The Oil Spill in Retrospect

The oil spill has given us a rare opportunity to observe corporate behavior under a media microscope for the last 100 days. I think BP is a good representative of the upper echelon of corporate arrogance. All those years of impunity (read deregulation), getting to lie in front of congress, write energy policy in Cheney's office, taking a free ride with G.W. and his Dad in their wallet pocket. They did what came naturally, they lied, spun, obfuscated, dawdled and pulled the wool over the government's eyes. Clinton absolutely loved big money, Barak has as advisors as big a group of money grubbers as Bush and his thieving Congress, when lobbyists wrote the rules. Now we have an oil company doing a reluctant fix and clean up, bankers distributing fortunes made with taxpayer dollars among themselves and car companies coming back after all the crappy cars sold in the 90's are now falling apart.

This time the public smelled the rat. The ham handed handling of PR spin by Tony Hayward was just a reflection of a culture that knows no humility. All they have learned from this episode is to refine their lying, fake remorse and eat a small portion of humble pie. Bp will survive the mess and may even make future fortunes with the rescue technologies they were forced to invent.

Soon you'll see McCain and Palin jumping up and down with the "drill baby drill" chant. The Republicans will squash any alternative energy proposals. The gulf coasters will all shut up once they get enough of the BP sugar tit and everything will return to horseshit as usual.

All teachable moments are lost on Americans. History is loaded gun and we keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Nature will supply the coup de grace.