FOLLOWING THE BP/Deepwater oil well explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, many commentators have tried to explain why it happened. Many blame greed and arrogance in BP's executive offices...But some writers identify a different cause--consumers.
"Who's Really to Blame for the BP Oil Spill? We Are," by U.S. green activist Dave Chameides, is typical..."The bottom line is, no matter who did their work poorly, or who shirked their responsibilities, at the end of the day, we are the ones who are responsible for the disaster at hand."
All (such articles) promote a simple lesson: If only "we" would wean ourselves of our oil addiction, then "they" would stop destroying the environment. If "we" would just use less oil, then "they" wouldn't have to drill in environmentally sensitive areas like the Gulf of Mexico..Such views rest on the implicit assumption that corporations--indeed, the capitalist economy as a whole--are driven by consumers' desires and choices, as displayed in the market...
But there are many reasons to believe that the conventional wisdom is wrong. The following are just four of them...
http://socialistworker.org/2010/09/16/are-we-blame-bp-disaster