Gunpowder Chronicle posted on November 2, 2008 9:40 PM | Rating:
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Barack Obama has made his intentions known: he wants to outright destroy the coal industry. How do you feel now, Senator "Sheets" Byrd? In a recorded interview, Obama came out clear that his "overall policy" will bankrupt the coal industry. But what no one else is telling you is what it will do to freight railroads.
You see, the major railroads in this country -- BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe), UP (Union Pacific), Norfolk Southern, and CSX live and die on the transportation of coal to coal-fired electricity plants. Coal not only powers our nation's economy through the generation of 50% of our electricity. Coal is a major revenue source for our freight railroads. Freight railroads that are 100 more times fuel efficient than trucks in transporting bulk materials and large freight loads. Freight railroads that haul everything from lumber to cloth to foodstuffs to autos.
If you are a member of the United Mineworkers or you work for the railroads, you will be screwed. But it doesn't end there. If you are a Stevedore or a Longshoreman working Ro-Ro (Roll On/Roll Off) or a UAW member working a railyard serving autotrains, you better stock up on Anal Lube, too.
And consumers better be prepared to pay much higher prices for everything from cereal to light bulbs to video game accessories.
And Marylanders should be prepared to really eat the big one when the Port Administration loses 1/3 of its business.
Because that is hope and change you can believe in.