Exxon Valdex: 19 years of lies

[WileEcoyote]

First of all get that concept of "Well it was just a drunken skipper who screwed up" out of your thought pattern. It's all B/S.

While I'm sure that Capt. Joseph Hazelwood had a drinking problem at the time of the phenomenal oil spill disaster there is certain evidence suggesting that even if the whole freaking crew was loaded on booze the 11 MILLION gallon oil spill never should have happened at all. Hazelwood just being the most convenient scapegoat.

Maritime groups like to find fall guys.

No the oil spill from the former Exxon Valdez (now known as "Exxon Mediteranean") was caused from two matters:

1. The then state of the art navigational computer system on board the craft was not turned on . "Too expensive" to use. So the navigator and pilot didn't see the reef. The reef, by the way wasn't sone sort of unknown mystery. Everyone knew it was there. Exxon was saving nickels instead of protecting the Prnice William Sound.

2. The protective system of buoys that should have been in use surrounding the reef were not deployed. Had these oil grabbing materials been operational chances are likely we never would have heard about the spill. Probably wouldn't have made the evening news.

THAT was the reason for the sheer carnage and ecosystem degradation that STILL exists fully 19 years later. Not a drunken skipper.

Right now the case is being argued before the Supreme Court, but again the company is using the false pretense: Joe Hazelwood's sobriety (or lack of it). Has nothing to do with the accident. However by blaming Hazelwood Exxon is deflecting attention from it's orporate derelictions. THEY caused the problem. Not some lush of a sailor...

Show some brains: Please do argue the invalid premise that Capt. Hazelwood was to blame.

Back in March 24, 1989 my son was still in the womb, O.J. Simpson had recently been given a wrist slapper from his bosses on Tee Vee for whacking his wife.

And environmental author Edward Abbey had died a week earlier. Good thing. Had he lived to hear of an Exxon container screwing up thousands oif acres of water and coastline he wouldn't have died peacefully.

Now today my son's in college, OJ is still getting in trouble and Ed Abbey's books are still selling well.

Just last year in 2007 Exxon posted the HIGHEST PROFIT IN CORPORATION HISTORY. How much? 40 BILLION with a "B".

How much are the Indians suing Exxon for? 3 & 1/2 billion.

A source of mine handling the Native Americans suing Exxon has quoted an Exxon Attorney as saying "We'll wait until the last Indian is dead before we part with one dime".

Almost seems like a speedy settlement this year would have been in Exxon's best interest. Hell they made the killing of all killings last year.

Are you happy that gas is close to 4 bucks a gallon? Did you even know that gas costs nearly that and that some analysts have projected that it will hit 4 bucks this Spring?

Yeah well just checking. There are some prominent people who do NOT know the cost of gas.

Anyway it just seems to me that Exxon could easily have paid the damage claim out of court and received a HUGE boost in public relations. Especially this past year in light of their record earnings.

Kind of a cheap investment when you consider all the poor Americans right now today barely hanging in there trying to pay the rent and still buy gasoline.

But ask yourself another question:

What would have been the public reaction if the 11 MILLION gallon oil spill had happened off the coasts of New Jersey or California?

Betcha a million dollars that Exxon would have settled quickly.

But Alaska? "Just a bunch of Indians, who needs 'em?" is the Exxon CEO standard thought.

[drmeow]

1. I pretty much haven't bought Exxon gas for 19 years

I hate them. Unfortunately, the other oil companies aren't any better.