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Tom Tomorrow has it down:
http://www.credoaction.com/comics/2010/05/the-doomsday-bomb-its-perfectl...
@Jim Hightower:
As long as the financial penalty is shoved on to taxpayers and the environment, the environmental impact will be minimal to British Petroleum>
Spew Central:
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/ho...
The best way to sequester carbon is to leave it in the ground. -- Tom Toles
Hey, does everyone know that there's a *live* video cam of the gushing oil at the following link:
http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam
Notice the time stamp. This is live. This is horrifying. Every second. While we eat. While we sleep. For the last 36 days. This is a monster. Seriously.
The Oil Spew in the Gulf is a wonderful metaphor for our current political landscape.
The Gulf Waters represent our idealized political system.
The Oil Rig represents the money being inserted into our system.
The Oil and Gas represents political corruption.
The Dispersant represents the media (Fox is one the most toxic type).
The Underwater Plumes of Oil represents all the everything that's poisoning the system that we don't see.
The Oil Slick represents everything that we can see that is corrupt, but we are either to close to see all of it, or too far away to understand the details.
The Skimmers and Clean up Vessels represent the Spin Doctors that explain what the politicians really meant.
The Clean up workers on the shore represent activists that are trying to get rid of the corruption, but their efforts are mostly futile.
The Dead Sea Life represent US.
N
(You can infer US to being you and me or the USA, either way it works. Feel free to add to this metaphor too, I'm sure I left a lot out).
What did we fight a war for at the founding of our country if it wasn't to fight off British merchantilism that was ruining our country?
for more
http://progressivenorthwest.blogspot.com/
Hey, does everyone know that there's a *live* video cam of the gushing oil at the following link:
http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam
Notice the time stamp. This is live. This is horrifying. Every second. While we eat. While we sleep. For the last 36 days. This is a monster. Seriously.
Let us imagine what would happen if you I owned a tugboat or truck. I wonder what would happen to us if, due to our negligent maintenance, the diesel fuel in the tanks leaked out of its tanks and washed into a stream or bay.
I am sure that local, state and federal law enforcement and environmental quality agencies jump on us with both feet. We would probably have our bank accounts frozen, have liens against our properties and would have a good chance of ending up in jail.
Why hasn’t this happened to the mega-polluter BP? Have liens been filed against BP assets. ? Have their corporate records been subpoenaed? Are the CEO, the COO and other responsible parties facing prison time or are they just sitting back waiting for their bonuses?
Does BP stand for Big Polluter or Beyond Prosecution?
For me the restoration of a progressive economy rely to several sectors and not just to one. A collaborative effort from government and public sector are of great help in trying to carry out the economic policy programs. Anyway did you know that Rand Paul might have dug himself a hole he cannot get out of when he made a comment viewable on national television that he does not agree with the Civil Rights Act. Shocking, I know, how can an American not agree with the Civil Rights Act? Paul attempted to retain his position by clarifying what he meant. He claims he didn't mean that he doesn't agree with it, just that he doesn't agree with a portion of it. The problem came by the way he presented his discussion, not just by the mere debate itself. When he could defend his reasoning, he had already lost a lot of people who were upset by his opinion.
Thom, Is Obama THIS SMART??..could it be that he is allowing B.P. to continue control of it's OIL SPILL in order to SHOW the American people for election 2012, that the PRIVATE SECTOR really isn't the best way..that in fact, there is a huge place for government oversight, transparency, accountability...? Now we are seeing anti-government Republi$$K$$an (K is for "K-Street") Governor Jindal wailing for government aide in controlling the oil spill. Is it true FDRism, shoving in the face of Republi$$K$$an ideologues, the FACT that ONLY government can be powerful enough to stand up to the corporatocracy..? (Let's remember Bernie Sanders last Friday on "Breakfast with Bernie"; "4 investment banks control 50% of U.S. GDP")
Let's also remember Bushit-Enron powerplay in California; Bush: "We are allowing the FREE MARKET to work itself out"..(the SEC some months later): "We knew what was going on all along". And, what was going on all along; Enron had MONOPOLIZED California energy supplies=gave Bushitters impetus to dump California's Democratic Governor-replace him with "The Governator".
Is it at all possible Obama is power-politicing this way?
I am in NO WAY in the Obama camp, in asking this question; not after Obama subsidies to private profits of healthcare insurers...I am also against his subsidizing nuclear industry construction (and insurance against disaster), and drilling offshore for oil, and especially not after inadequate "re-regulation" proposals of Wall Street-Derivatives-Short Sellers-Commodiities Speculators...nontheless, it is fair to ask if Obama is REALLY THIS SMART, in allowing B.P. to hang itself, AND Republi$$K$$an "FREE MARKET SHOULD REGULATE ITSELF" think-tank ideologues....
On Monday's show, Thom asked if the Gulf oil disaster is Obama's Katrina. I say yes because even as the oil washes ashore, Obama is pushing for more offshore drilling, along with John Kerry, John McCain, and many mainstream "eco" groups.
I am an environmentalist, not a right-winger. Part of the reason I put thousands of hours into Obama's campaign is because I didn't want McCain's nuclear energy plan or Palin's oil drilling expansion. However, this is exactly what what we are being given, under the guise of "job creation." To use the Katrina analogy, it's as if, in the middle of the flooding of New Orleans; George Bush had proposed a national program of dike weakening and levee destruction.
We environmentalists have to start saying, "We told you so." Back when the oil companies first wanted offshore oil, we said that accidents and oil spills would be inevitable. We have just been proven right in the most horrible way imaginable. Now listen closely; a nuclear power plant melt down is also inevitable if we continue to use nukes. Our nuke plants are breaking down, leaking tritium, developing holes in their reactor chambers, and becoming so radioactive that people can't even enter the buildings anymore. Nukes are a technological dead end and they are unnecessary.
The November, 2009 issue of Scientific American lays out a plan for us to be carbon and nuke FREE by 2040. The group THE CLEAN also just published a study done by an organization called Synapse that has similar results. These plans must be the blueprint for our new energy policy--not nukes, oil, and coal.
This bill must be stopped. It gives billions to new offshore oil, UNLIMITED billions to nuclear power(really! trillions and trillions!), billions to coal, billions to the unproven and probably impractical technology of carbon sequestration, and forces wind, solar, and other alternative energy to compete against each other for less than half the money. Most of it goes to the old, dirty technologies. Call the White House and call your Senators today.
I know of no more brazen example of corporate control of our government than this bill which would create thousands of new offshore oil wells being introduced and probably being passed in the middle of the worst oil spill in history. The obvious, sensible, human reaction to this disaster is to ban new wells. If people still controlled our government, this is what would be being debated right now. Instead, corporations control our government and they want oil wells. Obama, of course, is doing their bidding by being their front man every day insisting that new offshore drilling has to be part of our energy plan, when that simply is a lie.
So, yes, this is his Katrina. I just hope that some Democrat who actually cares about the environment realizes this and challenges him in the 2012 primary, or we will be faced with a radioactive, greenhouse gas filled, coal mine littered future, thanks to Obama.
Oh so true. If we want to reach those on the other side, we have to learn to talk their language and frame our arguments in terms they can relate to no matter how alien that language may be to us.
@DRichards, can't say I blame you for supporting and voting for a 3rd party, I myself registered Green back in the 90's. But don't let the corrupt and inept actions of a vast number of Democrats fog your reason. All I'm saying is for now, don't vote for a 3rd party candidate if it's going to effectively empower a Republican candidate, however, if you know a race is tight enough, perhaps even winable by you're preferred 3rd party candidate, then by all means go for it.
I definitly share your frustration with the Democratic party, but at least with the Democratic party I can still be frustrated, the Republican party just pisses me off, can't tolerate their oppressive attitudes. Remember, for the most part the Democrats still have to be bought off, the Republicans already believe the corporate BS, they'll get that corrupt cash regardless.
N
My 10 year old says "DAD, DON'T GET MAD . . . GET ORGANIZED!"
My daugther, Coco, who heard me ranting about how bad the Gulf Oil Spill was, asked me a very concerned question "Dad, is it really going to be that bad?" After I filled her head with more scary facts than a 10 year-old probably needs to know, Coco thought about it for a few seconds. Then, she got all serious and asked "Dad, what can we do to help?
Coco and I brainstormed for ideas, and this is what she came up with . . . Coco is organizing a monthlong Read-A-Thon for the Y-Adventure Guides (YAG) group that we belong to. Coco and I got on stage and pitched the idea to about 300 Dads and daughters last week at the YAG Spring Banquet. Our idea was very well received and we could have as many as 150 girls, aged 6 to 12, participating.
All money raised will be donated to the National Audubon Society, which is leading the volunteer effort to rescue and clean oil-covered birds and marine animals.
Coco, of course, will be reading, too. I am pledging $.50 cents a page for every page she reads during the month of June. (Her goal is to read 300 pages). If anyone would like to pledge to support her in her efforts, please e-mail me - at SAJustino@comcast.net - with your pledge. I'll respond to all the pledgers with a direct message to get your contact info, etc.
Tag, you're it.
Steve
It appears that the plume is now only oil, whereas before is was a mix of oil and natural gas. This surely means that the rate of flow for oil has increased. I am not seeing the massive bubbles that were there over the weekend.
As long as the democratic party knows that they have our vote either way, they will not change.
The only time the democratic & republican parties take notice of the general public is election time, the rest of the time they are beholden to the corporations & lobbyist. (Alan Grayson, Dennis Kucinich & Ron Paul excepted).
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1414103329/Oil-on-NOAAs-hands-Reports-show-federal-agency-knew-Gulf-of-Mexico-drilling-operations-were-illegal
NOAA knew drilling operations were illegal. Salazar must go.
Let's stop screwing around and send the worlds greatest oil expert--Sara Palin and the worlds greatest plumber--"Joe The Plumber", down to the Gulf and get this leak fixed and this mess cleaned up. Hell, if we had sent'em down there when this happened, this would have been over weeks ago. What are we think'n?
Re: Acknowledging that the system is screwed up, doesn't limit anyone from working to change it.
I agree!
It just seems to me that one way of voting for real change is voting 3rd party. It may take some time, but perhaps not as long a time as it will take the Democratic party away from the corporations that own them.
@DRichards, for now voting either Dem or Rep is about the only thing the electorate can do. Work towards Campaign Finance Reform and Instant Runoff Voting if you want to yank the power away from corporate sponsored politicians.
Acknowledging that the system is screwed up, doesn't limit anyone from working to change it.
N
Live feed of oil spewing out of riser. Coming from BP ROV, I'm guessing they're providing the least best angle for this.
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/ho...
N
Oh, and I just heard that the director of the dispursant company BP is using, Nalco, worked for BP for 23 years. Is this true?
Re: The two party system is my one and only reason for voting Democratic.
As long as the powers keep you convinced of that, they have themselves covered.
EPA Officials Weigh Sanctions Against BP’s U.S. Operations
by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica - May 21, 2010 1:27 pm EDT
Officials at the Environmental Protection Agency are considering whether to bar BP from receiving government contracts, a move that would ultimately cost the company billions in revenue and could end its drilling in federally controlled oil fields.
Over the past 10 years, BP has paid tens of millions of dollars in fines and been implicated in four separate instances of criminal misconduct that could have prompted this far more serious action. Until now, the company's executives and their lawyers have fended off such a penalty by promising that BP would change its ways.
That strategy may no longer work.
Days ago, in an unannounced move, the EPA suspended negotiations with the petroleum giant over whether it would be barred from federal contracts because of the environmental crimes it committed before the spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Officials said they are putting the talks on hold until they learn more about the British company's responsibility for the plume of oil that is spreading across the Gulf.
The EPA said in a statement that, according to its regulations, it can consider banning BP from future contracts after weighing "the frequency and pattern of the incidents, corporate attitude both before and after the incidents, changes in policies, procedures, and practices."
Several former senior EPA debarment attorneys and people close to the BP investigation told ProPublica that means the agency will re-evaluate BP and examine whether the latest incident in the Gulf is evidence of an institutional problem inside BP, a precursor to the action called debarment.
Federal law allows agencies to suspend or bar from government contracts companies that engage in fraudulent, reckless or criminal conduct. The sanctions can be applied to a single facility or an entire corporation. Government agencies have the power to forbid a company to collect any benefit from the federal government in the forms of contracts, land leases, drilling rights, or loans.
The most serious, sweeping kind of suspension is called "discretionary debarment" and it is applied to an entire company. If this were imposed on BP, it would cancel not only the company's contracts to sell fuel to the military but prohibit BP from leasing or renewing drilling leases on federal land. In the worst cast, it could also lead to the cancellation of BP's existing federal leases, worth billions of dollars.
Present and former officials said the crucial question in deciding whether to impose such a sanction is assessing the offending company's culture and approach: Do its executives display an attitude of non-compliance? The law is not intended to punish actions by rogue employees and is focused on making contractor relationships work to the benefit of the government. In its negotiations with EPA officials before the Gulf spill, BP had been insisting that it had made far-reaching changes in its approach to safety and maintenance, and that environmental officials could trust its promises that it would commit no further violations of the law.
EPA officials declined to speculate on the likelihood that BP will ultimately be suspended or barred from government contracts. Such a step will be weighed against the effect on BP's thousands of employees and on the government's costs of replacing it as a contractor.
Even a temporary expulsion from the U.S. could be devastating for BP's business. BP is the largest oil and gas producer in the Gulf of Mexico and operates some 22,000 oil and gas wells across United States, many of them on federal lands or waters. According to the company, those wells produce 39 percent of the company's global revenue from oil and gas production each year -- $16 billion.
Discretionary debarment is a step that government investigators have long sought to avoid, and which many experts had considered highly unlikely because BP is a major supplier of fuel to the U.S. military. The company could petition U.S. courts for an exception, arguing that ending that contract is a national security risk. That segment of BP's business alone was worth roughly $4.6 billion over the last decade, according to the government contracts website USAspending.
Because debarment is supposed to protect American interests, the government also must weigh such an action's effect on the economy against punishing BP for its transgressions. The government would, for instance, be wary of interrupting oil and gas production that could affect energy prices, or taking action that could threaten the jobs of thousands of BP employees.
Continue reading here:
http://www.propublica.org/feature/epa-officials-weighing-sanctions-again...
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