scheme and scam

Bob Dudley, an American from Mississippi, is set to take over the reigns of CEO for BP. He will replace the warm, charismatic, caring, current CEO, Tony Hayward within the next few weeks. One of the quotes Mr. (I am an American so now this is not just a British problem but an American solution), said was "...BP will change as a result of this recent, (not horrendous, not life ending, not Gulf killing), accident. He also spent the rest of his time explaining how the finances of BP were affected and how his corporation will tend to the timeliness of the budget, and oh by the way make some changes in safety. Mr. Dudley also added "...we learned a lot from this accident..."

One could add comments like: "...as God is my witness...", "...we will change for good this time...", "...if our actions have hurt you in anyway then I apologize..." "...if we knew now what we forgot then..." "had we realized our tendency to care more about profits then perhaps safety, would cost us dollars from our bottom line...", and "...you hadn't been paying attention before, why all of the sudden are you paying attention now..." AND you might be able to quote almost every CEO who suddenly had a mia culpa. You might be able to make a list of any major corporation who lies, cuts safety costs, was more worried about the share holders than the worker, cared more about their perks and less about pissing off the average American, or who thought paying off the Congress would enable them to continue to scheme and scam.

Detroit, for years told us they built reliable cars, that each product line was unique, solid, and filled with the red white and blue of the American auto worker. They lectured us about the foreign imports and instead of trying to emulate the positives, decided that the bonuses, the ballooned retirement parachutes, the Big Business attitude would thrive. The Bankers and Financial Institutions assured us they had the brightest business minds working for OUR good. Any product they created was selflessly created so the consumer could seize the riches of investment. Nothing they did was for them, NO, they labored on phony schemes, and scams so their pockets were full and we as the investor were foolish.

Why is it that when a corporation is caught only then do they create a facsimile to an apology? Why is it when politicians are nabbed do they repent? Why is it that wrong doing feels so right until the perpetrators are found guilty by others, not their own conscience? And why do we as Americans seem to forget just how evil, just how cunning, just how irresponsible those who extend an unemotional apology, those who have devastated our lives, those who never look inward for fault but blame others for their actions really, really are?

So, now BP can clear its conscience and speak with a southern drawl, tell us the past is behind us, preach to us just how they have learned their lesson, rewrite history and move on as if the oil spill in the Gulf was just like a bit of tea falling on the carpet of your grandmothers home.

The scheme and scam will continue I am afraid until the American public starts building a backbone, one with clear conscience, less indignity and more direction and hope that one voice, OUR voice matters.