This article is full of funny details that undermine its central argument (Manchin is cynically killing the climate to get rich). The guy comes from coal miners, founded a coal company in the 80s, lost an uncle in the mines, introduced legislation to make black lung claims easierhttps://twitter.com/theintercept/status/1449439003980206086 …
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In his maiden speech to the Senate, Manchin said "I am very proud of the critical role West Virginians play in providing energy to our nation [...] I imagine the lights in this very chamber would be a little dimmer were it not for West Virginia coal."
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The company he's selling the climate out for, according to the Intercept, makes "six figure profits," which is not exactly Bain Capital. Just maybe Manchin finds coal central to his state's identity and economy in the way so many of his voters do?
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Replying to @Pinboard
My understanding is that coal’s role in the WV popular imagination is out of proportion to its actual role in the state’s actual economy in 2021, no?
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Absolutely so. Way more people work in health care in Appalachia than in the mines. But the identity and constituency remain highly symbolic, like they did in Poland in the 90's or in Britain under Thatcher.
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