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Comment by jbooth | Hacker News Reader

That part was disgusting.

If they stop all of the oil immediately, they've already done damage that we'll be cleaning up for decades. They've probably destroyed about 100 billion worth of revenue in the fishing business alone over the next 10 years.

And will they be held liable? For causing 100s of billions of economic damage over the medium-long term, let alone the environmental damage? Of course not, because they have good lobbyists and 65% of congress is either corrupt or an idiot who thinks "drill baby drill" is all you need to know about energy policy.

Yeah, that's admirable. It used to be we cared about justice in this country, and now we just admire those who evade it the best while they're screwing us.

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> If they stop all of the oil immediately, they've already done damage that we'll be cleaning up for decades. They've probably destroyed about 100 billion worth of revenue in the fishing business alone over the next 10 years.

Does the Exxon Valdez experience support this theory? How about the IXTOC blowout in 1979, which lasted for 9 months and dumped way more oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

I ask because both of these were the roughly the same size (EV) or significantly larger (IXTOC) and their impact was much smaller than you've claimed. If their not relevant, why not?

So, what's the basis for your claim about the amount of damage?

Hey, a reasonable response. I was under the impression this is bigger than the Valdex spill, but the fact that IXTOC was bigger means this might not be as big a deal as I thought.

It's still just offshore from the Mississippi delta, which will hopefully not be ruined. And I still think it's a little perverse to be cheering them on for the fact that our corrupt system won't hold them accountable.

Come on - you haven't seen Dexter? That's an ethical serial killer show.

Your points are all well stated but he is quite funny ("nerdgasm"...come on). Otherwise - just add healthcare reform and Wallstreet debacle to your list and then build a bunker and never come out.

He's cheering for someone who's ripping us all off. That is just plain messed up.

Also, you're totally missing the point of Dexter - it's about addiction and powerlessness.

It's rude to make assumptions about someone's political views, and then hold those assumed views against them.

> a company rips us off to the tune of hundreds of billions that don't even feed any children and he admires it

You seem to think only the 'good guys' are worthy of admiration. Ethics and self-interest aside, I think it's perfectly acceptable to admire an impressive feat or trait, regardless whether it negatively or positively impacts you. Notice, he was not admiring the theft of billions of dollars, but the character trait behind the action.

My favorite quote on the subject is funnily enough thanks to J.K. Rowling; "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things. Terrible! Yes. But great" -Ollivander

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