Coal mining tragedies reappeared

If you spent recent days praying at the site of frantic rescue efforts in coal country, whether in China, or in West Virginia, you'd have only one concern: Seeing your loved one brought back to solid ground.

And yes there are mine safety issues that need to be addressed ... And I share the concern ... But let's face one more problem with coal that no one has an answer for.

When you look at coal mining in China and America, keep this in mind.

You are looking at two countries that rank as world leaders in coal deposits, coal production, and coal use for electricity.

And China pays a price ... Some of the world's most polluted cities ... And worst rates of diseases like emphysema and cancer.

And we pay a price ... Sure, our coal-fired plants are generally cleaner than China's, but even so coal is our dirtiest fuel ... Far worse than natural gas and oil in terms of noxious stuff that gets released into the atmosphere.

One reason China and America still burn coal is practical. It's more abundant and cheaper and if we had to stop burning it tomorrow, lights would go out in a lot of cities.

Another reason is political, the industry is entrenched. They've bought the good will of lots of politicians. They've polluted the debate with hocus pocus about future breakthroughs that will somehow render coal "clean" -- a myth -- or pipe the pollutants underground -- another myth.

Bottom line: Let's save those coal miners if we can, but let's double the effort to find alternatives to coal, because coal won't ever be truly safe until we can leave it under ground.