Pages 85-162

Throughout the book Erik Reece does a fine job in appealing to the emotion of his audience through not only his words, but through the words of others. Many examples of difference situations are explained that help the reader relate to the experiences of others. He does this so that we, as the audience, feel sympathy for the people that coal excavating has drastically affected. He also gives examples of how the coal companies just don't care about these people and that even after their efforts to seek help, no one listens.

He gives is a story called "Before the Law" that was a pretty good description of the people that drink polluted water, breathe coal dust, and people that have simply been flooded out of their homes due to poor strip mining regulations. He talks about Steven Griles, and how he took advantage of the SMCRA in that the mining permits say "to the extent possible," meaning there really was no enforcement in their "efforts" to prevent water contamination. He basically made sure that they could do whatever they really wanted, but have documented that there was regulation when really there wasn't. Another complaint that people had in McRoberts was that the their houses were basically in shambles due to blasting. Several houses and churches has sunk foundations, bowed walls, roof tears, and coal dust covering every inch of their homes. The coal companies simply did not care what they are doing to these people and simply say "You've got an old trailer. Nothing lasts forever." Hearing some of the provided stories makes it hard to even listen to argument from the other side because of how corrupt Reece makes the system seem.

These examples are sickening to think that people have no morality and can only think of the money that they are making instead of the people's lives that they are destroying. With all of the testimonials, it's hard to even think about being on the opposing side. This way of introducing other people's perspectives helps the reader think that it's not just the author that feels this way, and that in fact, many people are affected by strip mining.