To address the central question here, it's obvious that BP intends to deal with the collateral damage (and I know from first hand that the people will pour it on to maximize the handout) but the government, who is not without its culpability, will get a pass.

The rational approach would have us look into the industry and the government oversight to re-create a working solution for the American public. But I will not hold my breath for that.

It takes at least 6 gallons of toxic, poisonous and carcinogenic crude Oil to produce a single gallon of gasoline, unlike a bio-renewable Ethanol plant, when that pocket of fossil fuel in the crude Oil deposit is gone, it's gone period and the carbon released must be artificially compensated unless you want to super saturate the worlds Oceans with carbon more than they are already.

Funny, I don't see any of these Republican Big Oil corporations planting tree's to offset all the carbon fumes their product is spewing into America's atmosphere. Isn't it time to call Big Oil into account for the toxins, poisons and pollution their product produces?

Ethanol is carbon-neutral, it doesn't produce more carbon than the feedstock captured. Pressuring America's automakers to have full Flex-Fuel capable autos and trucks should be already in place and taking place.

E30 and E50 mixtures of Ethanol-Gasoline would almost immediately ween America from its dependence on ALL foreign crude Oil and those 'Oil Wars' that come with pouring 1 Billion dollars per day into the greedy hands of Middle East country's for their 'Oil'.

Automakers can simply change the car and truck's fuel 'chip' to enable them to run on E30 and E50 mixtures at minimal costs (far less than 100 dollars).

Federal Government should subsidize and give tax breaks to stations which add Ethanol-Gasoline mixing pumps which allow the consumer to adjust whatever Ethanol blend their vehicle can handle.

Crude oil has a specific gravity slightly below one, and as such an oil spill gradually rises to the ocean surface, where it gets dispersed all over the place. I suggested that BP arrange to inject superheated steam into the mass of escaping oil. This will cause the lighter fractions in the crude oil to separate out (as occurs in a basic distillation tower) which will rise to the surface and rapidly evaporate. The balance residual oil (having a density of over 1) will sink to ocean floor and remain there till it gets consumed by microbial action or absorbed beneath the surface.

Dont know if this is a practical suggestion, but anyways, no harm in trying!!

Mohan Advani, Mumbai, India

President Obama sat down with BP's Big Oil CEO and demanded a whopping 20 BILLION dollar escrow fund be set up to provide immediate funding to equipment, Gulf business, and Gulf resident Oil Spill related claims.

As early as last week ALL of the Republican Lawmakers including House Congressional Minority John (drill baby drill) Boehner and US Senate Minority Leader Mitch (drill baby drill) McConnell who ALL stated that Federal Government AND BP needed to Pay for all the costs incurred. These crass and extremely callous comments spewing out of the mouths of the Republican leaders who have obstructed Unemployment benefits and a wide range of legislation over their hypocritical mantra of fiscal responsibility!

Democratic President Obama from the beginning insisted that BP PAY for ALL of the damage, cleanup, claims, equipment and vessels needed to clean, correct and fix the damages incurred from BP's Crude Oil spill.

Undoubtedly, with pre-existing lax and lame Gas and Oil laws written by Republican lawmakers over many decades severely limit liability and responsibility by Big Oil, Gas and Coal companys when accidents occur. AND Republican placed Federal Judges across the Gulf Region (50%) were elected directly with the help of Big Oil funding their campaigns. AND Bush jr. placed Big Oil's friend US Supreme Court Chief Justice into his jurist position.

ALL of this, President Obama faced down with courage and conviction to force BP and its team of corporate Gas and Oil attorneys. It is likely President Obama had found evidence of neglect to follow reasonable safety regulations and President Obama suggested America would pull the extremely lucrative US Military Fuel contract from BP if BP didn't OK that enormous 20 BILLION dollar escrow account. Yes, that is hardball and that is why America needs a man such as President Obama and more Democratic lawmakers elected into public service.