An Oily Mess

PLEASE stop the finger pointing!

As barrels and barrels of oil spew into the Gulf of Mexico continuously, it seems that more energy is now being expended on the CYA strategy (“Cover Your Ass”). Amid comparisons to the Federal government’s response to Katrina, the focus of the rhetoric is centered squarely on WHO IS DOING WHAT.

This means that task forces are being formed, meetings are being scheduled and officials are flocking to the scene to “monitor” the situation.

Please.

Most ludicrous of all is the assertion that the U.S. Government should “take over” the efforts to stop the spill from BP, the company that is ultimately responsible for this environmental disaster. And yes, despite Rush Limbaugh’s claim that the effects are being overblown, that “oil is natural, so Mother Nature can handle it” (idiotic), this is truly an undeniable catastrophe of dimensions that may only be calculated decades from now.

The best thing to do is to keep the U.S. government AWAY from the efforts to plug the hole and instead focus on relief for the wildlife and adverse human effects of this spill. Short of putting ANOTHER oil company in charge of the efforts, the Feds have no equipment and zero experience in dealing with the complexities of this catastrophe. While BP only subcontracted for the company that actually caused the accident, they are squarely “on the hook” for all costs associated with the cleanup.

As a “for profit” corporation, this makes them supremely motivated to move as quickly as possible. That said, I am not suggesting that the U.S. Government disengage from the effort. I’m just saying that ANY actions by our government should not include posturing, public relations or “spin”.

If the American public is stupid enough to actually blame the Obama administration for the spill---or the failed efforts to stop it, then so be it. Elect some Republicans who no doubt would have somehow stopped that leak sooner. Right.

Criticism of the Katrina response was warranted—and the Obama administration is likewise fair game for anything that can be done ON LAND. Wasting time by diverting the efforts to stop the leak offshore into “photo ops” onshore are a sub-disaster. The Democrats are already being baited into this trap—and may be taking the bait. Stupid.

There will be plenty of time to point fingers later—after the leak has been plugged. Until that time, we need to leave the experts alone to focus on the task at hand. While the general public cannot understand why no one has used the nearly one million pounds of human and pet hair that have been donated nationwide to soak up the oil, I can only guess that this possibility has been considered—and was either rejected or delayed for a reason.

My infantile “solution” would have been to drop a “boom” or floating line a mile around the epicenter of the spill—i.e. why isn’t the containment in close proximity to the source? But then, I am completely ignorant of the issues involved.

The experts work for the oil companies—and even though they are being vilified, they too are concerned—and are the most qualified—and motivated to stop the oil from spewing. Screaming into their collective ears while they try to do their job (as satisfying as that may be to the screamers) does nothing to advance the goal—it delays it.

This spill will be political fodder for years to come—and the livelihoods of those poor people on the coast who have barely recovered from Katrina have been ruined. The loss of animal and plant life will be staggering—and no amount of rhetoric will make things better.

It’s time to come together, solve the problems----and then afterwards, exact whatever advantage you wish to. At least then, your efforts to exploit a disaster for political gain won’t exacerbate the disaster itself by delaying its resolution.

If you’d like my blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com