Forgive me if this has already been offered up as a "solution" to the ongoing oil debacle in the gulf, but, why aren't the powers that be beseeching literally everyone that has access to a boat to head into the area so that there can be a systematic, efficiently directed pattern of traffic doing its best to scoop up even a few pails of what's on the surface; BP would of course have to supply, at no cost, every ounce of fuel needed for the entire operation, and bear all reasonable costs relating to all who showed up. Having their boats cleaned when they got home is one such cost.
While we're at it, why not have BP supply to every boat that shows up, whatever tools would be needed for maximum effectiveness? Why aren't the powers that be deploying every watercraft available - including inflatable rafts - for the same task, and imploring every person who can get down there (BP will of course pay for all fuel costs involved in travel, including airplane fuel so that the airlines can do their part by offering free flights to anyone willing to volunteer to get in a boat to scoop) to head down without delay?
Isn't that basic, no holds barred strategy to at least do s omething on a grand scale, how a catastrophe whose ill effects will be haunting all life on the planet for decades, should be handled when all else is failing? The monetary cost involved in such an undertaking is simply not a reasonable consideration.
Furthermore, at what point do the citizens whose entire families are going to be adversely affected by this disaster, decide to finally, actually, do literally whatever they can to minimize what is sure to befall them?
I admit that I have not been glued to the news, so what exactly am I missing?
