the drinking water or increased risk of cancer for an entire community would be a valid concern vs. 125 or so jobs.

My grandfather in law was the assistant head of the department in charge of strip mine regulation and reclamation for the Tennessee Department of Conversation before the work was more or less turned over to the Fed under Alexander (whose good buddy and campaign treasurer was coal-company lawyer Fred Thompson.) I don't know about deep mining such as this guy is talking about but I do know that some (not all but some) of the strip miners would, apparently, try to get away with anything they could no matter how much it harmed the environment, drinking water or anything else for folks living in the surrounding areas.

I do not know anything about the coal business, but I build roads. We've gotten to the point that every new rule, regulation, permit, etc. does nedt to nothing to prevent erosion, contamination, etc. The point of diminishing returns was reached several years back. We're fastly being regulated to the point it will soon be impossible to build anything. I expect the coal industry is much the same. If you are worried about water contamination in Tennessee, the only industry I am aware of who is pretty much exempt from much of this bureacracy is, oddly enough, the agriculture idustry.

I don't know your grandfather in law's age, but I expect a lot has changed since he left.

[DaveTN]

As I pointed out in another thread, companies in this country operate under the heavy and very costly hand of the EPA and OSHA. I don’t know who it was in that meeting that was trying to stop him or what their agenda is, but if contaminating the drinking water is an issue; the EPA will deal with that.

There are an awful lot of people that have jobs right now and are more than willing to turn their backs on both their neighbors and their country if it saves them a dime. I’m ashamed to see it, and I ashamed of the posts here that support it.

[Guest nicemac]

The Chrysler building was built in 20 months, start to finish. It was the tallest building in the world when it was built in 1928. The modern technology we have to day was not available, and neither was the EPA. That simply could not be done today.

TN 840 is a perfect example. Construction began in 1991. It will not be completed for another year, largely because of environmental issues. How long would it have taken in 1928 to build a 75 mile highway? Not long.

Regulation is killing jobs and the economy. There will be more of these guys just quitting.

[mav]

There are an awful lot of people that have jobs right now and are more than willing to turn their backs on both their neighbors and their country if it saves them a dime. I’m ashamed to see it, and I ashamed of the posts here that support it.

When regulations (or organized labor) become so onerous, one or two things eventually happen. The company or business leaves the country in search of more a business friendly government, or they simply say the heck with it and close up shop. You have to remember that a business owner operating under these conditions is still having to compete with countries that pretty much have non-existant regulations. It is hard enough to run a small business, and when you force them to operate under strict rules and regulations and then compete with similar businesses that do not have those restraints, it can become overwhelming. To make situation worse, the government then taxes the crap out of the local business. Eventually it can push some business owners in certain sectors, such as manufacturing or energy, to just close up shop. The stress just isn't worth it.

With the unemployment rate around 9%, and the under-employment rate hovering around 20%, we should be doing everything we can within reason to make the atmosphere more conducive towards businesses. The government is doing the exact opposite. More regulations and more taxes is all that they can come up with. The government is out of control. As I have stated in other threads, almost 50% of the working public do not pay any federal income taxes. That is a shame. If the government does not change course and further burdens those who are paying the bills, then I would expect to see a lot more of these type of situations to occur in the future.

What I am ashamed of is there are so many people that will not recognize what is causing a lot of our problems, an overreaching and overbearing government. I am not an anarchist. I do not believe that governments should not exist. I do however, believe that governments should exist in a more limited capacity with greatly diminshed powers and authority. If the government would just get out of the way (not entirely) and not hinder individuals and businesses, I believe we would have unprecedented growth in this country, which is what everybody outside of the statists desires.

[gregintenn]

TN 840 is a perfect example. Construction began in 1991. It will not be completed for another year, largely because of environmental issues.

TDOT spent more money on erosion control prevention for that project than what it costed to build the road.