BP Oil Spill: Louisianans Want More From Obama … But More What?

Offshore oil drilling has enriched communities along the Gulf of Mexico since the 1970s. An explosion ripped apart undersea pipes in April and has since left oil gushing and polluting waters and beaches that have fed those same communities with seafood for centuries. One representative called the seeping oil in gulf waters “a slow-motion tragedy,” anticipating decades of problems and cleanup. The event and its aftermath demonstrate the dilemma for democracy, forcing leaders to juggle multiple demands: Some residents demand drilling or fishing licenses while others urge caution; some demand immediate updates of maps and spill reports while others question costs or panicking tourists; some want to dredge and build barriers along beaches without regard for erosion or other long-term consequences; most want minimal taxes until crisis hits. Imbalance in regulations or safety precautions unnerves global citizens even as oil mixes with ocean currents that know no boundaries. – YaleGlobal