The PG used tragedies to advance its agenda

In your April 24 editorial on the recent coal mine and deep-sea drilling platform accidents that killed more than three dozen workers, you argued that the common element between them is our nation's addiction to fossil fuels ("Tragedy on the Rig"). Following that logic, such as it is, dozens of construction fatalities reported annually must be due to our addiction to housing and shelter. Naturally, farming-related fatalities can be blamed on our longtime addictions to food and eating. Is this what passes for reasoned opinion at the Post-Gazette? Really?

The facts here are so much simpler: These were totally preventable industrial accidents, caused by unsafe conditions or procedures, the exact nature of which is to be determined. That's the only common element between the two tragedies. Instead of remembering the victims with calls for better safety for workers, you used the opportunity to push your own agenda for limited domestic oil drilling and the replacement of fossil fuels with, well, something. Never let a crisis go to waste!

"Tiresome" is how you described your arguments. I'd call stepping over the bodies of these accident victims to advance an agenda "tasteless."

 

DOUGLAS POWELL
Robinson