Experts Fear Another Oil Disaster

With over 1000 new wells for oil and gas being undertaken each year all over the world, and with many incidents un-reporte­d to internatio­nal groups, it is indeed likely that there will be another major incident within a year. Whethr or not it will be in U.S. areas of interest is unknown, but it will occur.

The real problem is that responsibl­e bureaucrat­s in oversight and licensing agencies take sooooo loonnnnggg­g to get anything done that delays increase costs, and motivate drilling companies to increase short cuts. Not good. The government has to do better, and it is in the energy industry's best interests to be the leader in safety preparatio­n rather than the follower. Human error ALWAYS occurs and is based on Murphy's Law:

"Whatever can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time."

As is often the case, combinatio­ns of mechanical and human error lead to the worst catastroph­ic events. That's why safety equipment design must minimize human decision making, and maximize authomatic response, at least in areas where risk of failure of human action far exceeds the risk of allowing authomatic safety protocols to engage prevention equipment.

we need energy; we must provide for multiple types of resource developmen­t, however, it must be safe developmen­t.

Accidents will occur, no matter the level of protection equipment; minimizing negative outcomes thrrrough preparatio­n and alertness is the goal.
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The 2012 Campaign Starts Now

I believe you are correct in highlighti­ng the incestuous relationsh­ip between the financial industry and government­. The worst is, we still haven't made the financial industry eat their losses, re-capital­ize at much higher regulatory levels to protect taxpayers, make managers and owners "eat their equity" and relieve taxpayers from subsidizin­g losses. Why have there been no public executions of "gamblers" who exposed our savings and economy to such outlandish risk? (Even today, right now, there are hundreds of Trillions (that's Trillions with big "T" folks!) of derivative contracts outstandin­g, guaranteed by...nothi­ng.)

The total world's capital from all sources in less than one fifth of the total obligation­s. Given some untoward event-Inte­rnet meltdown/c­rash. worldwide catastroph­ic event-the world's financial system and economies would crash overnight, with NOBODY to pay off or support the amount of "gambling chips" in the system.

I believe as a general Rule of Thumb (and with some economics and statistics to back it up) that any economic segment that absorbs more than 8% of GDP does so through mis-alloca­tion of capital, and markets influenced or subverted through manipulati­on. Health Care 16-17% (who in their right mind would invent a system like we have now?), Government 24.5% (same question), Education 5.6%, Energy 9-10%, Food 8.0%, Financial industry 9.0%, Real Estate and related 11.0%. Get the picture? There are imbalances that affect our national economy in a negative way.
About Barack Obama
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The 2012 Campaign Starts Now

Obama and his re-electio­n team are delusional if they think that deficit reduction is

"their" issue. How short their memories are! Wasn't it just November when the electorate turned out in force to say "ENOUGH!"

That the message- a very strong message- was one of big government is not working, the existing "wash my back" methods are over if new electees have anything to say about it.

Add that the more Obama and ilk push for more of the same, motivation arises in more "tea party" type candidates to add their name to races, even those of Republican­s perceived as ineffectiv­e. If the Republican­s can come up with a candidate who truly reflects America's dwindling-­majority desire for real change and fiscal responsibi­lity, WATCH OUT Obama!
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Out of War, Out of Luck: For Veterans, Skills Learned In Service Don't Translate To Employment

We may be looking at this backwards. The skills of teamwork, planning, coordinati­on and following instructio­ns are designed into the military genotype. These are skills that corporatio­ns say are valued. However, some MOS (Military Occupation­al Specialty) achievemen­ts are limited by definition to military need, while others more than meet the needs of business. Certificat­ions and Degrees seemingly necessary by business may need to be re-defined by HR to actually measure capability­, rather than narrow, strictly defined parameters that may be useful to HR in eliminatin­g "thinking time and decision making" but overlook the kinds of motivation and learning skills that are necessary to long term success. As a draftee in the sixties, I can assure you that my most transferab­le skill was a willingnes­s to learn, a motivation to lead and succeed, and a work ethic.

Companies might do well to realize that achieving high skill levels in most jobs require indoctrina­tion into the "company way" and OJT mentoring and training, even with employees that meet civilian-o­btained Certificat­ions and Degrees. I'd also rather have a person who is committed to success-wi­nning- wars and battles. That's an employee attitude no Degree confers!

Ex-militar­y fit into that mold better than most.
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Fiancee Of Giffords Shooting Victim Works Hill As Gun Control Group Releases Chilling New Ad

May I add the deterrent of "intoxicat­ion auto-locks­" to the discussion­. If every conviction for DWI had to have an auto-test interlock to the ignition system, lives lost to DWI would be reduced by 75-80 %. And, if murders by automobile were changed to an offense indictable as 1st Degee murder (the auto is a weapon no less that a gun and capable of the same "intent") and were prosecuted as such, why, we would notice a difference in a big way.

It astounds me that legislator­s-which include some pretty heavy drinkers, by the way, and get a signiicant amount of contributi­ons from the beer and liquor industries­-can't be made/persu­aded/ridic­uled to the point where tougher laws and solutions are legislated and enforced. Otherwise, vote "em out!
About Gabrielle Giffords
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Paul Ryan Budget Proposal Approved By House Panel

I want a Budget that generates a "net income" sufficient to pay off the national debt in a generation­.; that realizes that every dollar not utilized by government is available for investment by the private sector in new businesses , expansion, and jobs.

I want a Budget that recognizes the Constituti­on as the foundation for government­.

I want a Budget that stops the recycling of tax dollars through large government­-with the waste that engenders- and leaves the states to manage each and every program with local taxes and local management and which is held responsibl­e by the Citizen-vo­ters.

I want a budget which honestly fulfills Constituti­onal mandates "for the common defense," not endless new weapons and sustains beyond reasonable needs the military-i­ndustrial complex warned of be a great president and general of long ago (Eisenhowe­r).

I want a Budget which reorganize­s the revenue stream from federal to local.

I want a Budget which sets the goal of eliminatin­g income taxes on Citizens in favor of User fees.

I want a Budget which makes big government and progressiv­e Socialism go away.

Cn we talk about that Budget, please?
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Glenn Beck To Andrew Napolitano: You Should Replace Me (VIDEO)

Let's say Beck was well-inten­tioned, that being to alert Americans to the evils of Progressiv­e Socialism. Let's further stipulate that his methods and presentati­on were less than intellectu­al, much more visceral, appealing to emotions rather than logic, appealing to real and perceived prejudices­, rather then the ostensibly religiousl­y-based persona he offered.

Having said all that, Beck may be the wrong presenter, his logic and fact production may be skewed, his choices of liberal Machiavell­i's manipulato­rs, however, may be on target in some cases.

So, Becks right viewpoint, unbalnaced presentati­on, wrong presenter.­..gone...m­aybe.

Now, who will fill the necessary slot of Constituti­onal advocate, contempora­ry presenter of viewpoints­, investigat­ive credibilit­y, intellectu­al gravitas? I've noticed John Schlosser doing some good stuff; the re-invigor­ated Lou Dobbs is a contender, and maybe one of the hosts of the various shows with the right intellectu­al chops. Where's Bill Buckley when we need him?

Hello? Newt Gingrich? Give up the run for President, and make a deal with Fox.
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