HEY OBAMA YOU CARE MORE THEN BUSH?

[Admin]

From New Orleans Times Picayune

As state and federal officials displayed increasing displeasure with its response, BP on Friday tried a new approach to protect the Louisiana coast on the 10th day of a massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill: using a chemical to disperse the oil as it welled up from the seabed.

But the stakes only increased as Louisiana health and wildlife officials shut down all commercial and recreational fishing east of the mouth of the Mississippi River to protect consumers from tainted seafood.

The closure imperiled the livelihoods of thousands of fishers and related interests.

"This changes everything as we know it," said Glenn Sanchez of Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. "I don't have a clue how I'll make a living."


To be very honest after spending a lot of time in LA during the aftermath of Katrina it really makes you wonder if Obama will care.


No doubt some of the kindest most hard working people I have ever met live in this region.
The government left these people out to dry with Katrina.
It will be very interesting to see how we treat this group thats effected.


I mean you sent Haiti a massive team and supplies.
WILL YOU TAKE A STANCE AND TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN?


I guess if this group goes with no support and gets nothing from our government this time well I guess we all need to just start realizing that the working man dont have a place in this country.


Can you do the right thing for the PEOPLE of this country OBAMA???


To me we could easily give these guys a better life. Hell just the fuel you spent moving supplies to Haiti would put these Americans in a much better place.


John Eppehimer

[vbmlows]

for starters, make BP start paying all coastal residents affected on a sliding scale depending on their livelihood. For example:
fishermen get paid weekly equivalent to 100% of their IRS 1040 earnings in 2009, before itemized deductions.

I don't know this for a fact but I suspect BP makes enough money selling oil to be able to support the entire economy of the affected areas at least until we have recovered from the effects of the spill, which may take a few years.

[vbmlows]

Unlike Katrina, there has been no obvious failures of government, no images to compare to the Superdome or the flooded streets of St. Bernard Parish. And unlike Katrina, there is an easy target for blame in the current oil spill: the oil giant BP, which by law is the "responsible party" and must pay for all of the costs of the cleanup.

[CFScheer]

I seriously question whether the true motives of this first post when the author on multiple occassions is assuming that the president could or will likely be to blame for several negative impacts of this crisis, but fails to critique BP in any way what so ever. I think it is a little bit early to start putting blame on anyone but BP at this point. There are many factors unknown at the time that have contributed to the current severity of this crisis, the amount of oil being released from the well on a daily basis being one of them. Time will tell if anyone else, gov't included, besides BP will truly be at fault for the severity of this crisis.

Also, to compare this crisis and the perceived commitment to a genuine relief effort to the way the president and the international community responded to the events that occured in Haiti in any way what so ever is short sighted and insulting to the way human life should be valued.

Yes, there will be great short and long term economic, ecological, and social costs related to this man made disaster, and many people will lose their livelihood and be displaced for some time. These affected people should be compensated for their loss by those deemed at fault. Likewise the gov't should be compensated for the resources it uses to both control and clean up the spill as well as the resources it uses to help ill-affected people. It is my understanding that federal laws on the books will do everything possible to make that happen. I truly hope justice prevails! In the meantime, I agree, the gov't should do everything possible to help displaced persons as well as protect all ecosystems affected.

Still, in Haiti tens of thousands of people were dying in the streets and tens of thousands more would've died as well if the international aid response wasn't as swift, large, and unwavering as it was. These are very different disasters affecting people in very different ways and subsequently require a very different type of response.

[Admin]

I seriously question whether the true motives of this first post when the author on multiple occassions is assuming that the president could or will likely be to blame for several negative impacts of this crisis, but fails to critique BP in any way what so ever. I think it is a little bit early to start putting blame on anyone but BP at this point. There are many factors unknown at the time that have contributed to the current severity of this crisis, the amount of oil being released from the well on a daily basis being one of them. Time will tell if anyone else, gov't included, besides BP will truly be at fault for the severity of this crisis.

Also, to compare this crisis and the perceived commitment to a genuine relief effort to the way the president and the international community responded to the events that occured in Haiti in any way what so ever is short sighted and insulting to the way human life should be valued.

Yes, there will be great short and long term economic, ecological, and social costs related to this man made disaster, and many people will lose their livelihood and be displaced for some time. These affected people should be compensated for their loss by those deemed at fault. Likewise the gov't should be compensated for the resources it uses to both control and clean up the spill as well as the resources it uses to help ill-affected people. It is my understanding that federal laws on the books will do everything possible to make that happen. I truly hope justice prevails! In the meantime, I agree, the gov't should do everything possible to help displaced persons as well as protect all ecosystems affected.

Still, in Haiti tens of thousands of people were dying in the streets and tens of thousands more would've died as well if the international aid response wasn't as swift, large, and unwavering as it was. These are very different disasters affecting people in very different ways and subsequently require a very different type of response.

Wow ok what ever. Really you think after Katrina this It one would not be a proper thing to do??

Really?
Sure the fuel companies will need to but that whole industry needed help when Katrina hit and the middle lower class guys suffered while Omega Protein got huge government dollars.

Maybe you we at home nice and cozy while people like me lived in a pick up for 7 months in the thick of it and actually care about the people there. Sorry you think picking on our government is wrong but sorry as a American I watch corps get richer and richer while hard working middle class bites the big one.
Maybe bp will take care of them I don't think it happened with Valdez ! I think i remember exxon doing very very little for the fishermen. And yes I think our government should start helping those who live and pay taxes in this country. We seem to do a very nice job every where else getting in to other countries affairs.
So take it for what ya want I don't care.

[Nauti Natured]

I really do hope that there is a large effort made here. I am sad to say I doubt it.

[Sea Draggin]

think i remember exxon doing very very little for the fishermen.

They ended up paying every single citizen of Alaska a lump sum in addition to special programs. My dad was doing consulting work up there at the time of the payout, so I can ask him the specifics, but its been a while and my memory on the exact numbers is fuzzy.

My understanding is about everyone got a new truck at the same time.