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Who is the most to blame for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Who is most to blame for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

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    57
TOJ said:
If this is such a good idea and not one else has done it, why don't you jump right in and fill the void? :roll:

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Outstanding point. If oil can be replaced so easily as an energy source, then why hasn't it happened?

I know the first response will be, "because politicians are in the pockets of the oil companies", but we all know that's crap, because if a good idea is born, the free market would take it and run with it. Hell, a real, practical and cost effective alternative of oil would fetch billions from the oil companies.

The oil companies don't drill for oil, just because they dig drilling for oil. They drill for oil, because it's purdy much the only show in town.
 
TOJ said:
If this is such a good idea and not one else has done it, why don't you jump right in and fill the void? :roll:

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Because I don't have the capital, education, or training necessary. That doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile project of research and development, though.
 
TOJ said:
Have you stopped using oil? If not, why not?


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The if not part would probably have to do with not enough alternatives yet. That will take time, but does not mean it is not a worthwhile goal.
 
samsmart said:
Because I don't have the capital, education, or training necessary. That doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile project of research and development, though.
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But, it's not ready to go, today? Right?

That's the point that many of us have been making for years.
 
apdst said:
But, it's not ready to go, today? Right?

That's the point that many of us have been making for years.
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Which is why we need to continue funding for research and development of alternative energy sources so that today comes sooner.
 
samsmart said:
Which is why we need to continue funding for research and development of alternative energy sources so that today comes sooner.
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Shell and BP have spent billions on R&D looking for alternative energy sources that will actually work. So far, no luck. "Today" is still a long way off.
 
samsmart said:
It's not just holding BP to task I mean, however - I'm also talking about the Congressmen and Senators who have been in the oil industry's pockets while the President is getting so much heat. He's not the only one who deserves it, after all.
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Yes, I agree. In fact I chose Congress as the most to blame. I just think all of the lawsuits and investigations can be put on hold for a while. All our energy should be focused on cleaning up the mess even as the spill is still going on. Our president and Congress is doing a really crappy job. As a Conservative I prefer a smaller, less intrusive government. However, we need government to step up and do there jobs in cases like this. Instead what is Obama doing besides throwing lavish parties and going around still trying to sell the health care bill even after it's already passed? we have a national disaster going on and he is acting like it's an inconvenious to be bothered to do something about it.
 
Harry Guerrilla said:
Hey hey now, BP makes the best solar panels available.
They deserve some credit for that.
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Granted, but are BP's solar panels replacing BP's drilling operatins, yet?

I have an even better question: How many treehuggers hate BP for trying to establish solar farms in the deserts out west? Where was it a couple years ago, New Mexico? Where treehuggers filed an injunction to halt the construction of a big-ass solar farm.
 
apdst said:
Granted, but are BP's solar panels replacing BP's drilling operatins, yet?

I have an even better question: How many treehuggers hate BP for trying to establish solar farms in the deserts out west? Where was it a couple years ago, New Mexico? Where treehuggers filed an injunction to halt the construction of a big-ass solar farm.
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Most people don't want BP to halt drilling operations. What I think most people want is safe drilling operations. There were things that could have been done to prevent or minimize the environmental impact of the spill, and yet it wasn't done. Whether this was because of BP's need for a bottom line, or Congress' or the President's deregulation of the industry is what this thread is asking.

Also, you can't group all environmentalists together. Just because one group halted the building of a solar farm doesn't mean that all environmentalists are against it.
 
apdst said:
Granted, but are BP's solar panels replacing BP's drilling operatins, yet?
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Nope and they likely never will because solar is a horrible way to propel a car.

apdst said:
I have an even better question: How many treehuggers hate BP for trying to establish solar farms in the deserts out west? Where was it a couple years ago, New Mexico? Where treehuggers filed an injunction to halt the construction of a big-ass solar farm.
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Environuts will always hate BP, even if they develop the perfectly efficient, non polluting free energy machine.

BP deserves more credit than what they get, is all I'm saying.
 
samsmart said:
Most people don't want BP to halt drilling operations. What I think most people want is safe drilling operations. There were things that could have been done to prevent or minimize the environmental impact of the spill, and yet it wasn't done. Whether this was because of BP's need for a bottom line, or Congress' or the President's deregulation of the industry is what this thread is asking.

Also, you can't group all environmentalists together. Just because one group halted the building of a solar farm doesn't mean that all environmentalists are against it.
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You're exactly right and IMO the government shoulders just as much--if not more--blame as BP. Afterall, Obama said his crew was calling the shots since Day 1. Right? If that's so, then every shortcoming, regarding halting the spread of the spill, rests on his shoulders.
 
apdst said:
You're exactly right and IMO the government shoulders just as much--if not more--blame as BP. Afterall, Obama said his crew was calling the shots since Day 1. Right? If that's so, then every shortcoming, regarding halting the spread of the spill, rests on his shoulders.
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I think samsmart was talking about before the spill precautions, not stuff after the fact.
 
apdst said:
You're exactly right and IMO the government shoulders just as much--if not more--blame as BP. Afterall, Obama said his crew was calling the shots since Day 1. Right? If that's so, then every shortcoming, regarding halting the spread of the spill, rests on his shoulders.
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There's also the fact that legislation concerning off-shore drilling has deregulated the oil industry. Legislation is the power of Congress, and so our Representatives and Senators deserve just as much blame for not using their legislative powers as Obama is for not using his executive powers.
 
Redress said:
The if not part would probably have to do with not enough alternatives yet. That will take time, but does not mean it is not a worthwhile goal.
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There are plenty of alternatives. Just for transportation there is walking, bicycles, roller skates, horses, camels, dog sleds, and many others, none of which need oil based fuel. If you are going to bitch about people using oil without being hypocritical, you should take the lead in switching. ;)

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samsmart said:
There's also the fact that legislation concerning off-shore drilling has deregulated the oil industry. Legislation is the power of Congress, and so our Representatives and Senators deserve just as much blame for not using their legislative powers as Obama is for not using his executive powers.
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Didn't the Obama administration waive the environmental study that should have been required before BP started drilling this very well? I'm sure I heard that somewhere. ;)

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Your Star said:
BP, plain and simple.

Though this is just another example of why we should stop using oil in the first place.
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You go first!
We need oil! Otherwise we would be walking around on dirt or barewood floors. We would have dirty, tangled hair,hairy legs or face. We would have dry skin and no make-up! We would be living in filth and no way to bathe. Most older people would be deaf, blind,gray headed and toothless. We would be naked and have no way to call for help and no way to go get help.

Here's a very short list of things made from oil.
Telephones, combs,clothes,linoleum,trash bags,shampoo,carpeting,hearing aides, contacts, eyeglasses,hair coloring,false teeth, shaving cream,lip stick, hand lotion, water pipes, wire insulation,.
 
Bartaxx fail just fail we aren't go to stop you from having oil. We want other alternatives fuel sources too lessen our dependence on oil. UH that not true that list is provide by a gas company which is not a very good source.


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# Crude oil products
# Refine

* Lubrication oil
* Paraffin
* Wax
* Asphalt
* Pavement
o Roads
* Industrial fuel oil
* Heating oil
* Diesel
o (burn)
+ heat
o (boil water)
+ steam
o (turn turbine)
+ electricity
* Kerosene, Jet Fuel
o (burn)
o (turn turbine)
+ fly
* Gasoline or Petrol
* Petroleum gas
* (unknown process)
o Styrene
* (unknown process)
o 'Polystyrene
o 'ABS
o 'Styrene-butadiene (SBS) rubber
o 'Styrene-butadiene latex
* (steam cracking)
o ethylene
+ (several processes)
+ poly-ethylene resin
# (injection molding)
# (blow molding)
# bags found in retail shops
o propylene
+ (several processes)
+ poly-propylene resin
Products based on refined oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia List is from Wiki
 
RyrineaHaruno said:
Bartaxx fail just fail we aren't go to stop you from having oil. We want other alternatives fuel sources too lessen our dependence on oil. UH that not true that list is provide by a gas company which is not a very good source.
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That's fine, free yourself from oil.
Don't make the rest of us pay for it because in the end, we'll have to subsidize a lesser value product.

At this current time, there is nothing that compares to the energy density of oil distillates.
Not a single thing, except for nuclear.
Which you can't run cars on.
 
Environmentalists in the guise of EPA, the Corps of Engineers and Department of the Interior, et.al. not allowing or delaying the use of dispersants and building of berms immediately. All of these remedial actions have been taken before; there was no reason to have to study them by the Coast Guard or BP. This administration is predominently made up of academics who have never done anything except study things interminably. Having to take immediate action is as alien to them as the common sense they severely lack.

(The opinions stated above may not be representative of the Coast Guard at large or of the on-scene commander)
 
samsmart said:
Who is the most to blame for the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

The President, because he has executive power over government departments and agencies and should have reacted faster and with more directness?

Congress, because they write the laws that form regulations on both businesses and government operations but did not do either adequately enough to prevent or halt the spill?

British Petroleum, because they've told Congress the industry can best regulate itself and yet their industry response has proven inadequate?

Other?

Nobody?
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BP is responsible, nobody else is.
 
There's plenty of blame to go around on this.

BP is #1 half a dozen different ways. They made the ultimate decisions to cut safety corners and caused the rig to blow. The jerk off who made those decisions on that rig should be indicted for manslaughter.

MMS would come in second place for not regulating as they should. Had they actually inspected and made BP follow the regs this would never have happened.

I'd give third place to Bush and Cheeney for placing their oil friendly corrupt friends in MMS and for lightening regs based on BP's wishes.

And Obama doesn't get a pass here either. He knew about MMS when he took office and for some dumb ass reason he put Bush's oil man, Salazar, in as Interior Secretary. Huh? They had plenty of time to revamp MMS and dragged their feet.
 
When the spill first began, I assumed it was an honest accident. Later, I found out that BP had been guilty of numerous safety violations to make a quick buck.

But what really hit me in the face was a recent report that BP had spent huge amounts of money supporting the Cap and Trade boondoggle. So it looks like the troubles that BP have inherited are well deserved.
 
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