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| BP in Iraq |
Manufactured of
failure to uphold common good at home and abroad
By Carolyn Bennett
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I was listening today to the February 25, 2013, Pacifica Evening
News (I listen a day later because I’m on the east coast and this is more
convenient for me) and in hearing the BP story and speculation of billions of
dollars to be paid out or not for the human, economic and environmental devastation done by
this company and its subsidiaries and contractors, I again reflected on my country's calculated undoing. My thoughts went to
prior causes and underlying fissures: regulatory, sovereignty, constitutional
concerns. |
| BP in North America |
I
|
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| Without regulation |
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| Air Pollutionwithout regulation |
The BP hype is like Drug-“Kingpin” arrests or hunting and
capturing another twin towers’ culprit or “al-Qaeda” operative. It is cruel theater,
political grandstanding, waste in government time, waste of money on appointees,
contracting lawyers, nonprofits, NGOs.
Not Upholding U.S.
Constitution
Paid to highest briber: Deregulation, BREAKDOWN
 |
| Burning waters without regulation |
 |
| Mine blast without regulation |
It seems to me that the compelling issue here is the matter
of sovereignty ─ together with constitutional protections of the common defense
and general welfare.
 |
| Victim of landmine explosion |
 |
| Breach of International Convention |
Protection of this nation’s sovereignty requires the continuous
monitoring and regulation of all industries (foreign and domestic) operating
within its borders.
Government officials have no problem militarizing,
committing continuous aggression, against people at home and abroad on behalf
of weapons and war-making industries who regularly line officials and politicians’
pockets. They have no problem selectively monitoring and meddling in the
affairs of other nations.
Upholding Moral
principle, Constitutional guarantees
Providing for Common Defense, Promoting General Welfare ─
Not domestic,
global warfare
P
|
rotection through regulation and monitoring should be required
of government service, without partisan or ideological conditions ─ whether business operations or individuals are or affect health and safety; oil and gas, mines and mining, aviation; food,
water, air, wildlife, lands; housing, shelter, residential and commercial
real estate; transportation, roads, highways, tolls, signals and signs, vehicle
registration and operation; finance, investment, banking; airwaves and telecommunications;
athletics and sport; sales and use of weaponry; labor and treatment of workers,
common products, enterprise and services; all that critically affects and makes up
the environment and habitation must be independently monitored and regulated for
the public good.
People may or may not ultimately receive some “washing-hands”
payment from BP and its subsidiaries and contractors.
But THINK about this: What is the $ worth of hundreds and
thousands of wildlife and waters, lives and livelihoods?
What is the $ worth of
Pakistani, Afghan, Yemeni, Somali, Iraqi children and adults massacred by UAVs, U.S. missiles, ground personnel?
No one can count that high! These cannot be measured in any country’s monetary
currency!
T
|
he pervasive problem facing the United States (and too its
ethos in foreign relations) ─ the problem not addressed by government officials,
mass media or people generally ─ is the moral issue and also the statutory issue:
the breakdown of U.S. constitutional guarantees, the breakdown in government service
to the United States of America and its people.
BP case in news reports
The Pacifica Evening News, Weekdays, for February 25, 2013 -
6:00pm, http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/89283
The Guardian UK
“Deepwater trial: U.S. lawyers say BP ignored warnings on ‘well
from hell’ ─ As 11 teams of lawyers deliver opening statements in trial over
2010 disaster, judge sets out a three-month timetable (Dominic Rushe in New
Orleans, The Guardian-UK), February 25, 2013 17.38 EST,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/25/deepwater-trial-justice-bp-warnings
Global Post
“U.S. considering offering $16b plea deal to BP ─ The U.S.
government is considering offering a deal to BP ahead of a scheduled civil
trial placing blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill” (Kaitlin Funaro), February
24, 2013 13:02, http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/130224/us-considering-16b-plea-deal-bp
New York Times
“Battle Lines Drawn for BP’s Day in Court ─ HOUSTON — Unless
the Justice Department and BP reach a last-minute settlement, the British oil
company will return to court on Monday to face tens of billions of dollars in
civil claims from the 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf
of Mexico that could cripple the company for years to come” (Clifford Krauss), February
19, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/business/battle-lines-drawn-for-bps-day-in-court.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
The Guardian Express U.S Las Vegas
COMMENT: “BP Predicted To Be Severely Punished in Civil
Trials ─ ‘Make BP Pay, Make BP Pay’” Added by James Turnage on February 26,
2013, Guardian Express Las Vegas
http://guardianlv.com/2013/02/bp-predicted-to-be-severely-punished-in-civil-trials/
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Bennett's books are available in New York State independent bookstores: Lift Bridge Bookshop: www.liftbridgebooks.com [Brockport, NY]; Sundance Books: http://www.sundancebooks.com/main.html [Geneseo, NY]; Mood Makers Books: www.moodmakersbooks.com [City of Rochester, NY]; Dog Ears Bookstore and Literary Arts Center: www.enlightenthedog.org/ [Buffalo, NY]; Burlingham Books – ‘Your Local Chapter’: http://burlinghambooks.com/ [Perry, NY 14530]; The Bookworm: http://www.eabookworm.com/ [East Aurora, NY] • See also: World Pulse: Global Issues through the eyes of Women: http://www.worldpulse.com/ http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire http://www.facebook.com/#!/bennetts2ndstudy
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