Advancements in Coal Mining Technology

Ok...I'm just going to come out and say what I think has been on everyone in America's minds for the last few weeks since the coal mining tragedy...

If we can put a man on the moon, split the atom, figure out the human genome, cure disease, and clone sheep...Why the hell can't we figure out a way to get coal out of the ground without anybody dying?

I mean, I don't want any hard working people to lose their jobs, and I am in no way trying to make light of the current tragedy. It just seems that their haven't been any advancements in coal mining technology since, I don't know, the invention of the hardhat and the elevator? Why can we not figure out a way to make mining coal safe? If we can build billion dollar robots that patrol other planets, isn't there a way we can make a robot to get coal out of the ground? So people don't have to die trying?

Just a thought.