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by AnotherDesigner
4489 days ago
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I lived close to that area for a while and know people that have moved to North Dakota to work. They're coming right out of high school and immediately making tons of money. A lot of it is wasted on motorcycles, TVs, trucks, alcohol and drugs. The work itself can be very hard, taking a toll on even the youngest and strongest of them. It's put a strain on a lot of marriages as husbands have moved away to work leaving their wives and children behind in communities that can provide decent homes, schools and safety. It's a difficult situation for me because I know a lot of people that rely on this work to support themselves and their families. Without oil, gas and coal many of these communities would collapse. At the same time, I know the effect this has on the environment and I support us moving towards cleaner, renewable energy sources. I don't have a solution for any of this, just a lot of empathy for everyone involved. |
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Most of the communities that existed before the oil boom would have been fine without it. Some small towns were slowly dying, but the major players and what was effectively their suburbs (South Heart's relationship with Dickinson for example) left the region stable.
For those that were slowly circling the drain of death, they've been handed a fate even worse.