I always thought that one of the few things Carter did not fuck up was the push for alternate energy sources. If we had begun when Carter first spoke up, we would be past the debate about where or if to drill, whether it is cost effective to begin pursuing such ventures, or whether people could be trained in time for green energy to influence the economy and job market. All of that would have been answered. Instead we chose to stay the course, stay in dutch with big oil and lobbyists, minimize job creation, increase imports, remain ham-stringed by anyone with a barrel of oil to sell, and constantly run the risk of destroying the environment.
I will say that I am actually not completely against drilling. The Alaska pipeline was revolutionary for the time. But like everything in America, it needs to be regulated. You can't just set up camp make a huge mess, and then decide when it's time to go that you can leave the mess you made behind. A worse scenario is never to consider cleaning up after yourself.
It's like the man said, 'better to have a gun and never need it, then to need one and not have it.'
Anything can go wrong, at any time. This is insane; to believe you can be negligent with a dangerous mission, and ask people to put their lives at risk, without telling them the risk they are taking is that you just don't give a shit. It's unfair. If you choose to bypass regulations and safety measures, well so be it, at the very least, you have an obligation to explain that to the people who will be putting themselves in harms way. It happened in a coal mine a month before it happened on an oil rig in the gulf of Mexico.
Then at the risk of sounding like an ultra liberal, there is the environmental cost... Yes folks, it is true, this kind of thing effects the ocean life, which in turn effects the fishing industry, as well as recreational services. You think you can still water ski, or scuba in the Gulf? Okay, do that.... Then enjoy some of that Gulf shrimp afterwords in a tasty cocktail. Do I even mention the wetlands, aquatic life, birds, turtles, or plant life? Thousands of gallons of nasty oil are being caught in undercurrents to ravage the Atlantic ocean and coastline, causing unprecedented damage up and down the coast, possibly causing permanent negative change to these ocean bodies, and connecting estuaries.
Then we have the lobbyists. These guys decide to cut cost, to increase profit. These are the guys holding the gun. This is why we need better representation. We, as Americans, need our own lobbyists. We need to be looked out for, to make sure these greedy self indulgent pigs stay in line. They decide no safety this and that are necessary, not because it's true, but because it is expensive. They then add some lame reformation about nominal fines if something goes wrong. Making damn sure that it is within budgetary guidelines BEFORE it is proposed. With this going on, whoever they lobby for, can't lose.
This brings me to my last point. Where are all the fools who were talking shit about safe drilling, with a minimal footprint left behind. Why are they not defending the actions they fought so hard to achieve? Why aren't they speaking out about the very carelessness that lined their pockets for so long? Why aren't they out there with their talking points about the need for oil, or how sometimes bad things happen to good oil? They are still getting paid by these companies, so why? Could it be that these are the same people who are going to need to fill the room with bullshit come november? This spill was great for business. Now they can justify another rise in oil prices! You don't think so? wait and see, they just won't be able to resist.
As for the government I say, Obama, maybe it's time you broke ties with your buddies. You took money from Goldman Sachs, they are criminals. You say go drill off the east coast, it will benefit us. You were speaking on behalf of different criminals. Where the fuck is that change??? I believe Mr. President, I just don't buy it...
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