For my Libertarian friends

 

Another perception problem: it does not take massive government entitlement programs to "help" or "care about" people.  Sure, some "regular" people would struggle without government support but it isn't though the majority of those on government assistance are thriving and those who are thriving are simply burdens on the rest of us.  That may sound cold but it really isn't; private charities are far more capable to efficiently take care of those who actually need assistance (elderly, handicapped, etc) without using force to redistribute your money.  Charities are also elastic and can be taken to task if we feel they are misusing our money.  Most politicians make their living off of convincing segments of the population that they would be unable to survive out there in this cruel, evil world without the tender, loving care that only they can provide through big costly programs with names that make people feel safe.  The very concept that the government is capable of dividing the entire population into neat little groups is ludacris enough, to begin with ,but then to think that they can run offices capable of adequately meeting the ever changing needs of each of these little groups, which they've invented, is insanity.  People are individuals and need to be allowed to live as such.

 

The oil spill should actually be seen as an example of the inefficiency of bureaucracy.  The role of "feel good" enviromental regulations pushing drilling far offshore into deeper, more difficult to operate in seas shouldn't be ignored.  And perhaps the best example of how well the EPA's is handling the oil spill and also how inelastic government regulations are is that of the "A Whale" skimming ship.  The world's largest oil skimming ship is at BP disposal and, as I write this, I can not find any article stating that the EPA has yet approved it's usage.  This article from Canada's Financial Post sums up the reason pretty well: