Hail Mary Passes

OK, let's talk first about what we agree on: BP and its key contractors are responsible for what will go down as one of the greatest environmental disasters of the past 50 years. They will pay for it. Heads will roll.

While some pundits are busy bashing BP for the disaster -- which the company richly deserves -- they're also bashing the company for the desperate measures it's taking to try to deal with the oil leak in the short term. So the big dome didn't work because of ice crystals, and the shredded-tire thing may not work, either. But unless these pundits have a brighter idea, they shouldn't interfere with Hail Mary passes. What are those oil executives supposed to do? Shoot themselves? How would that stop the leak?

There is plenty of time later for finger-pointing, and it may not stop with the oil companies. The government agency that's supposed to be regulating this industry is plagued with conflicts of interest. Still another reason for the Tea Party to hate government. The regulators don't regulate. Oil rigs in other parts of the world are safer because greater safeguards are demanded of them.

And, of course, if you want to look at the bigger picture, what's being done about our unsupportable thirst for oil? Our government ignored the wake-up call of some 35 years ago, the Arab oil embargo. But so did the American consumer. We all failed to push for change, which would have occurred if it were demanded by sufficient numbers.

So whether it's via the Virgin or voodoo, let the eee-vil companies do what they can -- unless one of the rest of us has a solution.