Thursday, August 20, 2015

Poverty by Snobbery



Del Norte County has a unique geology. Most of us know of the copper mines at Low Divide and the historical recovery of gold. Fewer still know of the platinum mines, or that diamonds have been found here. Other rare discoveries are documented too.

The truly rich body of ore though is the chrome and nickel bodies. These are critical ores for a modern society. Proposals to extract them have been on the table for decades.

Anyone who has traveled the back country knows the area of ore is not a beautiful place. Sure the distance views are inspiring, but the rock is rock. The mining would not be done on the river or in the Redwoods, not that gold dredging would hurt the river.

Our area is one of contrasts, and the homeless contrast with the prosperous well paid State Employees who make up the bulk of the economy. Often the employed look down their noses at the poor. We make fun of their clothes, modes of transportation, and pitiful begging.

How sad it is to think one of the richest regions of the world is home to poverty because of the view. Mining is the basis of any economic activity, and here the well to do refuse to consider prosperity as an option.


That's my view.

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