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OPINIONS
Voice of the people
Coal industry has given much to state
It saddens me to learn how many of our citizens fail to appreciate the coal industry that prospers our great state.
Without the coal industry, our state of West Virginia would be one vast government preserve with a small logging and scenic industry strictly controlled by the federal government.
Our population would consist of widely scattered small farms located on primitive roads. There would be no large towns, hospitals, universities, interstate highways or any significant tax base.
Most of our coal critics are obviously ignorant of the fact that all surface mines are temporary. The site will eventually become a shopping mall, airport or golf course or revert to a green landscape, as history proves.
Let us, therefore, be thankful to the Lord for this wonderful resource that supports our modern lifestyle.
Fred R. Toothman
Barboursville
McCain lacks leadership skills
So John McCain came to Huntington. Did he go see the coal miners of West Virginia? Nope. Did he visit the single mothers or the homeless of Huntington? Nope. He visited with the most important group of people in Huntington -- the Marshall football team, because God knows how important these people are to our economy.
Why would anyone vote for this man? I hate to call him a confused old man, but he won't stop acting like one. Football is all nice and good, but there were several groups he could have addressed while in town that are far more important. He's just going for that small town charm, and I am not buying it. He needs to be telling us what he's going to do to fix the mess he helped put us in. Oh wait, he did, and any person with two brain cells to rub together can see his economic plan is foolish at best.
And I wish someone would explain to him that no amount of time in a POW camp qualifies you to be president. Also, his military career leaves much to be desired. He claims he served in command duty while in Vietnam, but if you check his records, McCain never served as a commander, only combat duty.
Don't get me wrong. McCain is a hero and great American, but that doesn't mean he has any leadership skill. Please, don't vote for this man because he was a POW or a war hero. The pity of America shouldn't pick presidents.
James Boles
Huntington
