Transporting a toxic substances quickly over long distances to market will inevitably produce spills. Though the technology of oil transport has changed, this essential fact remains unchanged, and will as long as regulation treats the risk as an acceptable part of the business.
Politicians have repeatedly faced imperiled election prospects because of high gas prices, yet remain unwilling to take serious steps to unwind the oil dependency built into the American environment.
Unlike past moments of high prices, American consumers and businesses today are facing no pressure to lower their consumption of oil and gas, even as the climate crisis grows increasingly dire.
Political pressures have made US presidents less disposed than Congress to impose limits on the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia. If arms sales are to be a lever for change in the kingdom, it will probably be up to Congress to make it happen.
It was clear from the outset that this was a desperate gamble that put Iraq on a collision course with Washington. But Saddam believed he had no other choice but to stop Kuwait from dumping oil into a slack market.
Scientists working on the issue have often told me that, once upon a time, they assumed, if they did their jobs, politicians would act upon the information. That, of course, hasn’t happened. Why?
