Coal-producing states are addicted
Of course the coal-producing states are addicted. They’re economically dependent on coal, one of the fossil fuels we have to abandon unless we choose simply to surrender to climate change.
The situation is not unlike the one we faced when the anti-tobacco movement got started. That battle was fought on many fronts, but finally smoking was marginalized by society. The states most dependent on tobacco were financially helped as they confronted the economic hardships they were forced to endure.
Unfortunately, we’re all addicted to fossil fuels, and we all face a painful withdrawal.
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