Your Federal Government: Cooperating To Its FULLEST In The Gulf

Government obstructionism? Red tape? Cross every "t" and dot every "i"? In a time of extreme peril? No one has the power to set anything aside?

Yes, that's your federal government at work.

From Reuters:

Bureaucracy frustrates U.S. Gulf oil spill efforts

19 Jun 2010 20:16:24 GMT

Source: Reuters

* Local officials frustrated by delays, red tape
* Barges halted for 24 hours for safety inspections
* Military-type chain of command urged
By Jeffrey Jones
GRAND ISLE, Louisiana, June 19 (Reuters) - Those on the front lines of the U.S. Gulf Coast oil spill say they are forced to fight two battles -- one against the crude washing into lush wetlands and another against needless bureaucracy.

Sixty-one days after the BP Plc well began spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, angry local officials blame dozens of federal agencies involved in approving response plans, a maze of regulations and poor coordination for their struggles beating back the slick.

"My experience has been frustration, too much red tape, no a sense of urgency. For the state and the coastal parishes that are directly affected to put forth a plan, you have to kick and scream every step of the way to get it approved," said John Young, council chairman for Jefferson Parish in Louisiana.

"The president said it's a war. I agree we're under siege, but if it was a war, we'd be occupied territory now."

". . . we'd be occupied territory by now."

There's no refuting BP's role in the initial catastrophe chain resulting in the spill. None whatsoever. There is no refuting the federal government's role insisting on BP and others drilling in waters over a mile deep because it was "bad" to drill either close to shore or our own sovereign soil. Resulting, of course, in these wells being geometrically-major problems at those depths.

Yes, there is no refuting the fact that the government has taken a laissez-faire attitude towards one of the greatest recent threats to our shores.

Anyone remember General Russel L. Honore and Katrina? "Stuck on stupid"? Where's the gulf's Gen Honore?

Just remember this, my dearest readers: if you are not affected now, what happens in the future when your area is struck with catastrophe? And what if politics or agendas are somehow involved? Do you think your area or your community is any more "special" than an entire series of coastal states as are currently affected in the gulf region?

Because, after all, one person really does have the power in this current administration to grab the bully pulpit and get things moving -- if they want to.

Do you think Mr Obama will gallantly stride his federal government into your area and cast aside red tape in consideration of your plight?

Do you?

BZ