Jun 18
Why is Barton the only one apologizing when the 115-member Caucus of House Conservatives released a letter yesterday accusing Obama of a “shakedown” of BP?
Frankly, I’m outraged at the way Boehner and Cantor are abusing Barton’s right to free speech. I just wish more real Americans like Barton and Price had the courage of their convictions. Perhaps they can relieve Boehner and Cantor of their leadership positions in the House.
Seems like Barton is reflecting the true sentiment of Republicans and the Tea Party, which is that government has zero right to interfere with anything that a business wants to do. That is what the Tea Party is saying, right? After all, even without the government the free market would have punished BP because the oil they have spilled can’t be sold. Isn’t that punishment enough?
Furthermore, why should BP have to pay anything to the fishermen, homeowners, and business owners in the Gulf when those people have plenty of options.
For example, the fishermen who can’t sell catch shrimp, crabs, or fish in the Gulf, can’t they just sail their boats someplace else and fish there? Seems like the decline in seafood from the Gulf will push prices up for those who CAN catch non-poisoned seafood. (Once again the Free Market will work its magic.)
Rather than belly-aching about what they’ve lost, those lazy SOBs need to show a tiny bit of work effort and SAIL THEIR BOATS TO WHERE THEY CAN FISH.
And while we are on the subject of what the people in the Gulf can do besides ask for handouts from the rest of us, let’s be honest about the homeowners and the people who have businesses that depend on tourism. The truth is that they can’t pick up and move like the fishermen can. I recognize that. But, the facts are that sometime over the next 5 years a hurricane was going blow their homes and businesses apart anyway.
Rather than focusing on a door closing, they need to think about this as a door opening. Time to pack up the truck Joad-style and hit road and look for work. America is a great country with lot of opportunity. They just need to stop complaining and go look for it.
True, it will be hard, but just remember what Steinbeck said in the Grapes of Wrath, “They’s a time of change, an’ when that comes, dyin’ is a piece of all dyin’, and bearin’ is a piece of all bearin’, an’ bearin’ an’ dyin’ is two pieces of the same thing. An’ then things ain’t so lonely anymore. An’ then a hurt don’t hurt so bad.”
In other words, people of the Gulf, it might be painful now but you’ll be dead soon anyway. (And if I have to listen to anymore sob-stories about somone’s popsicle stand shutting down I may just kill myself.) So get over it and stop asking for money or help from your fellow taxpayers or from the BP. You are not getting any.
You drew a short straw. And in the America of Barton and Price, the America that we created over the past 40 years through consistent votes for right-thinking leaders, drawing the short straw is just the free market at work. And as we all know, the invisible hand of the free market MUST be obeyed.
— This satire from Swampland commenter choska had me rolling! (Re: Rep. Joe Barton, who upbraided the White House for their role in setting up a BP-funded escrow account for victims of the Gulf oil leak.)
