It turns out that acoustically triggered backup valves are mandated and required elsewhere in the world. There's no "voluntary compliance," and the Bush/Cheney era "self-regulation" arguments are not entertained in such critical matters.
These acoustic triggers cost, lo and behold, $500,000 a piece according to the Wall Street Journal. And BP uses them in other platforms, just not on the one that is currently destroying the Gulf of Mexico, and the fishing industries of Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
There's just not enough frothing anger out there. The industrial overlords don't fear the public's response. The politicians don't factor in popular disgust. Why should they? There isn't enough disgust to translate into meaningful action.
When a mega-disaster like this Gulf leak occurs, suddenly the political will materializes to rein in some of the more egregious industry abuses. The industry and its lobbyists fight back, usually flooding the lawmakers with boatloads of money. Some new standards get implemented, and then over time erode away if they are deemed too costly.
Lately, it has gotten so corrupt that even meager reforms fail to pass, blocked by openly corrupt congressmen. They've sort of formed a de facto "War on" everyone who doesn't bribe them outright.
Such is our glorious "democracy."
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