BP’s hypocrisy on the matter of that oil spill
shouldn’t come as a surprise to everyone, taking the long-term history of theirs, into the consideration.

I’ve come to read an interesting article on the history of BP and its
predecessors and, which is much more important, on
the issues of their connection to the Wall Street
financiers.

Oh, and their shared profiteering, of course.

re:By Anarcissie, June 2 at 4:00 pm:

The liability cap may be moot, Anarcissie. EPA fines could be high enough to force
the company out of existence.

Last night Rachel Maddow highlighted a news story (can’t remember her source)
from some investigative reporter or legal researcher who has found a little-known,
rarely or never enforced provision of the Clean Water Act, still in effect, even though
the CWA has been “watered down” over the years (by high-minded libertarians, I’m
sure).

The provision would appear to call in cases such as this for fines payable to the EPA
amounting to over $1000 and possibly over $4000 per barrel of spilled oil.

This would mean that the amount due in fines, when all is said and done, depending
how you figure the spillage and the fines, could wipe the company out - even with
the liability cap in place.

Tears are rolling down my face
I cry not for me
but for my children and the fate of the whole human race
a sea of red at my feet
as i stand along the bayou shore
this was once my home but not anymore
as the beautiful brown pelican stretches her wings
her feathers shimmer in the blinding sun
the stench is overwhelming in the wind
what have we done . what have we done?

we have destroyed all that we love
and for what?
out of greed for money and oil
the earth is hemorrhaging
we have bled her dry
and now the sea runs red with the blood of marine life
the red tide has destroyed our way of life
there will be no recovery or salvation
only strife

our hearts are broken but our will power must stay strong
we must ensure this tragedy is the last of its kind
to save the earth for all future mankind
for our children and grandchildren we must carry on
learn from this disaster and prevent another one
it’s time to say NO to greed and hubris
and YES to green energy and sustainable practices
we CAN make a difference for the future generations
if we clean up our act and bring BP and accomplices to justice!

As for “doing something”, there is really nothing to do.  When your house catches fire and you have no hose, no fire extinguisher, no fire department, you go outside and watch it burn down and then buy a tent.  Mr. O or Mr. B may be theoretically at fault, but it doesn’t make any difference at this point.  The same things will continue to happen because these guys necessarily believe in the myths of leadership.  Yeah, have an investigation and whatever other forms of theater comfort you.  Someone’s gonna pay!  Guess who.

The one wonderful thing to watch out for here is the liability cap.  That’s the magic mushroom that turns private liability into public loss, billed to the taxpayers.  I’ve heard talk about this with regard to the Gulf disaster and I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

In any event, you will soon see the same sort of b.s. around nuclear power in the not-too-distant future.

Oh, now he “calls for an inquiry”!

That’s the headline?

This is an out-of-control, hair-on-fire, ten-alarm, apocalyptic emergency.

He should be doing stuff so drastic, so momentous, so huge, so paradigm-
shattering, that there’s no room in the headlines for any mention of whatever
“inquiry” has been called for.

But he’s not. He’s not doing anything that upstages or overshadows his “call for an
inquiry”. This call for an inquiry is it.

It is, in short, what he seems to be doing about it.

At the very least, it shows gross political inadequacy.

It is essential to keep in mind how most of the bad stuff happens. I refer you to
the article “Intoxicated by Fundraising” by Ruth Marcus on this site. Please read it.

I was wondering how many active investigations does this adminstration have at this point…?

As we all know, investigating is a classic stall.

What we really need is a committe for public safety….time to sharpen the Guillotine…

This morning a major paper headlined with the story that several ‘changes’
were submitted to the government for ‘approval’ just shortly before the
disaster.  All were ‘approved’, one was ‘approved’ within five minutes of its
submittal. Remember the word “Approved”.

Just like the financial industry, the energy industry has learned well Rule #1:
Privatize the profits and socialize the costs.

When the industry is allowed to write the legislation, the regulations and the
rules, it can all but guarantee Rule #1 will prevail.

By having its actions ‘approved’ by the government, the energy industry has
passed the liability from themselves to the public.

When this becomes clear to the public, Holder and Obama and the rest will be
more disgraced than they are now. 

From a PR perspective, the Obama administration’s call for an inquiry has got
to be the dumbest thing in a long line of dumb things.

Finally, some good economic news! How many unemployed brothers, uncles, cousins, etc. does the administration plan to hire in this whitewashing of BP effort?