You Can't Be For Limited Government and Federal Oil Spill Cleanup

[clb09]

Don't be a hypocrite, pseudo-conservatives! :p

http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_15179204?source=most_emailed


Have you ever noticed how the politicians and citizens who howl the loudest about the evils of "big government" are the first to demand action when it suits their agenda? I have, as CBS "60 Minutes" resident curmudgeon Andy Rooney would say.

The voices from the right who decry Washington, D.C. in general and "socialistic" takeovers by President Obama in particular have joined others demanding that the U.S.government push British Petroleum aside to take command of the Gulf of Mexico oil-disaster cleanup. It’s refreshing, if ironic, to note that liberals are no longer alone in pointing out the high price paid for the excesses of irresponsible, under-regulated "free enterprise" behemoths such as BP, the world’s fourth-largest company. Its shameful environmental-crime record includes three previous convictions.

http://structuringchaos.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/tea-party-signs-6.jpg
http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2010/06/02/alg_bp_protesters.jpg
http://gonzopolitique.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/tea-party-signs2.jpg

[Anti Federalist]

The worse thing that can happen is for government to "take charge" of this situation.

[Number19]

According to Obama, his administration took charge on day1. BP execs are not permitted in the planning sessions and BP has not and cannot do anything without direction and approval from his people.

[Dr.3D]

If they would just put a bounty on tar balls, people would pick them up to reduce their taxes. :D

[libertybrewcity]

someone has to clean it up.

[RyanRSheets]

The only thing the federal government should do is open up the waters and declare all oil floating around in the area to be free for the taking. The money to be made from this mess and its resolution is enough.

[noxagol]

The only thing the federal government should do is open up the waters and declare all oil floating around in the area to be free for the taking. The money to be made from this mess and its resolution is enough.

I don't think that oil is nearly as valuable at all as the stuff you pull out of the ground. A lot of the chemicals we're after in the oil has evaporated away.

[Anti Federalist]

I don't think that oil is nearly as valuable at all as the stuff you pull out of the ground. A lot of the chemicals we're after in the oil has evaporated away.

That is correct.

Most of what is coming out of that well is gas.

Of the oil that is coming out, most of that is evaporating once hitting the surface.

What is left behind is mostly worthless sludge.

[free1]

There's a lot more going on here than these stupid reporters think. They really need to get a clue, I'm really getting tired of the media not knowing what's going on.

The government LEASES the land and oil rights to BP - so WE collectively own that well and the oil.

It is OUR PROBLEM, as much as it's BPs. In this country we let the government manage land and resources like that for us.

SO SHUT UP about it somehow is like big government.

Now, when lame ass obama starts telling BP how to run it's internal business, that's starting to cross the line in my opinion.

The courts can get involved with injunctions if there is clear negligence or fraud, and that action can be quick, but that's judicial branch stuff. NOT YOUR GOD AND KING OBAMA!

But protecting the area in and around the spill IS the government's job.

Another issue that should be brought up is why we don't get a big cut of the OIL money since they are taking OUR OWNED resources and selling them world wide.

Unless it's only for use here, and we monitor that closely, and it lowers the cost of oil against foreign oil.

We should let them drill and make a slight profit so it's worth their while, but I think we are giving away the goose that lays the golden egg.

[mikem317]

BP and "free market" should never appear in the same sentence. There's nothing "free" about a centralized crude cartel.

[constituent]

If they would just put a bounty on tar balls, people would pick them up to reduce their taxes. :D

that's actually a really good idea. perhaps allow people to "charge" for their labor in terms of a tax write off for volunteering with the cleanup?

[RonPaulwillWin]

But wouldn't that be a threat to national security if the oil starts to hit land?

[Pete Kay]

The spill affects the populations of a wide area. People have the right to use the institutions that they created and funded to help limit the detrimental effects of the spill. Ideally, the states affected by the spill should work to clean it up along with BP. Since state monies are taken by way of the federal income tax, it creates a situation where the federal government bears a responsibility now. Yes, it's not the ideal, but it is how it is.

[constituent]

The government LEASES the land and oil rights to BP - so WE collectively own that well and the oil.

It is OUR PROBLEM, as much as it's BPs. In this country we let the government manage land and resources like that for us.

Yep. Exactly the problem, imo.



SO SHUT UP about it somehow is like big government.

Well, it is...



But protecting the area in and around the spill IS the government's job.

Sad but true. I don't like it any more than the next guy, but it is what it is.



Another issue that should be brought up is why we don't get a big cut of the OIL money since they are taking OUR OWNED resources and selling them world wide.

Well, technically "we" do. Doesn't mean "we" aren't getting shafted on the deal though. We are.

Texas in particular... which is a large part of the reason why I was, for many years, a staunch secessionist.



We should let them drill and make a slight profit so it's worth their while, but I think we are giving away the goose that lays the golden egg.

I'm not really sure what makes it "ours" anyway... other than 'cuz the gubmint say so. :o

[Dr.3D]

that's actually a really good idea. perhaps allow people to "charge" for their labor in terms of a tax write off for volunteering with the cleanup?

Just pay them by the pound of actual material they turn in. The material must be free of non contaminated items though. The payment should be tax free and thus they would be getting a tax rebate by helping pick up and turn in the contaminated material.

[JeNNiF00F00]

http://gonzopolitique.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/tea-party-signs2.jpg

If Obama is president of the Nation and is Socialist...wouldnt that make him a national socialist?

[sevin]

Thank you for posting this.

I've been hearing people like Hannity, others, and many on this forum complaining about how Obama hasn't done shit about this spill, but this is not the government's responsibility.

I'm sick of this mentality across the right and the left that government is supposed to take care of everything.

[axiomata]

Meh, I agree that some on the right are most definitely trying to score political points here, and I also agree that the federal government wouldn't do any better than BP, but given ownership rights as they are, I think the federal government should play a role.

Unfortunately neither individuals nor voluntary groups of individuals are allowed to own the sea. It is "owned" by the federal government. Since there is no property rights to prevent tragedy of the commons scenarios out in the gulf, as long as private property is forbidden out there, certain regulations are needed.

[Bman]

According to Obama, his administration took charge on day1. BP execs are not permitted in the planning sessions and BP has not and cannot do anything without direction and approval from his people.

Yup, they took charge, and it looks more and more like they actually sunk the platform. BRAVO!!!!

[clb09]

Yup, they took charge, and it looks more and more like they actually sunk the platform. BRAVO!!!!

The government can't get anything right.

So I don't think the Feds would have the competence to pull off such a huge operation without obvious evidence of their involvement.

This is why 9/11 couldn't have been a centralized government operation from the top.

Evidence of government control of the events of the day would have been leaked years ago.

[libertyjam]

It is because of the ineptness of the Feds that the marshes in Plaquemines Parish are already dead and dying from being inundated with oil spill wash, If the locals did not have to beg for permission from the Feds, dredgers would have been out weeks ago building up an offshore ridge to create a berm of a beach barrier against the oncoming oil. Now it is too eff'ing late.

[libertyjam]

That is correct.

Most of what is coming out of that well is gas.

Of the oil that is coming out, most of that is evaporating once hitting the surface.

What is left behind is mostly worthless sludge.

Most of what is coming out is nowhere near the surface, what is on the surface so far is only a tiny fraction of what has come out.

[Travlyr]

It is because of the ineptness of the Feds that the marshes in Plaquemines Parish are already dead and dying from being inundated with oil spill wash, If the locals did not have to beg for permission from the Feds, dredgers would have been out weeks ago building up an offshore ridge to create a berm of a beach barrier against the oncoming oil. Now it is too eff'ing late.

Plus, the EPA = Fail! The Environmental Protection Agency's job by definition is to protect the environment. We should end this $10 billion/year fed failure. :mad:

[mczerone]

But wouldn't that be a threat to national security if the oil starts to hit land?

No because the oil isn't taking anyone's job. :cool: