BP: why aren't they under heavier attack? why are we not doing anything?

[Chrinik]

Well, nothing would be punishment to BP, 20bn, they made more in the first three months this year!
A real punishment would be to completely disown their current CEOs...completely...
Take from them everything they have and make them live off of 10$ a day...that´ll teach em.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Because a ton of companies do this kind of shit, BP just got caught?

 

[jediroshi]

Ugh, I would agree with the boring statement as I don't find this entirely all that justified in blaming big oil. They have so much money since oil is used in sooooo much of our products today. Hell what your using to type out this response you have at least four things to do it. Monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer, chair.

Anyway, there is a current investigation going on about this. I mean they have the BP execs or liaison in front of our government officials almost every day that there in session and more.

Yet it's once stated that BP feels that there spending more time on this then the President who has been going to golf, theaters, and other events during this disaster. Now everyone needs a break, but he seems to be doing it a lot more then he should, especially given said slack we gave Bush when he was on Vacation during Katrina, but came back and such.

However in any case, this is not solely BP's fault. There still investigating whether this was an accident of negligence or just one of machine made and such. I mean almost 90 days into it and I still haven't heard an explanation of how exactly this happened but the excuse that it was an accident. What caused the accident that made us tear open the see floor huh? That's what needs to be investigated if you want to blame someone.

Another thing is the governments response. Back in the 90's they made a system in case this happened. A sort of button if you will that you press and they would have lots of those skimmers out there and such to deal with the job. But low and behold our government didn't get that fleet ready, maintain it.

Another thing that is keeping the process slow is that right when the disaster happened. The president did not wave the Jones Act see here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_Marine_Act_of_1920

To summarize this act it basically makes any gulf work only to be done by ships and crews born or have there papers to work in the USA. So basically we could get more skimmers to suck up the oil if we borrowed them from other countries but to do that we first have to wave the Jones Act for a bit. Presidents have done it before in natural disasters like Katrina and such.

However it usually causes backlash among the voters in unions since they don't like that act to be waived. Shows in poll numbers in the past. That's my only guess why he hasn't done it yet.

Another thing that's helped impede them is that for a while there some of the skimmers were docked by the coast guard, because they weren't up to code with the proper life vests and safety material... really? I mean I would have them continue to work as I had a jet boat ferret that stuff out to them. Not take them off the line and dock them and then wait for the inspection.

There is also local agencies who want to do stuff to stop the oil from getting inland which is too late now, but had to wait 3-4 weeks for big government approval.

In conclusion the juries is still waiting on whether BP is guilty of creating it. However the Federal Government is the one to blame for the horrible clean up we have down there.

Also on another note the government is turning the press away down there so we can no longer see the devastation down there and inland to see how big they've screwed up I think.

Thoughts on this?

 

[Spacewolf]

based on the news reports it was a BP platform but BP where sub leaseing to a smaller company when the spill happened at least thats what ive been informed

 

[Cynical skeptic]

The problem with getting angry at BP over this is... well... short-sighted. Without drilling, every natural crude oil deposit would've eventually exploded to the surface. Its simple fluid dynamics. Its lighter than the stuff above it. The stuff above it moves, shifts, and falls. pressure builds, explosion. We've reduced the pressure of all land accessible deposits, only responsible to do the same for the rest of the globe. Russians took care of their half of the world way back when (had the same problems, solved them with low yield nukes), but the west has been pretty coy about the whole offshore drilling thing.

Anyway, I realize this is quite like a murderer arguing "s/he would've died anyway," but that doesn't alter much.

Also, you can't really fault a corporate entity for caring only about profit. Thats the very definition of corporate entity. Dog licking it's own balls, etc. You can ***** about capitalism, but without presenting a viable alternative, you're just white noise.

 

[Angel_0A]

Thats the very definition of corporate entity. Dog licking it's own balls, etc. You can ***** about capitalism, but without presenting a viable alternative, you're just white noise.

The very foundation of capitalism is profit, in every sense.
Make something, sell it for more that it's worth.
It fits humanity so well because we love being so greedy.

 

[The Cheezy One]

based on the news reports it was a BP platform but BP where sub leaseing to a smaller company when the spill happened at least thats what ive been informed

you are correct my friend

 

[tomtom94]

EDIT:here we go

11 killed on oil rig leased by part British owned BP resulting in 4 presidential visits, a $1.6bn clean up and establishment of $20bn compensation fund in 2 months

15,000 + killed in accident at Bhopal plant owned by American company Union Carbide resulting in 0 presidential visits, no clean up and $470m compensation in 25 years

fair isnt it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster

Does someone read Private Eye by any chance?

The government is demanding $20bn from BP to compensate families in the area.
Hardly a slap on the wrist.

Those $20 billion are not even a slap on the wrist, not even a punishment. That is just compensation for destroying peoples lives and traditions.

Are you aware that your government paid just over a third of that to the families of the 9/11 victims? $7bn.

 

[fundayz]

Has anybody put the responsible execs under arrest? I think there are definite grounds for a charge here, something along the line of negligently endangering environment, etc.
On the other hand, i dont know if the government can actually do that much. But any kind of action would be appreciated.

Not a single one of the BP supervisors that ordered the actions that directly caused the oil spill has been, charged with anything. BP a multinational corporation, the US government can't legally control it and that is why we need more than just the US keeping check on BP and all off-shore drilling corporations. The damages they can cause are at a hemospheric, if not global level and therefore other countries should have a say in things even if the rigs are on US waters.

 

[fundayz]

In other words, "agree with me or you're a fucking retard."

/facepalm

Because asking for people to know the FACTS clearly means that they must agree with me. amirite?

Edit: Did people even read the opening post? I even bolded it... yes, BP doesn't own the rig, but they controlled all actions on the right through their personel and at the end of the day it was BP executives that made the decision to both remove safety measures and ignore a telltale oil leak in their systems.

 

[Cody211282]

What the hell do you expect them to do, magic the oil away?

No! We want them to make it go away by not being a corporation, apparently!

Sounds about the same really, as I said before, i doubt there is anything they can do that they aren't doing already.

 

[Wolfram23]

They should be sued into bankruptcy.

One news article is a kid getting a $675000 fine for file sharing 30 songs reduced to $67500... and the next is BP, a mega oil corporation, causing perhaps the single worst natural disaster caused by human actions(inactions), and they need to pay 30billion to millions of people's who's lifes are going to be in serious trouble since their livelyhoods depended on the oceans, not to mention as the OP stated all the environmental damage that has the potential to literally threaten the existence of millions of different species in the ocean, including the very fragile reefs around the carribean. Fucking awesome...

 

[fundayz]

What the hell do you expect them to do, magic the oil away?

No! We want them to make it go away by not being a corporation, apparently!

Sounds about the same really, as I said before, i doubt there is anything they can do that they aren't doing already.

Obviously BP is doing whatever they can to stop the spill, they are still doing an awful job considering the well has been gushing crude for months but i'm sure they are earnestly trying as this spill hurts them enormously. however, my opening post was not about the oil itself but rather about holding BP completely responsible for their actions.

P.S. I didn't add all those little pretty blue letters in my post for no reason. Use them to see the facts for yourself.

 

[bad rider]

This is a long and serious post. Please try to educate yourself before commenting as ignorant posts will add nothing but confusion and misinformation to the thread. Thanks.

If this post is too long/boring for you, you can try reading this Cracked article on the subject: http://www.cracked.com/article_18614_6-reasons-america-should-invade-bp.html
Thanks to DeadlyYellow for the link.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As you all know, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the biggest environmental catastrophe's of all time with consequences to not only the ecosystems of the Gulf but the lives and economies of all who depend on this part of the Atlantic Ocean for their daily lives. However, despite the short-term and long-term effects that this spill is and will be having in the upcoming years BP is receiving what is essentially a slap on the wrist(so far not one person has seen legal repercussions for the negligence that caused this spill) and told to clean up its mess, as if this oil spill was just some small puddle that could be mopped up and everything would go back to normal.

This is nothing new for BP. Their disregard for their environment has resulted in many ecological disasters before; in fact, this is the THIRD major disaster is the last FIVE years( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP#Environmental_record ) and their disdain isn't reserved for ecology either: BP has used price manipulation, consistenly caused their workers bodily harm, and even actively benefited from the violence caused by paramilitary forces in developing countries. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP#Safety_record ; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP#Political_record )

Althouhg I don't like pander to stereotypes and generalizations, these so-called "accidents" are a direct consequence of the disregard that BP as a whole has for anything but profit, while seeing regulations and safety regulations as a barrier for their profits.
( http://industry.bnet.com/energy/10004443/bps-biggest-problem-safety-lapses-plague-its-us-operations ; http://industry.bnet.com/energy/10005092/bp-fined-and-its-not-because-of-the-gulf-oil-spill )

So why are we just sitting back as, how Mr. Carl Safina would put it, the government allows the murdered to be in charge of the crime scene? The fact remains that BP's complete negligence has caused irreversible environmental, social, and economic damage and while they have been charged with the absolute minimum responsability.

There are rules and regulations that explicitly disallow the release of oil and chemicals into the oceans and many people receive huge fines for dumping only a few gallons of oil into the ocean, yet BP is only responsible for clean up(at which they are failing miserably) and recompensing those affected by the oil spill (but how can you recompense the loss of your livelihood and the damage to the environment?). Please watch: http://www.ted.com/talks/carl_safina_the_oil_spill_s_unseen_culprits_victims.html

This is absolutely baffling, considering that this spill was both FORESEEABLE AND PREVENTABLE yet BP chose to do nothing about it. Now, BP is actively trying to downplay the spill and pass blame on the oil rig operators: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/bp-ceo-gulf-oil-spill-10537587
Keep in mind that these very same workers reported the leak to BP supervisors but were told that it was "not a big deal" and were ORDERED to keep drilling and even dismantle crucial safety measures: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=19214

Meanwhile the whole world is expecting the United States Government to control and hold BP responsible. This is the same(only the presidency has changed) government that completely inundated by lobbyist influence, including those of the oil industry, and has turned a blind eye to the corruption and incompetence of this crucial agency for decades: http://pbrla.blogspot.com/2010/05/louisiana-mms-culture-of-corruption.html ; http://abcnews.go.com/images/Politics/MMS_inspector_general_report_pdf.pdf

So again, why are we quietly shaking our heads as BP makes a circus out of the a disaster that will haunt the world for years to come? And even more importantly, why are we putting our trust on the United States Government and a company like BP to stop an oil leak of gargantuan proportions?

20 billion fine, could be up to a hundred billion if some of the wilder estimates are true. Whats your idea of giving BP a punch? This has crippled them and their stocks have dropped dramatically, this is a flat out disaster for them. So what is your punitive measure exactly? Make it so that they are crippled beyond repair and have to lay off their workforce?

Good plan, worldwide recession, hey don't worry we just got rid of a few thousand jobs so nobody has to pay for fuel to go to work. Good job goverment, now lets start burning our money to save buying fuel to warm us!

 

[Chrinik]

my dad is an exec at BP, in the IT department before you throw bricks
it wasnt BPs fault. they buy the oil coming out of the rig, but thats it
look at it this way - you pay for the water that comes out of your tap, right? well if a pipe bursts outside and someone slips on it and breaks their hip, should you pay for it? no, as you dont own the pipe or the path outside

Nice to know.

Well, BP doens´t just buy the Oil that comes from the pipe.
The reason BP gets the flak for it is that they personally pushed the drilling so they can buy the oil sooner...
Or so I read in local magazines and news broadcasts.

 

[fundayz]

. I'm not saying that they don't deserve serious punishment just that it needs to wait until they fix it.

I agree, however, at the end of the day it is still BP deciding what actiosn to take. I believe that BP should hire independant experts instead of their own, as well as temporarily hand over control of the operation as they have proven themselves far too incompetent to deal with the disaster.

 

[Cody211282]

What the hell do you expect them to do, magic the oil away?

No! We want them to make it go away by not being a corporation, apparently!

Sounds about the same really, as I said before, i doubt there is anything they can do that they aren't doing already.

Obviously BP is doing whatever they can to stop the spill, they are still doing an awful job considering the well has been gushing crude for months but i'm sure they are earnestly trying as this spill hurts them enormously. however, my opening post was not about the oil itself but rather about holding BP completely responsible for their actions.

P.S. I didn't add all those little pretty blue letters in my post for no reason. Use them to see the facts for yourself.

you do know this isn't just BP fault, what about the people who made the safety valve, the inspector that passed it off on the last inspection, the people working on the rig, the coast guard for not burning it when they had a chance. Your going after one person when so many more are to blame.

 

[fundayz]

20 billion fine, could be up to a hundred billion if some of the wilder estimates are true. Whats your idea of giving BP a punch? This has crippled them and their stocks have dropped dramatically, this is a flat out disaster for them. So what is your punitive measure exactly? Make it so that they are crippled beyond repair and have to lay off their workforce?

Good plan, worldwide recession, hey don't worry we just got rid of a few thousand jobs so nobody has to pay for fuel to go to work. Good job goverment, now lets start burning our money to save buying fuel to warm us!

I didn't include an opinion on what should be done as I am not an expert. However, I do not believe in a dismantling of the company or draconian fines or punishment as it would be innocent workers bearing the consequences. However, i believe that a whole replacement of the executives as well as an in-depth investigation leading criminal charges based on negligence for those responsible of making the decisions.

And just to make things clear, if BP went/goes down it will not in a complete disappearance of said jobs as other oil companies will leap at the chance of take over. In fact, many companies are already taking over parts of BP.

 

[Squarez]

I refuse to make myself care one iota.

For one reason. Pretty much the only people that care are the Americans. Why? Because it's affecting them. If it was off the coast of Africa the collective American mindset would be 'oh, that's a shame' and get back on with their lives.

But because it's affecting you guys, all you go on about is "KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM BECAUSE SOMETHING ACCIDENTALLY FAILED AND BAD STUFFS HAPPENING".

I don't see why everyone is calling for them to dismantle or stop trading or have the execs killed (seriously, what the fuck?!) when it could have happened to any oil company. Why don't you stop ostracizing them when it was hardly their fault? It's not they reincarnated the devil and they purposely let all this oil run out. Especially when you consider that the part that failed was an American-produced part anyway.