Carl,
I knew you would chime in with a passionate response.
I tend to agree with your sentiment re: politicians taking hold
of an issue like this, adding spin, and somehow making a bad
situation for all somehow good
Here's a thought re: the mining boom:
I worked on several mines. I've seen boom times and quiet times.
Mines always work on profit margins with a close eye kept on world metal
prices.
When mines experience a world minerals oversupply, or a recession, they go into care
and maintenance shutdown....sometimes for years.
It's a great way to lay off thousands of jobs too, under dubious
reported circumstances.
What happens when all of the people employed by these mines hit
a retrenchment phase due to a global oversupply/slump in base metal prices/recession?
It does happen...I've seen several of these cycles in my years on mines.
They will be out of a job with a day's notice (contractors) and have to
meet the mortgage repayments for the next week.
Then they will fall back on their fantastic education to find the next job.
Steve