Is the Oil Spill the Final Straw That Breaks Our Economic Backs?

We've all seen all of the photos and heard all thefishing, and sun washing. That's likely not going to
claims from BP oil and our own President Obama, buthappen any time soon for all those shore states.
still the oil continues to spew out at a rate ofFact number 4. This is going to hit our already strapped
thousands of barrels a day into the Gulf of Mexico.Theeconomy very hard. More roles being lost. Fishing,
worst oil spill and environmental disaster in history.tourist, and the oil exploration industries are all going to
I'm really not going to write about who is to blame orbe taking big hits. There will not be any offshore drilling
who is at fault. At least not in this post. That wouldfor a long long time. You almost can guarantee that.
take some time to do. There is definitely enough ofLost in all this is the eleven blokes that were killed in
that to go round anyhow.this very sad accident. Tony Hayward, the director of
What I would like to focus on are the facts.BP Oil, was speaking to a newshound and claimed that
Fact number one. Oil is spilling out into the Gulf at ahe wanted his life back. In reply to hearing that, one of
rate of thousands of barrels a day. Forty two gallonsthe siblings of the eleven men that were lost on the rig,
of oil are in a barrel. We actually do not know howclaimed that he would like to have his brother back.
much is leaking because we can't get a straightFact number five. The atmosphere the oil is
answer from BP or anybody else. All we all know is,contaminating. Workers that are involved in the
that it is a lot. If you have seen any of the photos fromcleanup, and reporters that are covering the story,
the cameras that they have mounted down there, itreport the revulsion and horrible smell the oil is emitting. I
looks like hundreds of thousands are coming out. Now Irecollect an oil company that used to be close to our
am simply saying that's what it looks like to me. I amplace when I was a kid. We'd walk over through the
not sure how they measure that, but as yet no-onewoods that were round the back of the plant. The
can give us a good guess. It changes daily.oder was very robust, and revolting. I could not even
Fact number two. The fishing industry all along theimagine being in a boat sitting in oil infected waters.
coast is shut down, and may never start up again.This is something that British Petroleum can't fix. They
Think about all the fish and sea life that died orare beginning to constrict where reporters can go and
influenced in some form. Those people whosewhat they can see. I suspect this is much worse than
livelihood depends on the fishing industry is all but over.they are telling all of us.They are running out of options,
They have put a ban on all those fish in those oiland the possibility of this pipeline never being able to be
infected waters. This just doesn't effect us butplugged is an exceedingly powerful fact each day that
anybody in the world that fishes or relies on thegoes by. Just think of the environmental disaster and
seafood for revenue and the individuals that theeconomic trauma this would have on the whole world.
seafood feeds. Were talking about plenty of folks. ThisIt is scary to even think about. This is beginning to turn
will definitely put a grimp in our food chain.into a science fiction film that you would go to see at
Fact number 3. The tourist industry is being influenced.the theater.
This is the summertime. People are taking vacations.Is this oil spill the final straw to our economy? The one
Journeying to their favorite spots. Where do folk go?that will break our business back? Time will tell. In the
They're going down to all those states that now havemean time, I might suggest heading west for your
oil drifting on their beaches. They want to take a swim,vacation.