Bad people Quote by John Grisham
““So why do these guys hate your guts?” “Because they believe strip-mining is a good thing. It provides jobs, and there are few jobs around here. They’re not bad people, they’re just misinformed and misguided. Mountaintop removal is killing our communities. It has single-handedly wiped out tens of thousands of jobs. People are forced to leave their homes because of blasting, dust, sludge, and flooding. The roads aren’t safe because of these massive trucks flying down the mountains. I filed five wrongful death cases in the past five years, folks crushed by trucks carrying ninety tons of coal. Many towns have simply vanished. The coal companies often buy up surrounding homes and tear them down. Every county in coal country has lost population in the past twenty years. Yet a lot of people, including those three gentlemen over there, think that a few jobs are better than none.” “If they are gentlemen, then why do you carry a gun?” “Because certain coal companies have been known to hire thugs. It’s intimidation, or worse, and it’s nothing new. Look, Samantha, I’m a son of the coal country, a hillbilly and a proud one, and I could tell you stories for hours about the bloody history of Big Coal.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Firm” (fictional dialogue), 1991
A heated debate reveals tension between economic dependence on coal and its environmental and social harms, exposing misinformation and intimidation.
In simple terms: Debate over coal jobs vs. environmental damage.
Balance economic needs with community health.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy making
- community organizing
- environmental advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives can provide jobs without harming communities?
- How can misinformation be effectively countered?
Solutions may require complex trade‑offs and political will.