The reports of the oil spill in the Gulf by the news media, printed, radio and television have been on going since the fatal explosion on April 20. Talk radio has covered the spill relentlessly. However, the news media in general have failed to devote the proper coverage or time to the real story. The story that the Oil Industry and BP have no timely plan or equipment in place available on short notice to deal with such an accident and stop leaking oil before it gets out of control.
Offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has been going on for over 40 years and yet we see with the BP spill no timely coordinated effort to deal with the situation. Eighteen days after the explosion oil is still leaking from the well into the waters of the Gulf and that spill has yet to be cleaned up. No equipment is available to shut off two of the remaining leaking spots so coffer dams had to be built which will be used to try and prevent more oil from leaking into the Gulf. A BP spokesman said they are not sure the dams would work. How do you like that for responsibility?
According to reports BP earned over $5 billion in profits for the first quarter. The major oil companies, including BP have enjoyed record profits over the last several years, yet they still lobby congress to short cut safety regulations. Those record profits that go toward record bonuses for the CEO's and executives, should go instead into area's of improved safety and a workable timely plan and equipment to deal with such accidents. That workable equipment should be available on a moments notice. Equipment should not have to be built after the fact with a disclaimer that it may not work. The oil companies with their vast experience and knowledge in offshore drilling know every conceivable way an accident can happen and should have the means to deal with it timely.
That is the real story and one the news media, federal and state governments should be talking about. No new offshore drilling should be allowed until the oil industry comes up with a timely workable plan and workable equipment available on short notice when necessary to deal with the situations. The states and federal governments should make sure that happens before the next oil spill.
