BP is in total control

[Chico Man]

Ok, we now have a situation where a corporation has total control over coming up with a 'solution' to a problem that threatens the entire planet. The US Government is helpless in solving this solution. The role of the government in this crisis is going to simply come down to caring for those citizens affected (and poorly, I must say).

It is hard for me not to believe BP is in the midst of a grand conspiracy to blackmail the entire planet.

I was not aware of the fact that corporations were driving private fleets of submarines around the ocean. I was previously concerned with private military contractors like blackwater and their private fleets of helicopters, but now we have a corporation that controls a major portion of the worlds most widely used natural resource, dilly dallying on the solution, teasing the US government, and heavily testing the boundaries of what a corporation can get away with on this planet.

I'm not saying BP blew up the rig on purpose, but does it frighten anyone else that apparently BP has more well trained scientists, submarine drivers, etc. than the US Government and US Navy? I wonder how much money these engineers are being paid to drive the subs around. These are the "best of the best" and have gone to private industry for one reason and one reason only: $$$$$.

My only hope is that the citizens of the Gulf Coast rise up in protest and put an end to this once and for all. We should not allow corporations to delve into areas that only they can control. We are on the verge of polluting the entire planet. We already have the "Great Pacific Trash Vortex". China is riddled with ewaste and massive amounts of pollution.

Who can stand up to BP? Apparently, noone. And this scares the living crap out of me.

[sharp_stick]

1. Nice thing about grand conspiracy theories

proof of their existence isn't needed because you need to prove a negative to show they don't exist; hence the sheer number of loony conspiracy theories still in existence.

What fleets of submarines would you happen to be talking about? Did the Russians sell off their last Typhoon to BP or something?

[Chico Man]

3. Obviously

BP must be well invested in the most advanced submarine technology, to be able to do what they do.

[sharp_stick]

6. Underwater robotic submersibles

are not submarines. They are attached by umbilical to ships on the surface, that's how they get the superfine control needed to work at 5,000 feet. They are also unmanned.

Any company that does underwater drilling or cable laying owns and operates the robots.

[Chico Man]

8. So

Are you saying the US Government has expertise in this matter (solving underwater disasters). Again, who is in control.

I thought these types of things were purely in the realm of scientific research and military (think woods hole).

Do you not think it is risky that we allow corporations to delve into areas where government has no oversight (and couldn't even if they tried?) In particular, when the goal of the corporation is to control the worlds most widely used natural resources.

[sharp_stick]

10. No not at all

The US Government only has an oversight role, they don't have the expertise. All I'm saying is that BP is not operating a fleet of submarines and I don't believe in grand conspiracy theories. It is in BP's interest to plug this hole up if for nothing else at least stopping the bleeding on their stock price.

There are many industries where the Governments only role is oversight. Proper oversight and regulation would have probably saved this mess. Either by forcing BP to add a second blowout preventer on top of the first (too expensive BP said), or by forcing BP to drill a second, relief well, along with the first (again too expensive BP said).

The MMS agency that should have been overseeing this was gutted by Reagan, not strengthened much by Clinton and then even further gutted by shrubbo and his years of Republican control of Congress.

My only hope for Government in this mess is that they properly clean it up and force BP to pay the entire cost. As a bonus I'd like to see a much stricter regulatory agency come out of this.

[Chico Man]

11. Well said

[mzmolly]

2. Here's the deal. Does ANYONE let alone the Government

have the expertise to deal with this disaster? Can the US afford an unlimited clean up effort?

These questions have to be answered before we can honestly suggest the US Government intervene and tell BP to get the H out of the way while we take over.

[Chico Man]

4. Nobody does

And there are several fringe groups that may appreciate that fact.

The role of the US Govt will be one of compassion, and that is it.

[blindpig]

5. Capitalism is in total control

We gotta kill Capitalism before it kills us.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. scare the shareholders?

[notesdev]

9. This is the definition of fascism

Government for the corporations, by the corporations, of the corporations. Mussolini would be proud.