As oil continues to spew into the Gulf of Mexico, I continue to follow coverage informing us that the quantity estimated to have been released has doubled and of the damage it is doing to people whose livelihood is dependent on tourism, fishing or other industries affected by the spill; the devastating impact it is having on the already fragile ecosystem and species found only there; the as yet not fully understood impact on the health of cleanup and containment workers and area residents; and who knows what else.  All of these seem like huge issues that need immediate attention.
And yet the other thing that repeatedly comes to mind is a few lines from the Stephen Sondheim musical Into the Woods.  In one scene the giant’s wife from Jack and the Beanstalk has come down from the clouds looking for her husband’s killer.  She is destroying everything in her path and makes it clear she won’t stop until she has the boy, Jack.  He is in the company of several other fairy tale characters who are protecting him, and they are arguing about who is responsible for the giant coming down and being so angry.  They refuse to give him up, and instead just argue about who is at fault for the giant coming down to begin with.  Finally the witch hushes them all and sings these lines that I keep hearing in my head when the accusations and recriminations start in relation to the disaster in the Gulf.

Nothing we can do…
Not exactly true:
We can always give her the boy…
No? No, of course, what really matters is the blame.
Somebody to blame.
Fine, if that’s the thing you enjoy, placing the blame,
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Just give me the boy.

Not that I think Jack should have been given to the giant, but what I think is applicable here is the rush to blame, even before finding a solution to the problem.
Don’t get me wrong. The companies responsible for this should be held accountable and should have to pay for clean up, restitution for lost income, damages, and restoration. But responsibility and who pays what can be determined later. Right now I think that the Federal Government should be able to commandeer whatever resources it needs from wherever it can get them, be it BP, the National Guard, another Oil Company, merchant vessels, submarines belonging to research institutes… Hell, if Bounty paper towels will soak up the oil, they should be able to commandeer every role that comes out of the factory. Later the people whose resources were used can work out a bill that can be sent to the companies responsible. If this is not a national emergency, I don’t know what is!
To be totally candid, I think I have to agree with BP stockholders and certain British newspapers that BP is being unfairly singled out for blame in this disaster.

Three companies embroiled in the oil spill disaster have largely escaped criticism from President Obama, who continues to brand BP as the villain of the crisis.
While BP has been the target of withering attacks from the U.S. administration, Transocean, the owners and operators of the rig, has barely warranted a mention.
Nor has Halliburton, the U.S. contractor formerly run by ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, which was responsible for cementing work on the sea bed.
Cameron International, U.S. manufacturers of the failed blow-out preventer that was supposed to seal off the leak, has also escaped censure.

Right now, though, I could care less! I will care a lot. Just not right now. Let’s at least stop the flow!