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1. 

   Ms. Ima said, 6 months ago

   3 people (probably with incurable cancer) were thrown to the treehugging liberals.
2. 

   Respectful Troll said, 6 months ago

   This cartoon gives me another chance to rant about the need for more inspectors and regulators. My uncle worked on gulf oil rigs for over 30 years. He said they used to have an inspector come by every few months, but in the last years, he only saw two in five years. The unexpected and un-budgeted
   damage done to the gulf coast and the myriad small businesses was epic in size and scope. How much does it cost to have enough inspectors to enforce regulations on businesses that have the ability to do this much damage? How much does it cost to have 100 inspectors protecting people from these kind of disasters? Over 100 billion dollars has been lost by BP, the government, the states, the localities, and the individuals who lost income, businesses, and even homes because of this unnecessary disaster. And nearly every time another major storm hits the gulf coast, we hear reports that oil slicks found are often from the BP spill.
   Massey mines is another place where inspectors failed to regulate properly and enforce regulations. And 29 neighbors died.
   We need more inspectors, sensible regulations, and strict enforcement of existing regs.
   Respectfully,
   C.
3. 

   braindead08 said, 6 months ago

   @

   I don’t think there are many Democrats that you describe that post on these boards. At least they’re not as numerous as the Imas.
   (It’s also possible I’m not understanding their trollness as much as I should.)
   -
   Anyway, thanks for the observations about the oil industry.
   -
   It’s my belief that most of the problems in regulated areas are the product not of insufficient regulations, but of insufficient enforcement. If BP really is going to be held accountable, that’s a really, really good thing, not only for justice in the different situations, but also in the message it sends to other oil companies, and those in other regulated industries.
   -
   While I’m on the subject, there should be legislation preventing people who work on regulatory boards, such as a PUC, preventing them or their staffers from ever going to work for a company in their industry.
4. 

   Michael wme said, 6 months ago

   We have far too much regulation. If we want BP to reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels, we need to let them do what they do best: produce oil as cheaply as possible. What’s an oil spill if the US can regain the top spot as #1 fossil fuel producer?

   
   What HAVE you been drinking? The world is 6,016 years old and was created with unlimited fossil fuels that, as we find them, miraculously reproduce, so what’s needed is more and more exploitation of fossil fuels.
5. 

   dtroutma said, 6 months ago

   BP: Killing with kindness, one spill at a time. That the “W administration” let them rewrite regulations, and remove inspectors, all in their interest, didn’t help a bit. (2007 especially)
6. 

   lonecat said, 6 months ago

   I don’t think the left/liberals have anyone quite so (fill in the blank as you wish) as Ima, but we have a few who could be more polite. (I try to be polite, but I have to admit that now and again I lose it, and I apologize for my slips.) I appeal to all to try to keep the conversation civil.
7. 

   Eryx said, 6 months ago

   Their fine was one month’s profits.
8. 

   Eryx said, 6 months ago

   @

   We came to that conclusion months ago.
9. 

   Ketira shena Pretarasedrin said, 6 months ago

   @Michael wme

   What have YOU been drinking? Don’t you know what will happen if (maybe when) the oil hits the Reefs off of Key Largo?
   Those reefs – which are colonies of microorganisms – will DIE due to suffocation. Not to mention taint and possibly kill shrimp that run in the Gulf….
   …and you want MORE exploration in the Gulf? I’m glad for the regulations that keep MY state’s environment protected!
10. 

    lonecat said, 6 months ago

    @Ketira shena Pretarasedrin

    Micheal has done it again. Ketira, he’s joking.
11. 

    Rottiluv said, 6 months ago

    They don’t actually run it through the legal department, they run it through the cost accountants. If the potential amount they will be sued for is less than the cost of putting the cap on, then why bother. If something happens, they’ll just pay the fine and carry on.
12. 

    Ketira shena Pretarasedrin said, 6 months ago

    @lonecat

    He may be, but I am not. I grew up in Key Largo, and have seen the reefs up close. It’s one of our Nation’s Natural Resources, and as such should be protected.
    Or do you want Australia to have the only protected Coral Reef in the World?
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