Throwing Stones

It's been a while. This entry is not about my book, though I do have some news on that front. I just wanted to put my two-cents-worth into the disussion about the BP Deepwater Horizon fiasco.
Like most, if not all of you who may read this post, I'm disgusted by the environmental damage and monumental waste that this situation has caused. I'm not, however, going to roast BP and their questionable practices--that's being done to death, although I have linked this entry to an interesting news article that puts into clearer light some of the company's less-than-conscionable decisionmaking: http://news.ca.msn.com/money/article.aspx?cp-documentid=24572284

Why do things like this happen? Greed? The corporate mindset? The answer is very likely yes, but the blame cannot be put entirely on the shoulders of the officers of BP. Who gives them their jobs? Who ultimately pays their salaries and ensures that they have a market for their product? We do.

People constantly search for the best deal and newest gadgets. More 'stuff.' We like to think that we're becoming more environmentally sound in our consumerism, but are we? We recently bought a fuel-efficient car, but we also drive a minivan. My wife and I both commute between one and two hours to work most days. We are still dependent on non-renewable resources and we buy the lowest-grade gasoline from the pumps.

All of these decisions act in concert, putting pressure on companies to make the least expensive product in the most expedient way possible. This means that all of us share some of the blame for the BP tragedy and all other disasters that are brought about by companies attempting to cut costs and maximize profits. The people making the decisions are there because they are the best at doing it. If we don't buy the product because it's too expensive, the company loses money. The shareholders get upset and company stocks fall in value. New leadership is brought in to maximize efficiency and profits. We are all culpable. Our choices keep the oil and gas industry--as well as others with equal potential for negative environmental impact--viable and put in place those who want to find ways to make the most money meeting our 'needs.'

So, before we cast too many stones at the BP executives responsible for cutting corners and neglecting safety measures in favor of greater speed and more money, we must remember how such people become established as company executives in the first place. We enable them.
Is your throwing arm warmed up yet?