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Submitted by Thomas Antkow –
Has the concept of viewing the world through a “half-full” or “half-empty” glass finally become obsolete? Seems that the “half-empty” crowd in our population has decided to throw both glasses in the trash. Regardless of the circumstances. Case in point.
An article that recently appeared in the Blount County Tennessee Daily Times penned by Matthew Brown of the Associated press proclaims, “Company bids less than a penny per ton in the biggest US coal sale in over a decade”. Phenomenal deal!
The glass may be half-full for someone right? Well, you would be wrong according to the writer. Not so fast. It seems that based upon this bid for, and the price of this nasty product of nature, the bane to environmentalism and the global warming gang, that there should be dancing in the streets upon the prospect that the price of mother nature’s stepchild has finally hit rock bottom. Shouldn’t there?
If successful, the bidder could certainly benefit and eliminate the coal supply faster. Cup overflowing. Keep your fingers crossed. So far, this group is the only bidder! Seems that a downtrodden group who has suffered from racial discrimination and abject poverty for millennia, First Nation Native Americans, more specifically The Navajo Nation might finally get a break. Free round for everyone in the Casino!
But wait. Now the half-empty part.
Despite research posted in Popular Mechanics and a myriad of other scientific publications.
Methods to develop “clean coal” like “coal washing” to remove rocks and dirt, “wet scrubbing” to remove sulfur dioxide from coal-generated gas, “CCS technology” around since the 1980’s to handle heat-trapping-gas that contributes to global warming and the newest “IGCC” Integrated gasification combined cycle which sends pulverized coal through a burn cycle to generate electricity the writer just can’t seem to fill the glass with good news.
The article goes on to say. “The offer from the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) equated to one-tenth of a penny per ton, underscoring coal’s diminished value even as President Donald Trump pushes to mine and burn more of the heavily polluting fuel”.
Please note words like “diminished value” and “pushes to mine the heavily polluting fuel”. Seems that someone didn’t do their homework. President Donald J. Trump always the eternal optimist is a “half-glass full kinda guy”.
This President has squeezed enough lemons to turn the Washington “Swamp” into the nation’s largest lemonade stand. If the EPA approves and the deal goes through, the Prez is killing two birds with one stone. Protecting the environment and helping Native Americans at the same time.
I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of being served half-empty glasses.
THOMAS ANTKOW is currently a freelance writer and produced and hosted his own daily radio show on KCSF AM 1300 and co-hosted talk shows for KVOR AM 740 for Cumulus Broadcasting in Colorado Springs. He can be reached at taradio863@gmail.com. You can subscribe to Tom’s FREE newsletter at: Antkow.substack.com
