My parents grew up on "coal country" West Virginia, a similar situation to this. We never lived in coal country because my grandparents did, providing the means for our dad and mom to get out of it. My grandfather worked for Appalachia power and light for forty years. They never complained, just were happy to see us living away from the power plant and the mines. You tell a powerful story in this episode. Life was much harder back in those days. I think it was a bit harder in the sixties and seventies. Certainly was for me. The times before "the great war" were pretty rough and ready, I visited my "great grand aunt" living in an unheated cabin with a well fifty feet from the house and had only had electricity for twenty years or so in the sixties. That was the mountains of West Virginia.
I know Steve has a dislike for the stupid emails but I like the fact he goes into detail on those topics and destroys the person complaining such as the last one.
When you try to block out negative things in history, then your probably going to repeat them! I think i heard something like that somewhere ;) have a great day
Reminds me some of the logging camps and company towns that were prevalent in the early 1900s. Very paternalistic but the old fellows who worked in those camps and lived in those towns (look up Grisdale, Washington, or Valsetz, Oregon, Steve) would mostly say is was a good living and a good place to live and raise children
This was one of the best video fisking I have ever seen. Game, set, match, you win. If this was a boxing match, it would have been stopped before the first round was over.
Just on the mining thing I get your point of view. I have watched your videos and admit I have not read your book, but that's my omission. I should get onto that. I come from 3 generations of miners in a remote town in Western NSW called Broken Hill. It has a bitter history of industrial trouble. With imported strolike breakers being tarred tarred and feathered publicly after arriving from Melbourne on a train in 1892, and an ugly strike in 1919 over safety that had strike breakers imported ( called scabs but I think that might be a local term). The miners lived on trapped rabbits and home vegetable gardens for around 6 months. The result was every death on any of the mining leases caused a 3 shift shutdown (24hrs) in all of the mines in town. This was a simple way to make the mining companies have a financial incentive to keep the miners alive and protect them. It also caused a royal commission into the mines at Broken Hill that was an early driver forcing governments to consider these topics and eventually contributed to today's occupational health and safety legislation. You can read similar stories regarding the coal mining industry in the UK and I'm sure in the non English speaking world if you knew the language. I have lived through the overreach after what was a noble cause. When I left school and first wanted a job I had to first attend the union office and get an "ok" tkt to give to any potential employer. The whole town was a closed shop, not just the mines. Stores in town had badge show days every 3 months where all store employees had to display their current union badge ( issued if you were up to date with fees and not expelled for indiscretions such as dobbing in your workmates to your boss). At the mines if any employee had no badge all employees walked off until that person left the lease. For businesses in town union reps would visit and station people outside the business forbidding union members to enter if any employees did not have badges. Some government departments were exempt but that was if their union declined to affiliate locally, some did. Married women were not permitted to obtain a badge, and people from out of town were restricted from employment in the mines. They could get an exemption by marrying a local woman or be at the end of the queue for any jobs. This persisted until until the 90's although we had a federal anti-discrimination act from the mid 70's when someone finally took them to court and the unions were too pig headed to concede a fight they could not win, so had their butts kicked in court big time. I agree completely with your sentiment and also admire the courage and integrity of the miners fighting for the right to stay alive and live a decent life. Sadly like all causes there is a point where the pendulum swings too far, as for the coal miners in England in the 1970's. W
When thinking about poor working conditions either today or in the past it's always worth considering the question of "compared to what". Consider that the people working in these places do/did so because all of the alternatives were worse!
I really get a kick out of the folks that disagree with something I say. When I ask them for facts supporting their opinion they say "do some research" and refuse to state facts supporting their opinions.
Someone on the Internet says "Google it!" I do a search, and get millions of hits. I ask, "Which one are you referring to?" No answer. Happens all the time.
If you are in the mood I think a series of videos about the Bill of Rights would be great! Unfortunately I'm not able to finance it at your standard rate though.
The history of Unions in the United States still continues, and there are multimillion dollar companies who are specifically dedicated to union busting, they just use corporate speak to call what they do something else.
Hey Steve, I love all your content! I download them with RU-vid premium so I can listen to them while driving. I grew up in the UP, KI Sawyer AFB Gwinn Michigan. I really wish you'd do those videos on the Constitution. Thanks for all that you do.
Steve, I seem to remember that you covered this disaster recently. If the person watched your videos, this person should understand that you know this topic. Personally, I really like history. I like to see the transition from one way of thinking to another way of thinking. You are right. History is full of nuance. In order to understand the people's actions in that time, you have to understand their way of thinking.
I could just as easily assume that you were wearing a Calumet & Hekla (sp?) shirt in solidarity with the miners. Throughout history miners have been underpaid, overworked, and expendable while the company that they were indentured to ended up filthy rich.
The challenge is probably a response to the video released on the vault a couple days ago about the press being threatened by prosecution over what they report. The Bill of Rights was mentioned prominently in that one.
Send money, guns and lawyers! People get mad when Steve wares the Tee. The shirt is harmless. On a more serious note there have been 13 mass a week in the U.S. in 2022. So Steve could never ware his tee.
Oh boy, the history of businesses that are old enough to have strange histories is enough to blow your mind. Try digging up IBM, the origin of Fanta (which isn't quite as bad as it seems at first glance, but still will give you a bit of a shock), let's see here, Nestlé, De Beers... Oh boy, I'm sure there's more, but those are the quick ones that come immediately to mind. Any company that's been around long enough likely has some historical things they wish they could erase from history. If you really want to try and pull the moral high ground on every single one of the companies that's ever done anything wrong, you're gonna have to start just living off the land and essentially never interacting with, well, any medium to large company out there. Mom and pop type shops are theoretically okay... Unless they stock stuff from any of the largeish or oldish companies, because then you can say they're supporting the companies... Trust me, the rabbit hole goes deep. Really, really deep if you actually want to dig. But does that mean you're gonna go ahead and essentially remove yourself from society to deal with it? Because good luck, and also, how are you getting youtube then lol? And obviously I'm not saying I condone the things the businesses do/did. But I'm also not gonna be hypocritical and boycott one company for something that six other companies I buy from do as well, it's just that the six others either haven't gotten caught yet or have better PR teams. That's my two cents, at least
So, my only comment today, Wonder if Steve has a receipt for that hundo if his house burns down. Would a video link be sufficient or would they say valuables weren't secured properly.
He no longer shoots videos at his home or office. His media is most probably a separate entity for reasons. So, if his house burned down, the money is relatively safe elsewhere. Don't forget, it's that time of year again. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iPDcUGwfxak.html It is, what it is!
This reminds me of the Game of Thrones books. If you are a black and white thinking type of person you will be shocked at reading those books and coming to and understanding that a person you thought was a complete villain had reasons for being the way they are. Nuance is something that seems to be missing in many humans.
It always annoys me about those with high & mighty attitude about earlier times. Sensibilities were different. My parents were the last generation of European colonialist, in the former Dutch East Indies. Most of their generation, and earlier ones, sincerely believed that they were bringing civilization and a better way of life to the indigenous population. I don't fault them for that stance, even though they exploited those (former) colonies for the resources. It was a different time. And now the indigenous elites, exploit the indigenous masses, in those same territories, so who's the greater evil ?
Steve, obviously I don’t know the reason the person has an issue with your T shirt but having browsed wiki and combining that with the statement of 50’s and 60’s experience combined with you saying this company were the last operator, the strike in the 60’s and closure of the mine may have personal relevance to them and thus might be personally painful. From wiki “During the Great Depression, almost all mines were shut down. As a result, many miners and their families left to find work. In 1950, the population of Calumet was 1,256 people. Small-time mining continued in the area, particularly during World War II, until it was shut down completely by a labor strike in 1968.”. The implication is the company closed down the operation rather than agreeing terms with the employees. Just like your Mom’s experience with her Focus, never forgiven? To pinch another RU-vidrs catchphrase, Just a Thought? Regards Phil.
I listen to you and watch your videos. I miss one now and then but get caught up. On logos on your t-shirts. If you wore something that i didn't like. IT WOULD NOT BOTHER ME. If you wear a shirt in support of - if your sensive about some things please pass this part- the natzi I'd be ok. Wouldn't like it but I'd be fine. Second . If I heard or seen somethinb that you where wrong about enogh to bring it to your attention. I would call you stupid or supprised you didn't know. I would say something like, It has been understood by me that. . . . That would be the worst i would say on sunch thing that might happen. Sorry for the length.
