There's a false dichotomy going on here. It's not "BP Expertise" or "Inept Govt Workers"

[readmoreoften]

When we're talking about "Seizing BP" and "Not letting BP run the show", we're not talking about taking all the BP engineers off the job and taking all the state-of-the-art off the table and replacing their efforts with poorly trained government workers and improper equipment.

What we're talking about is the US government seizing the assets of BP, using their workers, their engineers, their know-how, their equipment, but kicking out their corporate executives and their profit motive. Their executives should be replaced by knowledgeable scientists, military personnel, and top BP and non-BP engineers. Let's get real: the top BP execs are money-monsters and they know little about drilling or oil production--probably less than the government.

Our tax dollars should not pay one dime to fix this problem. BP's bottom line or brand image MUST not come into consideration at this point. Thus, BP's clean-up should be in the hands of its current workers and experts (it's highly unlikely that they wanted to rush the job/construction of the equipment/and endanger their lives.) It's assets should be confiscated, dissolved, and either nationalized or sold-off to more responsible corporations (if they exist). Alternately, the US government can hand them back their corporation minus damages, and if that puts them out of business so be it.

[JuniperLea]

1. I agree... mostly...

However, how do we argue against using taxpayer monies when the government is calling the shots?

[Oregone]

4. You don't

But you mitigate the loss with future profits of running the company.


Thats all socialism changes...where the profits get distributed (or the loss). To all the people or to the great grand children of plantation owners, sweat factory operators and oil barons.

[Poll_Blind]

2. I think killing off the Gulf of Mexico is a crime that the corporation must answer for.n/t

PB

[Oregone]

3. This goes right over people's heads

The only thing thatd be replaced is the execs & board.

But in a capitalistic worshipping country, they believe it is the magic that those execs & shareholders bestow upon the company that make the workers do well. In capitalism, the workers (engineers, scientists, designers, etc) have little to add on their own other than under compensated labor.

[JI7]

5. if Govt takes over, taxpayers own it

[readmoreoften]

13. And also a 150 billion dollar corporation to pay for the operation.

As opposed to a 75 million dollar fine and BP running this operation to suit their bottom line.

[ProSense]

6. "What we're talking about is the US government seizing the assets of BP"

How is this going to stop the gusher?


"using their workers, their engineers, their know-how, their equipment"

How is this different from what they're doing now?

[izquierdista]

8. Taking the profit motive out of it

That should be the last of considerations at this point, and something that BP management is still trying desperately to protect.

[Oregone]

11. The primary function of their job is to protect the shareholders and enhance their wealth

Of course BP management is operating in this manner...its is the basis for their jobs' very existence. It is unacceptable for the government to even allow this potential conflict-of-interest to exist while trying to solve this large of a problem, no matter how small of an impact it may have (but we know it can have serious consequences).

Their choice of dispersants thoroughly illustrates how problematic this is

[Oregone]

9. "How is this going to stop the gusher? "

No shit. It won't. You know that. Why ask?

Thereafter, having shots called by scientists and engineers who have no interests whatsoever in public relations or profit can most assuredly lead to a better approach to stopping the gusher (and clean up).


"How is this different from what they're doing now?"

As far as I'm aware, BP private executives aren't all at home drinking margaritas, out of the picture. Their primary job function is to promote their companies profits and protect their company. Any such bias needs to ultimately be eliminated at this stage in the game, so that reasoned and scientific approaches can prevail.

[BeFree]

12. Imagine...

...an engineer has this great idea that could stop the flow.

First the idea goes to legal. Then to PR, over to financial, then back to execs, and some little twit in a back office somewhere blows it away because it may result in a problem for BP.

[Cant trust em]

7. Well said.

I've seen a lot of posts talking about nationalizing the effort, but this best sums up what that could look like.

[Scuba]

10. I'm for nationalizing BP....

...future profits are the only thing that's going to pay for this mess, and that will only be partial payment.