The BP oil spill could have an enormous impact on the entire Gulf coast environment. That statement should define it as a problem of national significance. Accordingly, one would expect every possible resource to be assembled focusing on stopping the leak and controlling the spill. That group effort would include BP, all of the oil companies, technical experts outside the industry, and any arm of government that could lend assistance.
Part of that process has happened. BP and the oil industry have mobilized a huge effort to stop the leak, so far with little success. In contrast, our government has quickly moved into action by playing their favorite game of “placing the blame.” Logic would suggest that fixing blame could wait until the leak was controlled. At the very least, the political witch hunt should not detract from that control effort. But, BP was too easy a target, and a corporate one at that. The liberals hate the oil industry and object to their making a profit. So, taking away that profit fit their preferred mode. They could not contain themselves.
Attorney General Holder sends a team to the Gulf Coast to determine if there was “malfeasance on the part of BP.”
Senator Shelby of Alabama said on CNN, "A lot of this could have been prevented. Where was BP? Were they trying to do this on the cheap? ...Sooner or later there could be a gusher."
The administration issues its famous line, “We are keeping a boot on the throat of BP to insure they suffer the damages from the spill.”
Barbara Boxer asks the Justice Department to launch civil and criminal investigations.
Harry Reid chips in: "Their greed led to 11 horrific and unnecessary deaths. It has harmed an enormous tourism industry, threatened business at countless fisheries and disrupted life for many along the Gulf Coast. As the pollution grows worse, those consequences will only compound.”
That frontal assault on logic and reason would be bad enough. Adding to their misdirected efforts, the politicians issue subpoenas to the very executives who are working around the clock to control the leak and direct spill containment. The execs are dragged before congressional committees and raked over the coals to answer questions whose answers can only logically come from a thorough investigation after the leak is controlled.
Taken literally or figuratively, the response by our government can only be classified as “bad thinking” at the highest level. Little wonder there is a growing mood among the public to throw all of these politicians out, out, out.
