BP Sucessfull

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

In a recent news feed it appears that at least for the time being the oil leak has been capped.

The 'top kill' was sucessfull.

Obama was on the networks within hours to claim credit

In a White House news briefing, Obama called the five-week-old BP spill an "economic and environmental tragedy" and said he was frustrated and angry over its duration. Every morning when he's finished shaving, he said, one of his daughters quizzes him: "Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?"

-Yes honey, I went out with my swim fins and snorkel and plugged it this morning.

-But Daddy, you were out playing basketball this morning.
-Honey, can you go plug daddy's teleprompter in.

[CaptainHaplo]

Federal Gas Tax is 18.4 cents a gallon.

The state I live in - NC - has a state tax on gas set at 48.6 cents per gallon.

That means that every gallon of gas I buy, is 67 cents going to someone who hasn't done one thing to actually make the product available. Just so you know - that basically is right near 25% of the cost of a gallon of gas where I live.

25% - and nothing to show for it. And somehow a quadrupling of the federal tax is supposed to make me feel better?

Do you honestly not think that the companies that produce the oil, refine and ship it - and sell it to the local gas stations, are not going to make sure that extra tax is in the price of their product? Do you really think they are all going to feel so bad that they are going to let a 52.6 cent per gallon tax just go against their bottom line?

You HAVE to be kidding me....

[AngusJS]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

No, really. I do. Even when they're British.

They **** up royally and then finally (hopefully) fix their mistake 37 days later, and for that they should be commended?

I honestly don't know why or how they put up with the **** government and the press keeps giving them, but I'm glad they do.

My heart bleeds.

In other news, I don't understand why this oil spill is such a big deal. Didn't the Germans sink like, 30 tankers in the Gulf during WW2?
Yeah, they were smaller than modern tankers, but combined they certainly spilled more oil than this rig has. And yet, the Gulf is fine. There's so much marine wildlife in the Gulf that people get their jollies bitching about motorboats running over manatees.

Were all those tankers sunk simultaneously in the same location, less than 40 miles from shore? Were all of them even carrying oil at the time? Did their spills mostly remain on the surface, or did they originate on the ocean floor so that they could affect the entire water column?

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

-Yes honey, I went out with my swim fins and snorkel and plugged it this morning.

-But Daddy, you were out playing basketball this morning.
-Honey, can you go plug daddy's teleprompter in.

Going to be interesting when those girls grow up and see what a fool and really just all around bad peson their father is.Unless they are already so brainwashed that it is too late.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by AngusJS

They **** up royally and then finally (hopefully) fix their mistake 37 days later, and for that they should be commended?

Yes. BP has been quite effective and timely in responding to this spill. They did everything they could, and their stock proves it. When was the last time you willingly invested your hard-earned gains in the governmnet?
I feel sorry for you if you did, because you're not likely to make anything off of bonds.

The nice thing is that they don't ask to be commended, unlike some politicians I can think of. They just do business.

My heart bleeds.

Why so cynical? BP is made of people, y'know. People and families who depend upon the production of oil for their livelihoods. Those same people sell you the petroleum products you need at a reasonable price.

Were all those tankers sunk simultaneously in the same location, less than 40 miles from shore? Were all of them even carrying oil at the time? Did their spills mostly remain on the surface, or did they originate on the ocean floor so that they could affect the entire water column?

Many of them were sunk within sight of shore, and they were all sunk within a few months of each other. I don't know whether or not they did more damage than this spill, but what I do know is that the Gulf of Mexico is a huge body of water measuring over 600 quadrillion gallons. It'll be fine, trust me. It doesn't need you to look after it.

The only things that need you to look after the Gulf are political interests who need public approval before they steal your money and give you exactly nothing in trade, aside from a misbegotten warm-fuzzy feeling.

BP and other oil companies care about the Gulf a lot more than you or anyone else does, simply because it is their business. I don't see your eco-crusader ass cleaning up oil residue because you care about the fish or whatever. Where the hell are you, Captain Planet? Are you too busy demanding that other people do things in your stead because someone else told you it was a good idea?

While you're busy sitting on your butt, BP is busy trying to fix their mistake and clean up millions of gallons of seawater, not because anyone forced them to, but because they want to earn your respect and business. I can only imagine how much they must enjoy armchair eco-pundits bashing them for a perfectly understandable mistake.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

Speculation does FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR more to raise prices than the puny tax on oil.

Speculation also drives much of the exploration and exploitation that puts gas in your car for a reasonable price, eco-hero. Unlike speculation, which creates more gas, the fuel tax is about a quarter per gallon of sheer economic dead-weight.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

Last year they used us (The left) like suckers to spread the "Peak Oil" theory to get the public scared and let them jack up the prices.

Did they? If that was true, and you knew it, why aren't you making bank? The Left is a bigger bunch of suckers than you realize. I'd tell you some BS and take your money and votes if I didn't have a conscience. You're lucky that corporations even bother to ask your permission before they take your money, because your beloved state sure as hell doesn't.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow, I am a tactless a-hole today. I am very sorry for all the verbal abuse, Angus and ZS, but it's kind of funny, so I'm gonna go ahead and post it, if that's okay with you guys. If you want a retraction, I'll take this post down. If you want to insult me, I can take as well as I can give.

throw a four fold tax increase on 'oil' on top of things.

I forsee $8.00 a gallon gas in the near future.

Thats terrible, you forsee a future where your petrol price will climb to similar rates that others are already used to paying.

That means that every gallon of gas I buy, is 67 cents going to someone who hasn't done one thing to actually make the product available. Just so you know - that basically is right near 25% of the cost of a gallon of gas where I live.

25% - and nothing to show for it.

Would you prefer an increase in income tax sales tax and property tax instead?
Time for a new revolution, forget "no taxation without representation", just rally to the call of "no taxation"

[mako88sb]

They just announced that the "Top kill" method has failed and they are moving on to try different methods. Damn! I was really hoping it would work.

Rob

[AngusJS]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Yes. BP has been quite effective and timely in responding to this spill. They did everything they could, and their stock proves it. When was the last time you willingly invested your hard-earned gains in the governmnet?
I feel sorry for you if you did, because you're not likely to make anything off of bonds.

What does that have to do with anything? Regardless, their stock price does not prove that they've been effective.

Why should they be commended for doing what they're supposed to do, fixing a problem which they themselves created? That's like commending a drunk driver for paying damages after hitting another car. And now it turns out that the top kill didn't work, and the leak is still flowing.

Many of them were sunk within sight of shore, and they were all sunk within a few months of each other. I don't know whether or not they did more damage than this spill, but what I do know is that the Gulf of Mexico is a huge body of water measuring over 600 quadrillion gallons. It'll be fine, trust me. It doesn't need you to look after it.

Obviously the spill isn't going to destroy the entire Gulf. I never said it would. But the spill will affect the area where it is located. That's why the tankers are irrelevant, as they weren't all sunk in the same place and in the same month, and their spills occurred on the surface.

The only things that need you to look after the Gulf are political interests who need public approval before they steal your money and give you exactly nothing in trade, aside from a misbegotten warm-fuzzy feeling.

BP and other oil companies care about the Gulf a lot more than you or anyone else does, simply because it is their business. Where the hell are you, Captain Planet? Are you too busy demanding that other people do things in your stead because someone else told you it was a good idea?

While you're busy sitting on your butt, BP is busy trying to fix their mistake and clean up millions of gallons of seawater, not because anyone forced them to, but because they want to earn your respect and business. I can only imagine how much they must enjoy armchair eco-pundits bashing them for a perfectly understandable mistake.

It's their business to make a profit for their shareholders. It's those wacky eco-crusaders who raised the importance of the environment in the public eye to where it could affect a potential polluter's profit margin, so that they would start caring about it. And I don't count myself among their number, but hey, nice ad hominem. Of course, it seems the environment wasn't important enough to BP et al to ensure that they wouldn't use defective parts and improper procedures.

And are you seriously suggesting that I'm hypocritical for questioning your love-fest for BP if I don't quit my job, move 1,000 miles, get the relevant training and take part in the clean up? If so...wow.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by AngusJS

What does that have to do with anything? Regardless, their stock price does not prove that they've been effective.

What it proves is that this spill is not holding them back, despite the drop in production and the associated costs. They were ready for this scenario.

Why should they be commended for doing what they're supposed to do, fixing a problem which they themselves created? That's like commending a drunk driver for paying damages after hitting another car. And now it turns out that the top kill didn't work, and the leak is still flowing.

Ture, top-kill didn't work, but BP is still working hard to fix this huge mistake. You are very right about it being their own responsibility, but there are lots of corporations and even state agencies that would try to dodge the same responsibility.

Obviously the spill isn't going to destroy the entire Gulf. I never said it would. But the spill will affect the area where it is located. That's why the tankers are irrelevant, as they weren't all sunk in the same place and in the same month, and their spills occurred on the surface.

I know you didn't say that the spill would destroy the Gulf, but I go off on tangets sometimes. Sorry about that.

Even so, the amount of oil leaking into the Gulf from a sub-surface source is not going to do any permanent damage.

Originally Posted by Undersealcpl

The only things that need you to look after the Gulf are political interests who need public approval before they steal your money and give you exactly nothing in trade, aside from a misbegotten warm-fuzzy feeling.

Originally Posted by AngusJS

Okay, let me break it down for you. Have you noticed how the Republicans and the Democrats alike are turning this into a big political issue? The Reps, and even some Dems are using it as a way to bash Obama, as if he were personally responsible or in any way culpable, which he isn't. The reason that politicians are making a big stink about all this comes down two exactly two issues: votes and control. Some just want to look like they're on our side. Others want an excuse to regulate big oil, not because they care about what big oil does, necessarily, but because the oil industry is a very lucrative source of revenue for pushing other agendas.

It's their business to make a profit for their shareholders. It's those wacky eco-crusaders who raised the importance of the environment in the public eye to where it could affect a potential polluter's profit margin, so that they would start caring about it.

Very astute, Angus. I've been saying the same thing for some time now, but there's a point at which environmentalism begins to interfere with the very productivity and prosperity that spawned it. Even worse, it tends to become a vehicle for political and legal agendas. It's something of a catch-22, if you will. People who are prosperous enough to worry about the environment get used by politicians who want their monys and votes. People who are too poor to care about the environment tend to ruin it.

And I don't count myself among their number, but hey, nice ad hominem. Of course, it seems the environment wasn't important enough to BP et al to ensure that they wouldn't use defective parts and improper procedures

.
Who's using the ad hominem argument now?

BP did everything it could to ensure that the rig would be both functional and safe, but oceanic oil rigs are very complex machines, and there are many of them. One is going to fail sooner or later. You seem to be under the impression that there was some kind of neglect on BP's part, which is not the case. You don't have to believe me, but you might want to consider listening to investors who are much smarter and more involved in BP's operation than either of us are. Those guys are rich enough to invest because they're smart.

And are you seriously suggesting that I'm hypocritical for questioning your love-fest for BP if I don't quit my job, move 1,000 miles, get the relevant training and take part in the clean up?

A little bit, yes. BP is spending their money to clean up the spill because they know they should. It isn't as if they're slacking or anything. Volunteer groups are out there helping. Do you care enough about the Gulf to help them, or would you rather just complain because you got it in your head to decry BP's response because you heard on TV that you should be mad?

I don't know what company you work for, but I'd be willing to bet that they would pay for your time off to let you assist in the cleanup effort, you just need to make it happen. They won't do it because they're magnanimous, they'll do it because it's good PR. Even my own company, the giant immoral railroad monopoly that makes a habit of screwing customers over is helping to fund the cleanup effort while the politicians play the blame game. That's what sets private industry aside from the state.

You've been duped by people whose profession is lying, my friend, an understandable but regrettable circumstance. Politicians and spokespeople may tell a good story with a smile on their face, but dollars don't lie, and dollars say BP, the Gulf, and the Deep-Horizon rig are fine.

Originally Posted by mako88sb

They just announced that the "Top kill" method has failed and they are moving on to try different methods. Damn! I was really hoping it would work.

Rob

How long has this been leaking now? A month? Right now the US doesn't look like the 'strongest nation in the world'.

[breadcatcher101]

As to the WW2 tankers sunk, yes, the Germans sunk many. Not all were crude oil, some were had been refined already into gasoline, fuel oil, whatever. Many of these flared when hit.

The currents were different as well along the eastern seaboard. In many cases the spill didn't reach shore but along Florida it often did.

I am from Daytona Beach. I am too young to have seen it happen, but my relatives have told me about it. Just south of there a tanker was hit and sank just off the beach. The masts were still above the water. The oil washed in, turning the beach black.

It cleaned up on its own quicker than people thought, I guess because of the hard sand beaches. They told me about everyone collecting the stuff into pails to take home to patch their roofs. I guess they meant the tar. At that time it was not possible to get shingles or a lot of other things because of the war.

All those sinkings were nothing compared to what is going on now, though.

If any of you ever go down that way, stop at Flagler Beach, just north from Daytona. You'll notice a wooden tower there. It was made in '42 for spotters of U-boats. As far as I know they never saw one, but they were there.

breadcatcher101,

interesting and sort of unreal at the same time. It isn't that long ago, really.

About the spill, here's a graph from BBC that illustrates what the now failed 'top kill' - method was about. Not sure if they will still try the 'junk shot' - part.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

How long has this been leaking now? A month? Right now the US doesn't look like the 'strongest nation in the world'.

I am sorry, I am just not following what you meant here. What does the problems that an international corporation is having with managing a terrible accident have to do with the United States being, or not being the Strongest....?

Originally Posted by Platapus

I am sorry, I am just not following what you meant here. What does the problems that an international corporation is having with managing a terrible accident have to do with the United States being, or not being the Strongest....?

Does the BP own the entire Gulf of Mexico and the coastal areas and is thus within it's rights in polluting said area? And is it legal in the US for an owner of an area to pollute it?

See, here in Finland even if you own a piece of land and pollute it, you might be committing a crime. This even if you had the means to clean up any part of said pollution, and in the case of the BP spill some pollution will linger no matter what kind of magic trick they pull off in the end.

So, the US doesn't care if a foreign company goes there and pollutes?

[XabbaRus]

Huh, that makes no sense? Course the US doesn't want anyone polluting.

I don't get what you are making out.