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Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

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Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#12
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He really doesn't come off as a good guy here.

He is not a good guy. He doesn’t believe in climate change (and actively funded campaigns against it while his company speeded towards bankruptcy [1]), and is deeply committed to coal [2]. This article humorously demonstrates his hypocrisy, and his life’s work (as a coal company executive and ardent champion of the fuel) and beliefs backfiring on him in spectacular fashion. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/clim…

I have friends and acquaintances that have worked jobs like this and it absolutely destroys your health in the long term.

It’s a shame that the both the government and industry have not pursued a better path forward.

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#13
post #8

I see Bob Murray is personifying the old tycoon motto: socialism for me, rugged capitalism for thee.

Why is this being downvoted? Murray is scum. For decades he tried to discredit black lung as a valid disease. His claim for black lung disease benefits should be denied on principle, for all the pain and suffering he has caused to date.

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He is not a good guy. He doesn’t believe in climate change (and actively funded campaigns against it while his company speeded towards bankruptcy [1]), and is deeply committed to coal [2]. This article humorously demonstrates his hypocrisy, and his life’s work (as a coal company executive and ardent champion of the fuel) and beliefs backfiring on him in spectacular fashion. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/17/clim…

I have friends and acquaintances that have worked jobs like this and it absolutely destroys your health in the long term. It’s a shame that the both the government and industry have not pursued a better path forward.

I've spoken to Congressional representatives about possible paths for coal miners to bridge them from coal mining to social security or the pension benefit guarantee corp (essentially buyouts, very inexpensive for the number of folks we're talking about), and quite literally have been laughed at. I have no sympathy anymore for anyone in the coal industry except front line workers who are being hung out to dry. It's Bob's turn to be hung out to dry. He's a terrible person (based on his actions, not just in the case of trying to prevent worker health claims but also wiping out pensioners of his company), and the evidence is very public.

I’m sorry for your friends and acquaintances. People care, it’s just always an uphill battle.

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#16
post #2

If you haven't already seen them, John Oliver's Last Week Tonight episodes on Murray are great watches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw6RsUhw1Q8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN8bJb8biZU

I kinda feel like the Department of Labor should respond to Bob's request by telling him to eat something.

The people who endangered miners really shouldn't be entitled to benefits for miners, especially when that person, via bankruptcy, has guaranteed that the government is going to end up on the hook for providing that.

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#17
post #3

> But Murray told NPR in October 2019 that he had a lung disease that was not caused by working underground in mines. > “It's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. IPF, and it is not related to my work in the industry. They've checked for that,” Murray told NPR. “And it's not — has anything to do with working in the coal mines, which I did for 17 years underground every day. And until I was 76, I went underground twice a we…

If he attested in October 2019 that his disease was unrelated to working in coal mines, it's curious that he's a black lung claimant under a statute that requires the miner to have or have had pneuomoconiosis and for some causal link to exist between that and their work as a miner.

Seems he wants to have it both ways. Jeopardizing the safety of his employees with his opposition to regulations is justified - except when it affects him personally. Then, he should be entitled to benefits and remedies under the law.

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#18
post #13
post #8

I see Bob Murray is personifying the old tycoon motto: socialism for me, rugged capitalism for thee.

Why is this being downvoted? Murray is scum. For decades he tried to discredit black lung as a valid disease. His claim for black lung disease benefits should be denied on principle, for all the pain and suffering he has caused to date.

He may not justly deserve the benefits. But do you want to act on the same level as him? Or do you want to be better?

Re: Bob Murray, Who Fought Regulations as a Coal Operator, Files for Lung Benefits

#19
post #8

I see Bob Murray is personifying the old tycoon motto: socialism for me, rugged capitalism for thee.

Well said. Seems to me that he's going to set a precedent that will screw over workers' attempts to even file a claim by muddying the water.
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