Quote Originally Posted by Hazir View Post
Well, as things stand, BP is going to bail out your government. Because legally your government is on the hook for whatever this spill costs more than 75m.
Not when negligence is involved, as others have pointed out. We're all second guessing the "legalities" and how courts would rule. Sweet deal for lawyers the next 20 years, eh.

Oh, and BP isn't just 'big business', it's also how millions of people have provided for their pensions.
I mentioned pensioners and retirees being affected a while ago. Sucks to be Brits who have about 10% of their state pension in bp. Sucks for American pensions and 401-Ks, too. Hasn't everyone been saying caveat emptor, markets have risk, boo hoo? Suspending the dividend isn't as harmful as the company tanking, but what's your point?

Quote Originally Posted by Loki View Post
So let's impose a dictatorship just because it makes things easier.
Dictatorship? You're being emotional and irrational. Maybe it's the heat.

As I said, if the government wants to help these people, it should do so out of its own pocket, and then sue BP for the amount (plus interest).
THESE PEOPLE means our fellow US citizens and their economies and commerce. Not to mention a large chunk of our land, ports, waters. Any other part of our country you're willing to just "let go" and fend for itself?

Something tells me you'd also bitch about these people drawing on extended unemployment benefits, food stamps, housing assistance, mortgage mods, fishing vessels loans, Medicaid, jobs re-training....ya know, all those gummint programs and subsidies paid for by tax dollars.

Are your objections to oil subsidies and tax breaks in there somewhere, too? Or are you just feeling sorry for poor old Bp.....because it gives you a chance to spew how much you hate Obama?

I'm amazed at your about-turn from being a Paulite. First you want the military to take over. Now you want to suspend the constitution.
Straw-cat. Ron Paul was my son's interest in Libertarianism a couple of years ago in HS, and my interest in populist and sociological trends. Same interest in the Tea Party, but you already know that, too.

I still want to see this mess treated as a "mission" with military command and control.....over the OIL....that our shores are being "attacked by an enemy", and the enemy is THE OIL. Keep it out, keep it back, suck it up, be aggressive and on the offense. Not this defensive late-to-the-field crap with piddly floating booms and pathetic sham wows, or hanging over the edge of boats with modified shop-vacs. FFS

Bp says our government is "in charge". Military is part of our government. Navy, Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, National Guard, Army Reserves. Mobilize them all. Coordinate with state and local officials. Nothing anti-constitutional about protecting our land and water from a foreign invader called OIL.