Certainly the oil spill is tragic. No one likes to see the environment affected by this accident. I bet we could stop offshore drilling if everyone that called themselves an environmentalist would stop all unnecessary activities that consumed oil and lived out their "convictions"
Also, 11 people lost their lives taking risks to provide us with oil so we can afford to fly to exotic locations and drive around looking for wind. I just thought I would mention that because that seems to have been glossed over.
If offshore oil drilling is so offensive to your sensibilities try boycotting oil manufacturers that drill offshore. No one is forcing anyone to support BIG oil.
I am thankful for "greedy' corporations that provide the means for ALL (notice I said ALL) of us to enjoy our high standard of living. Pick a country without "greedy" corporations and commit to living the lifestyle of its average citizen. Start by selling your kites and car. Or is that different?
pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
Mon May 03, 10 2:38 pm
All one can do is make or try to make informed decisions.
When they finally stop bitching and moaning, its often the politicians that make the decisions that affect all of us. So why not join the 5%? of Americans who actually research the past decisions of the people they vote for?
There is no simple solution to the problem of future energy needs. The need for power in the future will only be eclipsed by the need for fresh water. If you can afford it, now is a great time to invest in renewable.
By 2020 I want my daily driver to be an electric car that I recharged with solar panels. Saving money for the Aptera when they finally move out of california.
oh, and if you vote for Sarah Palin, I will stab you in the eye
cosmodog
Since 06 Oct 2005
204 Posts
Stoked
Mon May 03, 10 4:02 pm
Quote:
I am thankful for "greedy' corporations that provide the means for ALL (notice I said ALL) of us to enjoy our high standard of living. Pick a country without "greedy" corporations and commit to living the lifestyle of its average citizen. Start by selling your kites and car. Or is that different?
I use oil - but would be happy to pay more for better safeguards (or reduce the oil companies profits a bit). The nuclear industry is very regulated and they have many redundant safeguards. Its crazy that they have only one way to turn off the flow and when that fails they only have options that take weeks/months to implement. I sure hope they come up with some agency similar to NRC for regulating risky drilling and wells in the US. The problem is that industry has shown that greed will trump safety.
..... The problem is that industry has shown that greed will trump safety.
Not directed at cosmodog
you = generic NWkiter
Greed can trump safety, but, everyone is forced to make judgments on safety. If you dont wear a helmet when kiting because of vanity, lazyness, cost... you are engaging in a calculated risk. while it is a bit different because you are only taking a risk with your personal safety you make these kinds of risk/cost decisions daily.
Have you ever let your tires become bald or significantly delayed replacing your brakes? I have and I was placing other drivers in danger. I was making a risk/cost decision that could have injured others if I was wrong.
Every business needs to make reasonable efforts to ensure a safe environment. This does not mean that they must guarantee safety, because, they can't. Just like you can't guarantee that you will never be in a accident with your car unless you do not drive. There is no way to be productive and ensure a mistake free environment. The costs of guaranteeing safety would be so exorbitant that only the wealthy could afford the high cost of services. Can you imagine the screaming you would hear then? S**t happens.
Are commercial fisherman greedy and evil when one of their crew members dies in an accident? How about the Department of Transportation when they lose a road worker?
Because a businesses purpose is to create a profit for the owner or shareholders they must make calculated risks to make a profit or they would not exist to provide all of us the good and services we enjoy. I see nothing that leads me to jump to the conclusion that BP was negligent. I doubt there is anyone on this forum can do much more than engage in uninformed pontification on what really happened and why.
Obama received more BP political contributions than any other politician. Does this mean anything? I doubt it, but, if it was a republican in office I doubt many of you would be as charitable.
BTW.. BP was not the owner of the oil rig. It was leased.
There is some interesting info in this article that may be enlightening
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1342 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
Mon May 03, 10 7:33 pm
...and next time you're automatically handed plastic bags at Safeway or HD/Lowe's or Quizno's/Subway or other local fast-food-to-go place, or you throw that case of overpriced bottled tap water with the picture of the mountain spring in the back of your car, please remember that plastic is oil.
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
Mon May 03, 10 8:02 pm
The fact remains that BP and the owner of the platform, Transocean, were not required to have secondary acoustic shut off switch which would have prevented this whole damn mess. Check it out:
This was a minimal cost device that is used throughout the world, but not in US waters because it is not enforced thanks to deregulation during the Bush years.
Kruse
Since 21 Oct 2005
63 Posts
Mon May 03, 10 9:15 pm
Why are we allowing drilling in our waters with less safety/emergency shut down requirements than any other countries? When the stakes are this high in the event of an accident, we should be setting the bar higher than everyone else, now it seems we are constantly lowering it in the name of deregulation and profit.
pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
Tue May 04, 10 1:06 am
Windian wrote:
The fact remains that BP and the owner of the platform, Transocean, were not required to have secondary acoustic shut off switch which would have prevented this whole damn mess. Check it out:
This was a minimal cost device that is used throughout the world, but not in US waters because it is not enforced thanks to deregulation during the Bush years.
OUCH!! that is some hard hitting shit right there.
Again, its the politicians that enable this kind of shit. Gee, who would have thought that the bush family would somehow benefit from deregulation of oil extraction? go figure.
And what will America learn from this? hey look honey, Wallmart has tube socks on sale 12 pack for $.99....
Don't they put that little sardine fish in oil before they can it? This might speed up the procedure. You dumb problem solvers. You are just talking. No action. Sheeple!
shred_da_gorge
Since 12 Nov 2008
1342 Posts
Da Hood & Da Wood
XTreme Poster
Thu May 06, 10 10:14 pmRe: Fish in oil.
fisherman wrote:
Don't they put that little sardine fish in oil before they can it? This might speed up the procedure. You dumb problem solvers. You are just talking. No action. Sheeple!
What do you suggest? I have several of my own but I'd like to hear yours first...
Scribble
Since 18 Nov 2005
636 Posts
NoPo
Addicted
Fri Jun 11, 10 6:46 am
I just thought I would share this article about Weeks Bay which is an estuary off Mobile Bay in Alabama. I used to fish for speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and mullet in Weeks Bay with my grandfather. When we turned 13 we could legally drive the boats on our own so our parents would drop us off at the boat launch in Weeks Bay and we would throw a cast net for mullet then head out to a boat wreck in Mobile bay to fish for sharks and jack crevalle. I would also kneeboard with my friends there back before there were wakeboards. Lots of memories. I'm glad the locals are not taking any shit. It's a good read if you have a few minutes. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/us/08dam.html
There's oil washing up now in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach AL. My brother sent me some pictures from Navarre Beach, which is in FL but not far from Orange Beach, and the water was still unbelievably beautiful. They have yet to get the oil, but dolphins are washing up dead on the beach.
My hometown is on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay and they are smelling oil inland from the Gulf on days that they get any breeze coming from the south.
Just thought I would share,
Andy
State Pier IMG00037-20100605-1109.jpg
W. Beach Oil IMG00025-20100605-1009.jpg
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
Fri Jun 11, 10 9:43 pm
Those photos bring tears to my eyes.
blowhard
Since 26 Dec 2005
2028 Posts
Windward
Sat Jun 12, 10 6:03 am
Windian wrote:
The fact remains that BP and the owner of the platform, Transocean, were not required to have secondary acoustic shut off switch which would have prevented this whole damn mess. Check it out:
This was a minimal cost device that is used throughout the world, but not in US waters because it is not enforced thanks to deregulation during the Bush years.
but obama can't fix it because it's "complicated"?
Scribble
Since 18 Nov 2005
636 Posts
NoPo
Addicted
Sat Jun 12, 10 6:28 am
Well said Windian. Here is a video a friend shot yesterday in Gulf Shores Alabama.
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