Tuesday, May 25, 2010

BP and Public Anger

I've been listening to the media coverage of the oil  spill/spume/fountain in the Gulf. I've watched Louisiana oyster and shrimp boat owners and parish leaders on CNN and NBC and FOX castigate BP and the White House. The voices are desperate and accusatory and, in perfect concert, all call for culprits to blame, even if we can't figure out who is to blame. We need causes for effects. We are too lax in our regulations, we are too dependent upon fossil fuels, we are bound by corporate interests or federal complacency.

Here's the hard truth: we have a terrible, terrible environmental catastrophe. Blame means nothing. Action is all that counts. We are at a loss for a remedy. Helplessness is not part of the American mythos. So we do what we can do, and what is best for all involved. By this fact alone, we learn.