TRIAL AND LAWYERS

1. In the Brubaker Mining trial, at the beginning of AMID RAGE, was Mike a clever lawyer when he sent Inspector Stevens out of the courtroom or was he acting unethically?
2. Mike is forced to take a position not favoring either the citizens or the mining company. This is because both filed appeals from the issuance of the permit. Should Mike—and DEP—have taken sides with the citizens? With the mining company?
3. DEP issued the mining permit to Rhino coal. At the same time, the department had concerns about blasting and mining near homes, hurting the headwaters of the stream, creating an acid mine discharge. Should it defend the permit?
4. Why did Mike help Miranda and the citizens?
5. Angela St. Germain attends a meeting with Rinati and Sid Feldman, her boss. Rinati repeatedly touches her and makes sexual innuendos. She says nothing, fearing she may lose a chance for a partnership at her prestigious law firm. She justifies this because she makes a lot of money she can donate to worthy causes. What should she have done?
6. Sid Feldman, Rinati’s lawyer, at one time was a star lawyer at DEP. Then he went into private practice and represents industry, including Rhino Mining. Is there something wrong with that?
7. The neighbors appear to have come up with a way to discredit Lyle Ransom. They were doing this to save their homes. Putting aside the legality of what they were doing, was it a moral or ethical thing to do?

MIKE AND NICKY

8. Mike and Nicky. What are they to each other?
9. Why does Nicky allow herself to be in such a close relationship with Mike? Is she being fair to Mike?
10. Why does Mike allow himself to become so close to Nicky? Is he being realistic?
11. Mike and Nicky. Nicky says: “Other people might think it’s weird, but I’ve never had a friend like you. Somehow this feels right.” Is it? Is their relationship realistic? Could something like this happen?
12. Do all guys wish they had a Nicky at some point in their lives? Do all women wish they had a Mike?

ENVIRONMENTAL/CLIMATE CHANGE

13. The mining industry people—John Hicks (District Mining Manager), Sid Feldman, Ernie Rinati— all think that coal can be mined safely, with minimal environmental impacts and with little or no effect on climate change. Also coal mining has a huge economic impact on the areas of the country where it is mined. What do you think?
14. Coal accounted for 39% of electricity generation in Pa. in 2020. Do you think it would be feasible to just stop using coal today? If our society did that, what form of energy would take its place? Nuclear? Natural gas? Solar? Wind? Conservation?

Statistics:

Electricity Generation in PA

Coal: 39%

Petroleum: <1%

Natural Gas: 24%

Nuclear: 34%

Hydro: <1%

Other Renewable: <1%

Source: US Dept. Of Energy (accessed July 29, 2020)