A long and sometimes terrible history. Mine towns and such. The song 16 tons actually was factually correct if one listens to it closely.
I dont know how much the underground miners make, but whatever it is, it isnt enough. And that includes all underground miners, not just coal.
I suspected that the “War on Coal” did have one agenda that wasn’t disclosed by Obama et al.
I think the intent was to bankrupt the coal industry, then turn the assets over to Clinton cronies at pennies on the dollar.
Afterwards, the “laundered” company could reappear in some “fictional” green marketing wrapper as some sort of “clean green coal” ....
It’s all about the power and money...