Give Lexington a lump of coal for Christmas

To the editor:

Instead of taking our money to Lexington to shop for Christmas gifts, why not take a lump of coal and leave it at Hamburg Place. It would need a note with it saying, “Here’s your Christmas gift from the mountains, don’t worry about us, we’re shopping at home.”

The thought of the mountain people not shopping in Lexington is scary to the business community there. Statements this writer made on WTUK 105.1 in Harlan that we should not shop in Lexington brought the CEO of Commerce Lexington to the station in an attempt to distance the Lexington business community from the attacks on the coal industry by the Herald Leader.

It was a diplomatic show in which the CEO told our listeners how much the business community appreciated the value of our coal and our business. The truth of the matter is that we have seen nothing in actions to back up the words.

The mining industry in our area is under attack by the federal government. They are threatening to change the permitting process on the Nationwide Permit 21 which will bring the industry to its knees. We have attended meetings, posted our opinions, and are now awaiting a decision from the Army Corps of Engineers as to the future of the industry.

Should they decide to go with the change we will have no future. Stick a fork in us, we’re done. This will kill mining, trucking, all the service jobs, local government, and local businesses. We got a taste of the effect of not being able to get permits under the Beshear/ Mongiardo administration when they let the permit process die at the beginning of their fiasco.

The federal threat is much more dangerous. All the rallies we have in the mountains might serve as a “Feel good fix,” but it’s no more than preaching to the choir. If our state of being is so important to the state why have we not seen massive rallies on our behalf in Lexington?

Considering how our money is so integrated with their economy should merit filling Rupp Arena with Lexington and surrounding counties’ Citizens in a fury of emotion for coal. We have seen no such actions. In fact, it would be interesting to see how many of the 15,000 comments sent to the corps about the permitting process called NWP 21 came from Lexington.

The media in Lexington is part of the problem. They are more interested in drug busts, perverts, car wrecks, and robberies than they are about their own survival. Do they not realize that without the coal money their sponsors will have to cut the advertising money on which funds their operations?

Our Governor, Steve Beshear, has said nothing about the NWP 21 problem. The state’s largest industry is facing death and he’s just not concerned. The history of his administration indicates he might be on board with those who oppose coal due to the permit botch that continues to plague the industry on a statewide level.

What he does not oppose is coal money for his campaigns. He and Mongiardo did well in the coalfields in their last run. It appears now that they are out of favor with the coal people, especially the miners.

Beshear gave coal miners no more than lip service when the permit tie up was discussed at a meeting in Hazard. Mongiardo berated the people of south and eastern Kentucky by saying anyone who did not support Obama was either unfamiliar with his policies, or ignorant and racist. The article was in the Herald Leader.

The working people of the coalfields are now real familiar with Obama’s policies, perhaps more familiar than most people throughout the country. Still, Mongiardo attends coal rallies and professes his love of coal in an attempt to gain support throughout the region.

Will Obama tell the press we are ignorant and racist if we don’t support Mongiardo? It’s just the same old song and dance we get from so many of our politicians in Kentucky. It’s why we are where we are today, on the brink of disaster.

The only way we are going to be able to shape our own future is if we take action. Perhaps a better way to say it is to take, “Inaction,” and use the only real tool we have that will make a difference, money.

By holding our money out of Lexington this shopping season we can force the entire state to come to our way of thinking. Money is stronger than a politician’s words, and if Lexington business starts to have problems they will join us to solve our problems.

Much of their city budget comes from payroll taxes, and they are already predicting major budget shortfalls. If we don’t shop there they won’t need as many employees working in the stores. This will bring about a loss in sales and tax revenue. Lexington will then be asking us, “What can we do to help the coal industry?”

This will take a unified effort on the part of our people. We’re at a point in time where this type of attitude is all we have. You don’t help us, we don’t help you. Bob Quick, the Commerce Lexington CEO said, “We’re all Kentuckians.”

When we start seeing huge protest rallies in Lexington on behalf of coal, then we can believe it. Until then we should avoid Lexington and look closer to home for our shopping needs. Our local businesses create local paychecks, and they support coal without having to be asked.

If we want to see action coming out of the Bluegrass to help coal, all we have to do is stay home. Be assured they will notice that we are not there. Their cash registers will be crying out our names, and then they will join us to put the pressure on Frankfort and Washington. Our choice of where we spend our money is the only power we have. Shop at home! Give Lexington a lump of coal for Christmas.

Randy Walters

WTUK, Harlan

KCTCS advocacy continues with website

Dear Kentuckians,

A new Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) advocacy website has been launched to encourage citizens, students, faculty, business leaders and policymakers to join the statewide advocacy campaign Kentuckians for Community and Technical Colleges. The website www.transform.kctcs.edu includes a direct link with a request to sign the petition that will be sent to Kentucky’s legislative body, including the governor, state senators and state representatives. There is also an opportunity for participants to join the discussion and tell their own story about the impact KCTCS has made Transforming Lives. Transforming Kentucky.

Kentuckians for Community and Technical Colleges want to ensure that our state makes smart investments in our students, our workers and the state’s economy, and for policymakers to recognize and support KCTCS as Kentucky’s engine of opportunity.

As part of the campaign, I am conducting a statewide tour that will include a stop at each of the 16 KCTCS colleges. Every college will host a series of forums where faculty, staff, students and members of the community will have an opportunity to discuss the KCTCS advocacy campaign and legislative agenda. To date, I have helped kick off grassroots campaigns at the following: Southeast Kentucky Community College, Hazard Community and Technical College, West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, Hopkinsville Community College, Somerset Community College and Jefferson Community and Technical College. Upcoming advocacy events include:

Madisonville Community College - November 4

Ashland Community and Technical College – November 13

Bowling Green Technical College – November 16

Big Sandy Community and Technical College – November 17

Put your voice to work for our state’s students and colleges by joining the campaign today!  To learn more, visit  Kentuckians for Community and Technical Colleges. 

Sincerely, 

Dr. Michael B. McCall

President of Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS)