How is this oil spill not a big deal?

[6doublefive321]

I'm not even sure where to start on this one.

Let's go back to the mining accident a few weeks ago. MSHA had recently written up over 100 violations for this particular mine. Was the mine closed? Nope. Just fined.

Let's look at the regulations and systems that are in place for offshore drilling. Are they sufficient? Obviously not. Since accidents can and will happen, emergency response plans should be in place to contain the accidents. Was the ERP for this rig sufficient? Not even close.

What is the common denominator in both cases? Risks were identified, consequences predicted, and NOTHING was done. Why was nothing done? Because violations and fines are the lifeblood of regulatory organizations and governments. The coal mine should have been CLOSED, not fined. Oil rigs should be SHUT DOWN until countermeasures can be implemented to prevent and / or contain spills. Some will say that these actions are not economically feasible, but 20 families in WV and hundreds of families on the gulf coast will disagree.

At the end of the day, our government has made the decision that money and the economy are more important than human lives. Just call it what it is, and I will be happy.