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What Impact Do You Think the Gulf Oil Spill Will Have?
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Post by
Heckler
I love Rachel Maddow's show.
Here's the speech I wish Obama had given
(this is worth watching in full). Her 3 main points:
1. "Never again, will any company, anyone, be allowed to drill in a location where they are incapable of dealing with the potential consequences of that drilling."
2. "I'm announcing a new federal command specifically for containment and cleanup of oil that has already entered the Gulf of Mexico, with a priority on protecting shoreline that can still be saved; shoreline that is vulnerable to oil that has not yet been hit."
3. "I no longer say that we must get off oil like every president before me has said too. I no longer say that we must get off oil. We
will
get off oil and here's how: The United States Senate will pass an energy bill. This year."
Edit
: Did anyone watch BP CEO Tony Hayward get fried by Congress today? C-SPAN's never been so engaging.
Post by
Squishalot
I agree with the last two points. Triage on the clean up effort is essential, and an energy bill plotting a path out of reliance on fossil fuels can only be a good thing.
I don't think the first is viable though - with that sort of risk tolerance, no drilling will ever occur, ever again, on US soil / waters.
Post by
Heckler
. . . no drilling will ever occur, ever again, on US soil / waters.
Sounds like a good start to me ;) (it's gonna happen someday anyways, once it runs out, why not preempt it).
Post by
Squishalot
. . . no drilling will ever occur, ever again, on US soil / waters.
Sounds like a good start to me ;) (it's gonna happen someday anyways, once it runs out, why not preempt it).
Cost, mainly. Same reason why the US doesn't want to be the first to start buckling down on environmental protection - it damages the US economy relative to other world economies, leaving it open to be accused of 'not protecting American jobs and livelihoods'.
I mean, you can see the headlines the next day: "Obama leaves America at the mercy of the Middle East"
Post by
Heckler
Same reason why the US doesn't want to be the first to . . .
Absolutely correct, America loves to trumpet the "We're the Greatest Nation in the World!" theme, but is absolutely terrified to actually
act
as though it were true, and take the lead on difficult issues (unless it involves a war of aggression in the name of spreading democracy, by force). Oh well, we can change, hopefully we do someday -- If I have anything to do with it (and I'm going to try), we will. =)
I mean, you can see the headlines the next day: "Obama leaves America at the mercy of the Middle East"
lol, good call ;)
Post by
Squishalot
America loves to trumpet the "We're the Greatest Nation in the World!" theme, but is absolutely terrified to actually act as though it were true, and take the lead on difficult issues
The main problem is that America's 'greatest nation in the world' title is built upon its economic strength. It's the financial powerhouse of the world, realistically speaking. It's not a moral title, it's one steeped in the financial and military power that it holds.
Sacrificing either of those to be the 'morally greatest nation in the world' doesn't appeal to most people, though. Of most Western countries, really.
Post by
Heckler
The main problem is that America's 'greatest nation in the world' title is built upon its economic strength. It's the financial powerhouse of the world, realistically speaking. It's not a moral title, it's one steeped in the financial and military power that it holds.
Oh I agree, were
I
to make the claim, I would probably have an economic basis. But the people who scream about it the loudest, and the most often -- they don't actually need a basis, definitely not a factual one. And if you challenge them on it, well then you must hate America and you're just 'apologizing for its greatness' <-- LOL.
Sacrificing either of those to be the 'morally greatest nation in the world' doesn't appeal to most people, though. Of most Western countries, really.
Sad but true. Even if you didn't have to 'sacrifice' them, it's usually not worth the risk to them to simply
try
to use it for good.
Post by
Dragoonman
The main problem is that America's 'greatest nation in the world' title is built upon its economic strength. It's the financial powerhouse of the world, realistically speaking. It's not a moral title, it's one steeped in the financial and military power that it holds.
Oh I agree, were
I
to make the claim, I would probably have an economic basis. But the people who scream about it the loudest, and the most often -- they don't actually need a basis, definitely not a factual one. And if you challenge them on it, well then you must hate America and you're just 'apologizing for its greatness' <-- LOL.
Sacrificing either of those to be the 'morally greatest nation in the world' doesn't appeal to most people, though. Of most Western countries, really.
Sad but true. Even if you didn't have to 'sacrifice' them, it's usually not worth the risk to them to simply
try
to use it for good.
/agree
People should be upset, but some people just scream without knowing anything.
If you have been a strong republican or democrat, you are crazy.
Post by
129414
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
Heckler
I heard Goldman Sachs put out an estimate of how much this whole thing is likely to actually cost BP, and they came up with something around $100 Billion USD, total.
The crazy part is, BP could apparently survive that
without
Bankruptcy court and without damaging their business too much -- hopefully it all works out in a way that everyone feels BP did enough (although I'm not sure any amount of
money
will do that).
I hope those relief wells work, I've heard some scary things about the well casing being completely eroded before the wells are completed... in which case, they probably won't work. =/
Post by
Dragoonman
I heard Goldman Sachs put out an estimate of how much this whole thing is likely to actually cost BP, and they came up with something around $100 Billion USD, total.
The crazy part is, BP could apparently survive that
without
Bankruptcy court and without damaging their business too much -- hopefully it all works out in a way that everyone feels BP did enough (although I'm not sure any amount of
money
will do that).
I hope those relief wells work, I've heard some scary things about the well casing being completely eroded before the wells are completed... in which case, they probably won't work. =/
Wow, its amazing how much wealth some people and companies have.
To me, a million dollars is huge. I couldn't count a billion yet alone a 100 billion.
Wow.
Post by
Squishalot
I heard Goldman Sachs put out an estimate of how much this whole thing is likely to actually cost BP, and they came up with something around $100 Billion USD, total.
The crazy part is, BP could apparently survive that
without
Bankruptcy court and without damaging their business too much -- hopefully it all works out in a way that everyone feels BP did enough (although I'm not sure any amount of
money
will do that).
I hope those relief wells work, I've heard some scary things about the well casing being completely eroded before the wells are completed... in which case, they probably won't work. =/
It's 3-4 years of cash profits, essentially. Definitely doable. They're committing $5bn per year for 4 years, just extend that out for 20 years, and there you have it.
Found an interesting article earlier on other 'low probability, high damage' events. I'll post it when I get the chance to find it again.
Here it is:
http://www.smh.com.au/executive-style/management/what-could-be-worse-than-the-bp-oil-spill-20100617-yj08.html
Post by
Dragoonman
I learned that 1/4 quart of oil contaminates 250,000 gallons of water rounded.
And if 2 billion gallons of oil could be in the well...
O crap.
Post by
Squishalot
Did you just bump that? Because I could have sworn that you posted the same thing a couple of days ago.
Post by
Laihendi
It's just a little bit of oil, not a big deal. It'll wash away in a few days.
Post by
Perkocet
It's just a little bit of oil, not a big deal. It'll wash away in a few days.
this is the attitude we should all have. BP is just having a publicity stunt because they need more media attention.
Post by
Laihendi
It's just a little bit of oil, not a big deal. It'll wash away in a few days.
this is the attitude we should all have. BP is just having a publicity stunt because they need more media attention.
Yeah. Seriously you guys, it's in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico... there's soooo much water there it shouldn't take more than another month for the oil to all dissolve.
Post by
Perkocet
If anything, the water will mix in and it'll be like.. nesquik, for the animals. Just let it blow over. Stop feeding the trolls that are BP.
Post by
Laihendi
Oil doesn't mix with water.
Post by
Perkocet
Then it'll be like old nesquik, where the powder floats to the top.
just let the animals enjoy it. don't ruin it for them, humans ruin everything else.
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