I have an idea, but I don't know if its legal. It might piss off BP's stockholders, pensioners and employees, but at this point why should we give a damn?

BP owns around 100 of their gas stations in the U.S.; the rest are all franchises.

So maybe the government should acquire a list of the stations BP owns outright in the U.S. and tell them that those stations are going to be closed and their employees put on paid vacation (can't fire them or lay them off) until this whole mess is dealt with and cleaned up if they haven't made significant progress by the end of this month.

*edit* And that idiot congressman from Texas who actually apologized to BP for the way they're being treated then was forced to take it back should have been kicked off that committee. He's a traitor AND a moron, as far as I'm concerned.

The oil industry clearly needs to improve their safety standards, and the next time something like this happens, the company involved needs to be made an example out of, whether its a foreign or domestic company. I'm not talking simply being fined; I'm talking being put out of business and people going to prison.

It would have been irresponsible for him as CEO to take responsibility for the spill without a full understanding of what caused the explosion.  Imagine the field day the lawyers would have.  He would just be putting the company in further legal jeopardy.

"By that, you could also add damage to the Amazon rainforest and a whole host of other industries"

It's an important time for Americans to reflect on the environmental damage American corporations have been party to in other countries. But I don't see any indication in the media that people are even cognizant of this.

==============================================

Joe, this is an issue which should be touched on.

If you want a blame culture for one mess, have one for others.

Al,

I said "blame culture" I know corporations are responsible.

OK --- BP dropped a huge bollock and have damaged the enviroment and should be made to pay a heavy price.

Other companies and governments have done similar things.

Other companies and governments have done similar things.

----------------------

No one in this thread has even hinted that this were not the case.

Consider: if you're driving down the road and your car bursts into flame, is that really the time to reflect on the plight of endangered species in the late 70s?