Long time TMV – almost three months since my last post I think. Have I missed much?
It has truly been a strange experience comparing the British and American reporting of the BP oil spill. Strange is probably the wrong word, confusing is probably a more accurate description.
The spill has been widely reported at this end of the pond, but not with nearly as much anger and anti-corporatism or anti-Obamanism as many would think. Though many Britons feel real sympathy for the average fisherman and gulf-coast residents, whose lives have been forever changed by the horrific incident/accident, there is also a sense of the nation taking collective responsibility for what has happened – a responsibility which I feel Americans need to share.
I find it ironic when watching politicians clambering over themselves to show how anti-British Petroleum and pro- the small guy they are – when as soon as cameras switch off, they go back to living their comfortable lives built upon the luxuries which fossil fuels provide. They might feel sympathy for the small fisherman but I guarantee you that they will still be filling their cars with BP’s petrol soon enough.
And what of the ‘debate’ on clean energy?
Drill baby drill? Is all I can say for the GOP side and as for the progressives, how long can you blame the opposition for the stagnation on the issue? Before this disaster happened you had President Obama, a president with the most successful legislative first terms in recent memory, lift restrictions on off-shore drilling. That was the first time I felt truly let down by somebody who I felt understood the importance of finally moving this issue forward.
Drill baby drill!
So as much as people would like to see our Tony Hayward’s yacht sink in a pool of his own oil, they need to look at themselves, and their own lives and ask how their own personal narrative relates to this story of how the western worlds crack-like addiction to oil has led to the mess we find ourselves in today.
Don’t get me wrong, I feel that BP’s security measures should be questioned – but is it wrong to ask the questioners to do so with a level of humility which the matter deserves?
This could be the defining issue of Obama’s presidency. I don’t feel that it is his Katrina, only because the President has already gone above his powers to show that he has a handle on the situation. This will be defining because we will now see whether the President has the cojones to take advantage of this disaster (yes take advantage) and turn it into an opportunity.
