Health Problem
Understandably, human beings are said to be healthy when living in good conditions, especially in terms of the climate. A bad climate leads to discomfort and unbearable living conditions for human beings. In fact, bad climate that cannot support life is the reason human beings cannot even live on other planets other than earth. Therefore, climate change is a problem that is a threat to the health of human beings in the United States of America and across the earth ( Stretesky & Lynch, 2011) . However, despite this real threat, coal which is a major contributor to increase rate of climate change, continues to be heavily mined in the United States of America.
It is worth noting that coal does not only bring about the problem of climate change, but also directly affects the health of human beings. There are negative effects on human health, which arise from the coal mining, preparation, combustion, transport and waste storage processes. Its compositions including sulphur dioxide, particulates, ozone and radio-nuclides reduce life expectancy among human beings ( Chen, Feng, Long & Qi, 2013) Moreover, coal mining and use affects the human lungs causing it to become black, which may lead to cancer of the liver. It has also been established that the carbon monoxide from coal can cause heart failure. Therefore, coal mining is a problem in the United States, which should urgently be resolved through institution and implementation of applicable policies ( McIvor & Johnston, 2016) . The government of the U.S. must pass policies aimed at curbing the problem of coal mining, which continues to hurt the environment and human health.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Possible Solution
The possible solution to the issue of coal mining is enacting and implementing policies that effectively ban the practice and use of the product. Coal mining and use should be banned in the U.S. because it is not supportive to human health and good climate ( Zhengfu, Inyang, Daniels, Frank & Struthers, 2010) . The policy enacted in this case should be one that promotes the use of renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind. It implies that the decision of President Donald Trump to leave the environment conservation treaty entered with other nations across the world should be revoked. The United States of America needs to commit itself to the promotion of renewable and sustainable green sources of energy. The world is currently focused on achieving this end and the U.S. should not be left behind.
Political Situation
The divisive politics existing in the United States when it comes to this issue of coal mining has made it impossible to end the problem ( Cook, 2016) . The Republican Party has openly been opposed to suggestions of banning coal mining. In fact, President Trump is a person that has clearly provided protection to coal miners and rejected any idea regarding banning the practice. However, it is an understandable position since coal mining states are vote-rich strongholds for the Republican Party. Additionally, coal miners are among the biggest financiers of the Republican Party. The Democrats have clearly support the full use of renewable energy and call for the banning of coal mining in the country (Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2016). Therefore, the country is politically divided on this issue of coal mining ( Douglas & Walker, 2017) .
Republican and Democratic Party Platforms
According to the Republican platform, the government needs to refrain from exercising favoritism among those responsible for energy production. The issue of climate change does not presently serve as the key security challenge facing the country. Efforts for limiting carbon production, such as the realization of the 25 percent renewables by the Department of Defense by 2025 depict acts of extremism as opposed to common sense. For the platform, it advocates on the need for establishing different energy types that are possible to market economy, such as natural gas, coal, hydropower, nuclear power, and oil without offering subsidies. Here, the idea is that traditional supplies of energy should not be subsidized. Additionally, it backs the idea of allowing the production of minerals on public lands while encouraging the private sector to develop technology that can facilitate in carbon capture as well as sequestration (Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2016). It disregards carbon tax together with the Clean Power Plan.
In the event of the Democratic Party Platform, it reveals that the climate change issue is a pressing issue and a key challenge in the present society. It states that the worldwide temperatures at all-time highs and the rising seas are affecting cities in America negatively. The country is also witnessing prolonged drought periods, flashfloods, and wildfires. It shows commitment toward abiding to the Paris Agreement, which targets making sure that the worldwide rises in temperatures do not go past two degrees Celsius. Additionally, it exercises commitment toward making sure that 50 percent of the country’s electricity comes from clear sources of energy in the coming decade while eradicating special subsidies and breaks for companies in fossil fuels. It also advocates on the need for safeguarding and spread tax incentives for clean energy as well as energy efficiency (Western Organization of Resource Councils, 2016). Furthermore, the platform ensures to defend and extend efficacy and smart solution standards, such as the Clean Power Plan.
Party Articulating Health Care Policy Better
The party that I feel does a better job when it comes to articulating their health care policy is the Democratic Party. The party shows commitment to fostering the adoption of clean energy while supporting the need for limiting traditional sources of energy. It argues that the global temperatures are rising at unprecedented levels, which are having adverse effects to the American society. In this vein, by supporting the need for eradicating special subsidies on fossil fuel companies while offering incentives for clean energy and energy efficiency, the Democratic Party can be seen heading on the right path toward articulating a health care policy. This will ensure that individuals remain healthy with the reduction in pollution and climate change that emanates from traditional energy sources.
Party Promoting Healthcare Policy Better
The party that I feel to be doing a better job on matters related to promoting its healthcare policy as evidenced in its 2016 platform is the Democratic Party. The party understands that the changes in climate will impose various health implications to the society. As such, it has advocated on the need for supporting clean energy initiatives while at the same time supporting energy efficiency. It is engaging the community in the efforts to fight against harmful extraction practices while advocating on the need for investing in communities that produce energy to assist in job creation. Additionally, supporting fossil fuel reforms on public lands will ensure that the communities in such areas will live healthy lives. Thus, the efforts by the Democratic Party are crucial to promoting its healthcare policy.
References
Chen, H., Feng, Q., Long, R., & Qi, H. (2013). Focusing on coal miners’ occupational disease issues: A comparative analysis between China and the United States. Safety Science , 51 (1), 217-222.
Cook, N. D. (2016). The politics of environmental reform: Controlling Kentucky strip mining . Routledge.
Douglas, S., & Walker, A. (2017). Coal mining and the resource curse in the eastern United States. Journal of Regional Science , 57 (4), 568-590.
McIvor, A., & Johnston, R. (2016). Miners' lung: a history of dust disease in British coal mining . Routledge.
Stretesky, P. B., & Lynch, M. J. (2011). Coal strip mining, mountaintop removal, and the distribution of environmental violations across the United States, 2002–2008. Landscape Research , 36 (2), 209-230.
Western Organization of Resource Councils (2016). Where do party platforms stand on coal and climate issues? Available at http://www.worc.org/coal-climate-party-platforms-2016/.
Zhengfu, B. I. A. N., Inyang, H. I., Daniels, J. L., Frank, O. T. T. O., & Struthers, S. (2010). Environmental issues from coal mining and their solutions. Mining Science and Technology (China) , 20 (2), 215-223.
