The oil spill has got me worried. (Sanibel: rent, beach)

[Big House]

Originally Posted by kroeran

can someone explain to me why US regulatory authorities have jurisdiction over a well in international waters, or am I misunderstanding something.

I don't think this is a Bush/Obama issue...its the problem of government agencies going native (and human nature to be lazy) and the regulated industries corrupting the regulators with free trips, post career employment and outright bribery.

The government has soverign rights over the oceans and gulf, within 200 miles.

I cannot believe that the president can sign a moratorum, and currently and undetered 7 more well operations can begin, and that nothing is being done. I am not making a point over whether we should be drilling or not, but how can that kind of authority be completely ignored, and made meaningless!?!?!?

[movetoflorida]

Originally Posted by Big House

I cannot believe that the president can sign a moratorum, and currently and undetered 7 more well operations can begin, and that nothing is being done. I am not making a point over whether we should be drilling or not, but how can that kind of authority be completely ignored, and made meaningless!?!?!?

Same problem with coal mining up here with our neighbors in West Virginia. The safety inspection process is not simple enough. It should simply be if you don't pass you are shut down until you do. Unfortunately with our broken govt., things are never that simple. They are permitted to protest the failed inspection into to a long drawn out process knowing that they will ultimately have to make the corrections in the end. In the meantime they continue to mine putting the safety of the workers in jeopardy and it seems more frequently killing the workers.

I am not a fan of unions but when it comes to jobs that are dangerous....might be a good idea simply to enforce safety. Funny thing is, if you look up the origin of "rednecks", it comes from the groups of protesting workers of the coal mines in West Virginia in the past. Back then and still today, I think it all boils down to the bottom line...MONEY. Not only are the employers complacent, but the employees too. I am sure most are nervous when they step onto an oil platform initially, but I would imagine after the paychecks start rolling in and you get into your daily routine, you stop wondering if that safety shut off valve that is never used or inspected is seized up or not.

[justNancy]

I don't see how we can have more regulations and less government at the same time. I wish relying on self-regulation was realistic, but human nature teaches us that greed will always take precedence over safety. It's not just the corporations either, but the American people. If oil company A reduced its prices and sold gasoline for $1.50 a gallon, but you knew that its drilling operations were unsafe, would you drive down the road to a gas station selling oil company B's gas for $4.25 a gallon because you care about the environment so much?

[kroeran]

I actually worked on this topic as part of my job.

its called the "smart regulation" movement

http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/18/39/33947759.pdf

its what government should be focused on

[movetoflorida]

Originally Posted by justNancy

I don't see how we can have more regulations and less government at the same time. I wish relying on self-regulation was realistic, but human nature teaches us that greed will always take precedence over safety. It's not just the corporations either, but the American people. If oil company A reduced its prices and sold gasoline for $1.50 a gallon, but you knew that its drilling operations were unsafe, would you drive down the road to a gas station selling oil company B's gas for $4.25 a gallon because you care about the environment so much?

Do you really think it would cost that much more to have safe wells and tankers? If so, we need to start a new company producing reliable well drilling safety equiptment and give the current manufacturers some competition! Look at how much oil that one well was producing. I am sure that with pennies on the dollar or barrel of oil that safety could be provided. We could even make the valves out of stainless steel. I am betting from my boating experience that failure was due to both lack of use and use of materials subject to corrosion from the salt water. BTW, the govt. could have more regulation in this very way...hire competing companies in our capitalistic country to get the job done. Our military has some of the best weapons in the world because of competing companies.

If "safe gas" at gas station B did cost $4.25 a gallon and didn't have customers, that would make all the Al Gore global warming supporters not only greedy by nature but also hyprocrites! You might be surprised though. A limited number of "green" gas stations would probably make it. Thing is, this will all be history for the most part, in two years.

Gulf recovered from last big oil spill, but is this one different? - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100520/wl_mcclatchy/3511491 - broken link)

Oil has spilt in the Gulf of Mexico before with oil washed ashore and has recovered just as the big spill in Alaska did. I predict that BP will improve because of this and will even be using bragging rights to the fix and back up plan. I can already imagine the BP TV commercials in the future.

I hope that the scientists, engineers and astronauts getting layed off at Cape Canaveral by Obama, have new jobs designing, building and testing new cars that don't use gas! Pushing automotive technology and energy independence should have been the first thing on his list but no, he continues to do thing "bass ackwards".

[rikoshaprl]

"We could even make the valves out of stainless steel"

For what this spill will cost the valves could have been made out of solid gold!

[kroeran]

someone needs to document who are the safest drillers and direct purchasing their way (buy-cott).

[Samiamnh]

I made a post last week and never saw a reply....maybe I just missed it. Does anyone know if Cape Coral and the islands are in danger from the oil?.At first I thought the loop currant would take it toward the gulfstream and up the east coast but now I'm not so sure.

[rikoshaprl]

Sam, I think you are right. The oil should stay away with the loop current taking it south (if it gets into the loop). The bigger problem may be if a hurricane blows the oil towards us.

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse....Map.563663.pdf

[movetoflorida]

Just thought I would mention it, as the topic has reminded me. If you have not seen the award winning movie: "There Will Be Blood", it is a must. One of my favorite movies:


YouTube - There Will Be Blood