re: #346 thedopefishlives

So you’ve said repeatedly. I still have some faith in the ingenuity and persistence of humanity, especially Americans. We’ll figure something out.

I have faith too, this will all end up being cleaned up sooner or later.

However, until then:

The negative effects of this go way beyond the oil itself.

There are people in all of the affected areas whose livelihoods depend on fishing and/or the support system around fishing and/or tourism, who are going to suffer a lot for the next year because this year’s income is shot to hell.

Many of the oil field workers live in Mississippi and Louisiana, and those jobs have just ended, suddenly and with little notice or planning. Unemployment will shoot up; the lucky ones who can keep their jobs will be relocated, some to not-so-friendly places around the world. Notice: relocation isn’t to a different US city or state, but it will be to a different country altogether. Families will have income, but will be without a father or mother for the period of relocation.

The rigs are being towed as I write this, to other places in the world to begin drilling operations. They may or may not be available again in 6 months when the moratorium ends. The La. Dept of Economic Development estimates the negative effects of the moratorium will be felt here for 12 - 18 months at a minimum.

So, yes, this will all be figured out and taken care of eventually. But folks in several states are in for a very hard time, for an extended period of time.