Too Big to Exist (TBE)

[autorank]

Too Big to Exist (TBE) - Big Oil by Michael Collins


BP is not the only oil company with a poor safety record. It's the first big oil company to cause a catastrophe of this magnitude. It must be the last. We simply can't tolerate these lumbering giants that place cost cutting for bigger executive bonuses above the safety and survival of those who use their energy products. If you put your customers out of business and injure or kill them, they can't buy anything.



We are the endangered species.

[Rex]

1. You know...they never should have said Too Big to Fail.

Without considering TBE. Capitalism is supposed to have safeguards against monopolies and cartels. 2000 was the year 'everything changed'.

[Oregone]

2. "Capitalism is supposed to have safeguards..."

Capitalism allows the development of egregiously rich & powerful individuals and corporations that have the political influence to destroy or circumvent any such safeguards

[autorank]

4. That's on dispilay right now

They've bought and paid for their influence and it's now become something that PTB thinks is
"forever." But the BP Prudhoe Bay disaster is a good analogy - they cut and scrimped and did
everything to avoid maintaining the pipeline - then, as it had to, it failed and produced a huge
mess. I think we're in the mess phase right now and those at the very top don't even know it.

[truedelphi]

25. Tonight watching C Span, with the Mississippi and Florida "R" Senators

Talking about how we just need to be a bit safer re: oil drilling in the future made me so sad.

Their theme apparently is now "after all, accidents do happen," and the verbiage was yet another example of how bought and paid for almost all these people in Congress are.

And I disliked that it spoiled my "Robin Hood" high of earlier this afternoon. Wish we had a current day RH to toss these "law makers' into the oily brine and make them scoop up the oil with their own little lying pie holes. Then let them talk about "accidents that just happen."

[autorank]

3. Right!

Your comment is perfect - just as capitalism is supposed to have safeguards, so are engineering projects. You build it and then figure out what can go wrong and hot that will be fixed. To build it without doing that shows indifference. On capitalism, we're in the indifferent phase - we know what caused the problems (repeal of Glass Steagall, enactment of Commodities Futures Trading Act) but we're not seeing anyone fixing that. It's not that hard. But they don't care (because they don't have to).

[Me.]

5. Nah

WE like our oil floating on the surface of the ocean, sometimes it makes a sheen which, when hit just right by the sun, produces an iridescent affect that could be mistaken for a rainbow. And who doesn't like rainbows I ask you? I'm sure the sight will be appreciated by a multitude of sea creatures and tourists alike. Nothing to worry about here, move on.

[formercia]

6. It doesn't smell like a Rainbow.

..and those aren't Moons around Uranus.

[Me.]

11. Now Then

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

This was meant to be in response to post # 6.

[formercia]

19. Don't take it personally

I appreciate your Gallows Humor.

What if I told you it wasn't an 'accident?'

[Me.]

21. My Jaw Has Lost Its Capacity To Drop In Stupefaction

Nothing surprises me anymore.

Make your case.

[formercia]

22. President Obama was supposed to fail.

It's no great secret that there are a lot of very powerful people out there who would do just about anything to make sure that happens.
Unfortunately, the Economy is starting to show signs of improvement, just as the run-up to the mid-term elections are on the Horizon.
So, what would the crazies do to make sure the President's image is tarnished and the poll numbers are driven in favor of the GOP?
A nice big double dip in the Economy wouldn't hurt.

So, someone convinces the President that offshore drilling would be a good thing to lessen the dependence on foreign oil, even though most of that oil will go to the highest bidder, possibly Europe or China. Anyway, it sounds good, and a bit of positive PR wouldn't hut things. The President gives a nice speech on the positive aspects of offshore drilling, citing how the current technology is safe and reliable.
Bang, he gets sandbagged when, soon afterwords, an offshore platform blows sky-high, making him the laughingstock of the Right, and making the Left say "I told you so." Lose, lose.
What's the probability of that 'accident' happening in the time-frame that occurred? Zip...nada. That rig was meant to fail. It was already showing signs of blowing (kicking). Suddenly, orders come down to finish off the well, pull the mud that is capping the pressure and not put in a concrete plug that acts as a counterweight to the pressure. The independent contractor brought in to sign-off on the well says "No way." and calls in a Helo to pull their people off due to the danger of a blow-out. They saw it coming and wanted no part of it.

Are there people who would do this to score points? You bet.

I've seen some of the crap that goes on from an inside perspective and this 'Op' fits right in.

[formercia]

27. Some more background for you to peruse.

The link on the oilfield discussion board has a lot more detailed info.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4389933

[Rex]

8. I was surprised we got Habeas back!

Apathy will be our downfall.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, autorank.:thumbsup:

[autorank]

15. Thnx Joe! n/t

[mod mom]

9. rec'd

[autorank]

13. hey there

:hi:

We're a pretty endangered species, aren't we?

[mod mom]

16. unfortunately soon only the true cockroaches will survive......

BFEE that is, protected by blackwater in some remote section of the world over an aquifer. :mad:

[damntexdem]

10. Just like the dinosaurs.

Except they lasted 160 million years before they died out and became oil. ;-)

[autorank]

12. That's the most concise way I've seen it put. Thnx!

[amborin]

14. K&R

[autorank]

17. When will it end?

The notion that you can build something and then not worry about what to do if it goes wrong?

These permits should never have been granted if there wasn't a solution for this problem.

Go figure?

[Joe Chi Minh]

18. You have to marvel at their audacity; already warning against an unwise(!)

over-reaction on the part of the public!

[autorank]

20. Well, how about an "overt" reaction by the public

I guess BP won't get "beyond petroleum" any time soon. Grimey mess!

[autorank]

23. kick

[puebloknot]

24. Only unenlightened countries like Norway ...

... insist that safety precautions be in place *before* drilling.

Good article. Thanks!

[autorank]

26. Those weegies! Thorough aren't they;)