Such is how I feel today as I watch the disaster that is about to strike the gulf coast. It is sickening. What exactly did we forget about what we learned as mere children: water and oil don’t mix. I remember as a child the bluish sheen of gasoline not burned by the boat outboard motor, glistening on the surface of the water of the lake. I understood. Why can’t they?
Is the allure of money to stuff in one’s campaign coffers too much? Is the cheap and quick fix to a local economy too enticing? Are we too willing to deny the obvious for a job? a few extra bucks in the paycheck? Are we so small and selfish and inconsiderate? Are we betting that it will not be our problem but somebody else’s? Somebody else’s child’s?
It sickens me. I want to weep, and I want to hit out at somebody, something.
We learn that what British Petroleum told us is not true. More than five times what they said was leaking actually is. Investigations will soon follow, to determine in part whether they always knew this or not. If they did, well damn them.
We are now in a race that we probably can’t win. Thank goodness that NOAA did an independent investigation and at least alerted that the danger was ever so much worse than we thought. But, frankly it may not matter.
All of this is so predictable. It was a disaster that everyone knew would happen sooner or later, and all those who pushed off-shore drilling, well they banked on later, or at least that they would, when it happened, be far enough away from the action to not be blamed.
I frankly don’t know what agreements states make with these companies. I don’t know who has the ultimate control, federal or state. I was not happy to hear that Obama was removing the moratorium on offshore drilling considerations. I admit not to have followed these issues well.
But, I have no doubt that there would be no drilling offshore in the Gulf of Mexico without the express okay of the states now threatened. So they bear the onus of their own mistakes, yet what they reap in this whirlwind of disaster will affect everyone.
My heart breaks for the wildlife and ecosystems that will be harmed and destroyed. I weep for the loss of life, which everyone seems to have so glibly ignored. I am outraged at the loss of livelihood of fishermen along the coast even though I realize that many of these waters are routinely over fished.
The blows from this keep coming.
And where pray tell are the stupid voices of “drill baby drill” now? Where are the sanctimonious bellowing Obama haters who glam onto each and every issue they can find and pushed this moronic sing-song chant without a modicum of knowledge about what they were spewing about?
Hey Sarah, you lame brained idiot. What say you now? Not that it matters you brainless twit. Don’t bother to tell us of your expertise in the area as you recently argued it was time to drill baby drill, instead of stall baby stall. You wouldn’t understand a fact if it was branded on your palm and carried the imprimatur of the King James Bible as its source.
You and all the Fox Faux news? minions of big business interests. You and Johnny Mac and Jindal and on and on, who suck on the public teat, never earning an honest dollar in your sorry lives.
Yes, I’m being incredibly unchristian and I realize it. That is between me and God, and not your concern. I’ve had it with you all. You users of all that is good in this country to line your own mansions while the rest of us do the dirty work of building and sustaining the world you recreate in. You should be ashamed but you never will be, because you believe, behind closed doors that it really is the survival of the fittest, and you have proven to be the fittest because you have more toys.
So you ahead and spend your time in the tanning salons, and get that massage, and that expensive suit all ready, which you can slip into before you parade before the camera and express your “deep concern,” all the while amping for the angle to turn this into “Obama’s Katrina.” We can see your fangs dripping with blood, and we can see the greed flashing in your eyes. Just looking, aren’t you to turn this whole thing somehow to your advantage.
Damn you all to hell, if there were such a place. Damn you to public condemnation, and may you tongue cleave to the roof of your mouth for all time. You sicken me more than I can express.
//You sicken me more than I can express.//
You expressed it well.
//Yes, I’m being incredibly unchristian and I realize it//
I disagree. I think you are being very
Christian. (not that I qualify to make distinctions)
The bible says Jesus got pissed off and chased the bankers out of the Temple, right?
More Christians should get pissed off like this.
The meek may inherit the Earth….. but only if we ALL save it first.
Good on you, kiddo.
Oh Jimmy thanks a million. I’m just so distressed by this. It was bound to happen… and look at all the horrible loss that is coming and has come.
Sherry, your feelings about this mirror mine.
I opposed Obama’s decision to expand offshore drilling. I understand he is rethinking it, as well he should.
There will be horrific consequeces, and we are powerless to stop them. But there is one thing that we must prevent.
BP will be doing everything in it’s power to externalize costs of this tragedy, pawning them off on US taxpayers and local residents. They must be stopped.
BP and their responsible subcontractors must be forced to pay 100% of all the following:
The cost of containment.
The cost of complete cleanup, and by that I mean restoring the effected ecosystems to their original condition, no matter how much it costs and how long it takes.
The economic cost to the region: workers and employers whose livelihood is devastated.
The loss of property value in effected areas.
The loss in tax revenue to local, state and federal governments.
I can’t prove this yet, but I’m hearing that the initial explosion may have been caused by an unsafe procedure called “cementing” and that the culprit for that is Halliburton.
Tom, I agree totally. BP must pay every cent, hopefully to the point of bankruptcy. Oh and if Halliburton is involved, oh lordy. Cheney’s boys at it again. When will we call these people to account?
It can’t be too soon for me.
Thank you Sherry. I remember the days of pristine Florida beaches, and how different now, and it makes me sad to think of what this disaster will do to them. I hope it isn’t as bad as is feared.
We have lost our sight.
“This war did not spring up on our land, this war was brought upon us by the children of the Great Father who came to take our land without a price, and who, in our land, do a great many evil things… This war has come from robbery – from the stealing of our land.” – Spotted Tail
Thanks so much Izzy. Loved the quote. We would do well to remember the care and love and connectedness of our Native Americans to the earth as we pollute away without a care. It is all so sickening.
Good one, Sherry! Just like OK Jim says.
A key point is GWBushonomics Deregulation again.
Brazil by Law requires one More Shutoff Valve on all Offshore Wells. This historic spill would not have happenned. And it was Drilled under GWBush auspices.
Tens of Thousands of Fishermen, Oystermen, Shrimpers Jobs, Livelihood And Bankruptcies will result in this Richest in all kinds wildlife Brood Area.
And BP advertised years ago that is Is The Green drilling oil Giant. So much for Advertising.
Tony, I’m told that BP got a pass on a more stringent shut off valve (required everywhere else in the world) by none other than Cheney who wink wink nod nod, let them get off with a less reliable “safety” valve.
The funniest part is how BP and their political enablers will suffer nothing but the usual wrist slap.
I gotta believe that at least they will be made to pay for all of this disaster, at least as much as can be calculated in money. The loss of life is of course not subject to that and they will get away without having to go to jail…but then Cheney belongs along with them in the cell as we now understand it.
One of Obama’s Chiefs, of the EPA or Seacuruty, etc, said a couple of days after the Big Spill that “Our Partner BP”, then corrected herself to “BP”. Big Business is In Bed with Obama’s policies, Chiefs also.
Wonder if we’ll ever get a CHANGE.
Tony that was a Coast guard person, someone not at all used to teh public platform of a press conference. It is the Bushites who made the deal with BP. Far as I know, Obama’s admin. has had nothing to do with it.
Exactly, Sherry.
The well waplaced ALL under GW Bish/especially “No Rules” Chaney, who in 2001 called Energu Leaders in for a PRIVATE< Secret meeting to find out what the wanted. And He deregulated Energy, especially Oil production.
Other offshore oil producers like Norway and Brazil have Tougher Written requirements (A second Shutoff valse, etc., etc) only the USA does not have.
Scuse my mis-typing; GW Bush era keyboard!
Keyboard problems.!
lol Tony, gotcha!
tanning salons which are equipped with the latest equipment is the facility that i always visit ..
Tanning Salon are the Quickest way to get Skin Cancer.
Sunshine free.
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