The Real BP --- Something Else To Think About
By Jim Gries
08 June, 2010
Countercurrents.org
The ever-growing glob of gunk's assault on Gulf state shorelines has just begun. Environmental, economic and political costs will be the likes of which have never before been seen.
No matter who you are, or where you live, if you are an American, it's a Big Problem --- a BP.
Every politician from local on up has voiced an opinion about what should have, or should be done, to manage this BP. Some are even suggesting to the president that the federal government take control, and that's where I have a BP.
I recognize the enormity of the issue; however, Mr. President, you and your peer group have a drilling record, and that record is enough to make any grandma cringe. I refer to the current rig that began operation in 1983. It was designed by seven democrats, seven republicans, overseen by Alan Greenspan, and originally owned by Ronald Reagan.
This drilling operation was set up right in the middle of the Social Security trust fund, and just like the Deep Water Horizon (DWH) drilling rig, was launched with great fanfare, amid high expectations; similarities don't stop there.
Like DWH, the operators wrote their own rules; and both were managed by greed-driven, politically connected operators. Both hit pay dirt, and both have created economic hardship for average working Americans --- both are BPs.
Mr. President, your concern for the residents of the Gulf Coast was evident when you said you would hold responsible parties accountable, and make those who have suffered economically whole again. That's cool, but what about the BP you now manage?
Over the last 20 years, the Social Security trust fund drilling operation pumped 2.4 trillion dollars of our Social Security tax overpayments out of the trust fund and into the general revenue fund.
One upping the DWH operation, this rig creates one dollar of IOUs for every dollar pumped. Twenty years of pumping have turned 2.4 trillion dollars of assets into 2.4 trillion dollars of liability; a net turnaround of close to 5 trillion dollars. So let's talk about what's on your mind; holding responsible parties accountable, and making damaged parties whole again.
Oh, I know you would rather talk about your ICIRA (an Independent Commissions to Investigate Rig Activity). I want to talk about my ICIRA, an Individual Community Investment Retirement Account for every working American. You would like to talk about your CIP (Comprehensive Immigration Plan). I want to talk about my CIP, a Community Investment Pod; every county/parish across America will have one.
You would like to talk about your health care plan that takes care of average-working American's medical needs. I want to talk about my AmeriCare plan that addresses average-working Americans' economic needs.
You want to keep your drilling operation going. I want to shut your drilling operation down. You want to talk about their BP; I want to talk about your BP.
Finally, Mr. President, if you and your fellow rig operators won't talk about the real BP, then maybe there's only one logical conclusion. You and your fellow rig operators are the BP.
Jim Gries is the founder of AmeriCare Today
