If You Think The Oil Spill In The Gulf Doesn't Effect You... Think Again

Okay, this is a very sensitive subject but things need to be said.

I've been really upset & pissed about the offshore drilling rig that exploded, killing 11 people and dumping hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico... along with that totally helpless feeling. It's like watching your infant child falling to the earth from a great height & not being able to catch him/her, times 1,000,000,000.

Since Mr. Snoots was in the oil business for most of our marriage (he was an independent landman who checks land ownership and mineral rights records and acquires leases for oil companies) I asked him, "Why do we even allow anyone at all to conduct off-shore drilling?" His answer stunned me.

He said that more than 30% of the oil produced in this country comes from the gulf. Without that 30% of oil & gas, we are screwed. It will shut this country down quicker than you can say Bullsh*t! Without that oil (which is what this country runs on), we would have to be 70% dependent on foreign oil (a percentage less when you account for dry land drilling). So when you add that with our billions of dollars of debt to China, what have you got? Total chaos and turmoil.

Having said that, I will add that I think British Petroleum should be banned from ever drilling anywhere near this country. Ever. Again. They are crooks & liars who only hire the cheapest engineers, drillers, roughnecks, etc., which all of us in the oil business have known for years.

So, if you don't mind riding a bicycle everywhere for the rest of your life, I suppose you'll be fine. However, so many of the people protesting against drilling in the Gulf are typical Americans who love their cars. Windmills could pop up all over the country ten times over but it will still never be enough for the amount of energy we consume as a country. This is a hard cold fact until a suitable alternative has been discovered and utilized.

Oil & Gas is our country's life source, the same way coal is. Why do you think they let the coal mines get away with all they do, even in the face of many deaths? Because the politicians know that we need it, however much it sucks the big one. Several years ago when BP's refinery in Texas City, Texas exploded into a gazillion pieces, BP lied through their teeth to everyone, including the Senate  hearing committee conducting the investigation. Many of the senate committee hearings are totally bogus and I say that it's time someone step up to the plate, but nothing will ever come of them, just like always. BP should have been banned from drilling anywhere near this country after the Texas City incident, but they weren’t. Why? Because the government and politicians KNEW we needed it.

I have one friend whose hubby is a driller and was asked to be the driller on the well that exploded in the gulf but he refused because he knew what idiots the guys at BP are. They hire geologists & engineers straight out of college who have NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE as well as the cheapest possible rig workers (roughnecks). The last time I looked, you still get what you pay for. Any seasoned engineer, geologist or driller would have never let it come to that explosion and thus, the horrific oil gushing from beneath the sea. BP is basically hiring kids the age of my own children (a truly horrifying thought to me since I know so many of those kids that went into the business) and throwing them out there, thinking book smarts is all they need. Oh contraire. They were very wrong but we get to pay the price. It scares the living hell out of me.

Additionally, the Gulf is where we get more than half of our seafood here in Texas. That's history for a long time to come, in addition to the killing of the wetlands & all that represents. I consider this to be one of the most horrific tragedies of my 57 years. I mean, it's right up there with 9/11.

Don't assume for one minute that BP cares, because they don't. All they care about is the almighty buck. This. Is. A. Fact.
 
Will Obama do anything? Hell no! He also knows we need the off shore drilling because without it, this country will will tumble & roll until there is nothing left of us...

It's a hopelessly sad situation & there is NOTHING we can do aside from going down there to the Gulf and pitching in to help or sending money to fund those that do.

I wish I had better news about this, but there is no better news about this..... This is the harshest of all realities and it's happening to OUR COUNTRY.

It all comes down to what I've always said. Washington is a well oiled machine. It will never matter who is President as long as we continue to vote the same a$$holes into the Congress, Senate, and House of Representatives. Think long and hard the next time you vote. Get rid of the same tired young and old politicians who ALWAYS go with the Washington flow. Otherwise,  British Petroleum may be destroying your coastline  next.....perhaps worse.