Menendez Questions Salazar: Liability Caps - Why Is There a CAP at All?

[tomm2thumbs]

Run time: 06:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktiJ--PqLA8   Posted on YouTube: May 19, 2010 By YouTube Member: NatureCitizan Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 19, 2010 By DU Member: tomm2thumbs Views on DU: 997

 

An interesting back-and-forth between Senator Menendez and Secretary Salazar on the BP Oil Spill - specifically he notes how BP claimed they had a capability and a plan for a 'worst case discharge'... and asks how that possibly measures up to what is obviously a test of that claimed ability to cope.



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There's some typical Washington-speak at the end - can you say apologist?

[soryang]

1. Liability caps? Why not require bonds?

They should be required to post bonds for damages prior to permit issuance. Why should there be a liability cap at all? Liabiiity caps are a republican talking point.

[tomm2thumbs]

2. true, if they aren't afraid of a problem, they have absolutely NOTHING to lose

ahhhh, but they know better

[safeinOhio]

3. The Seventh Amendment is clear

awards are to be decided by a jury with no restraints on that.

[whathehell]

4. An excellent question!...When corporations screw up, they need to take "personal responsiblity"

I mean, now that they're "persons" and all:evilgrin:

I got so sick of that "personal responsibility" meme from the wingnuts, when I heard it I asked.."What about CORPORTATE responsiblity"?...It fell mainly on deaf ears, but I think even the RWers may be having a change of heart sine the BP spill.

[TheEuclideanOne]

5. Seems like a simple question of Math

Let's say that you are the CEO of BP and somebody tells you that you are not required to put a piece of safety equipment into your rigs that will cost you $500 million per rig, then you see that you are capped at $75 million dollars per spill, why in the world would you do it?

Note that I prefaced this with "You are the CEO of BP", therefore I am not accepting any answers that refer to personal or corporate responsiblity. There is a built in assumption that none exists.