The BP "Three Little Pigs" memo

[JasunStrikesBack]

Well, THIS is going to be the smoking gun of doom for a lot of people, I'm afraid.

A leaked BP memo that compares oil rig workers to "pigs" and puts a dollar value on their lives has been found by TheDailyBeast.com

The two-page document, prepared by BP’s risk managers in October 2002 as part of a larger risk preparedness presentation, and titled “Cost benefit analysis of three little pigs,” is harrowing:
“Frequency—the big bad wolf blows with a frequency of once per lifetime.”
“Consequence—if the wolf blows down the house then the piggy is gobbled.”
“Maximum justifiable spend (MJS)—a piggy considers it’s worth $1000 to save its bacon.”
“Which type of house,” the report asks, “should the piggy build?”
It then answers its own question: a hand-written note, “optimal,” is marked next to an option that offers solid protection, but not the “blast resistant” trailer, typically all-welded steel structures, that cost 10 times as much.



OK... if the president doesn't step in, kick some ass, fix this and make the fuckers at BP pay... I'm done... out... this is totally unacceptable. I really hope the people rise up over this. We've been corporate slaves for long enough.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-...ocking-bp-memo-and-the-oil-spill-in-the-gulf/

 

[Seasoned]

Capitalism is an untamed beast. It can provide livlihood for billions of people, but needs government and employee influence to keep the planet and workers and their families safe.

It seems to me that if you are not able to plug a hole then you wouldn't be able to dig a hole.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Optimization makes sense even without capitalism. If we live in fear and secure everything to an insane degree, somebody has to do extra shitwork.

Well I'm sure those 11 dead men are very happy nobody was inconvenienced by keeping them safe on the job.

I'm also sure that the trillions of dollars and years of clean up it'll take will be worth the 800 bucks saved per head on that one.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

There are unseen consequences to everything.

Maybe, but this isn't an "unseen consequence."

At all.

This is "let's cut these corners and take the chance that nothing will happen because paying their families will probably cost less than making sure we don't have to."


If you try to spin it any other way, you're just a corporate shill or Ron Paul's spoiled brat son.

Thanks for playing.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Have you ever actually paid attention when you argued against me?

Honestly? I don't remember us ever having any conversation before.

Your argumentation style does not flatter you. There is no such thing as a game-ending zinger in a real argument between two skilled opponents.

Meh. It would have to happen for you to demonstrate that.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Who knows what would have been the consequences of taking another course of action at the moment decisions leading to the disaster were first made?

Um... THEY knew they were cutting corners. They knew they were doing this on the cheap. They knew they were filling out their own inspection reports, taking chances, not doing the safest stuff.

That's the point.

This wasn't "an accident," this was "gross negligence."

 

[Telstra]

"Cost benefit analysis"
This is a highly educated area of expertise.

Is Jasun qualified to comment on this subject ?
Do you understand the calculations involved ?
I don't.

 

[Telstra]

ok compares rig workers to pigs is just not on and the managers should be punished for that.

 

[construct]

"Cost benefit analysis"
This is a highly educated area of expertise.

Is Jasun qualified to comment on this subject ?
Do you understand the calculations involved ?
I don't.

Did you see Fight Club? Then you've seen an example of what it looks like. It can look pretty cynical. I don't fault BP for engaging in this kind of calculation as a part of making a planning decision, but it looks cold because it is supposed to be cold.

The particular memo is unfortunate, not nearly as unfortunate as the accident itself, but infelicitous in its expression. When one is making a presentation that threatens to be complicated and potentially dull, he may want to present a simplistic and perhaps humorous introduction to the principles of the analysis. This memo looks like such an analogy. It certainly is not literally comparing dead workers to pigs!

 

[klopij]

I'm also sure that the trillions of dollars and years of clean up it'll take will be worth the 800 bucks saved per head on that one.

Really, there's no way it'll cost anywhere near that much and because its light crude oil vs. heavy crude most of it will evaporate quickly, many experts say within a year you wont be able to find evidence of a spill

 

[NickCole]

OK... if the president doesn't step in, kick some ass, fix this and make the fuckers at BP pay... I'm done... out... this is totally unacceptable. I really hope the people rise up over this. We've been corporate slaves for long enough.

Obama's not going to do anything about this.

So what do you mean you're done ... out ... ?

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Obama's not going to do anything about this.

So what do you mean you're done ... out ... ?

I mean I'm done defending him. Screwed on DADT, ENDA, DOMA, immigration reform, public option and sucking on the teat of big oil.

I mean... I'm not going to be one of those "anything he does is evil and wrong" people like.. well.. you and justapixel.. but I'm not going to vote for him if this is all I get for my hard work, time, donations and putting up with lame shit from the PUMAs.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Really, there's no way it'll cost anywhere near that much and because its light crude oil vs. heavy crude most of it will evaporate quickly, many experts say within a year you wont be able to find evidence of a spill

can you point to an expert saying this?

 

[Jack Springer]

I'm not a big fan of BP. I've stopped at several of their stations a few times -- very dirty . . . pavement, pumps, everything.

I don't go there anymore.

The article was a confusing read - not sure if it proved anything.

It still astounds me that no oil company or government has a reaction plan to this type of problem. Something is fishy here.

 

[MercuryJones]

There are unseen consequences to everything. The aim of optimization is to help us steer through the probabilistic routes least likely to lead to human suffering.

I don't know enough about the matter to have much to say about it.

Unfortunately, you have decided to speak despite your ignorance.

Your stance makes a mockery of any reasonable standard of responsibility or liability. And your foolishness in broadcasting your ignorance makes a mockery of your self and your ancestors for no less than 7 generations.

 

[NickCole]

I mean I'm done defending him. Screwed on DADT, ENDA, DOMA, immigration reform, public option and sucking on the teat of big oil.

I mean... I'm not going to be one of those "anything he does is evil and wrong" people like.. well.. you and justapixel.. but I'm not going to vote for him if this is all I get for my hard work, time, donations and putting up with lame shit from the PUMAs.

Interesting you choose to deride me in the middle of your tirade. I've certainly never said "anything he does is evil and wrong."

I did my homework, didn't get swayed by seduction or peer pressure, I knew lies and BS when I saw it and wasn't afraid to call it, knew Obama would be this kind of President and posted the reasons I knew, I stuck with what I believed despite being attacked by most fellow Democrats here. Now it turns out I was right and even now you attack me. You haven't learned jack, which means you'll make the same mistake again.

 

[JasunStrikesBack]

Interesting you choose to deride me in the middle of your tirade. I've certainly never said "anything he does is evil and wrong."

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4qI6iZmN20[/ame]

 

[MercuryJones]

I did my homework, didn't get swayed by seduction or peer pressure, I knew lies and BS when I saw it and wasn't afraid to call it, knew Obama would be this kind of President and posted the reasons I knew, I stuck with what I believed despite being attacked by most Democrats here. Now it turns out I was right and even now you attack me. You haven't learned jack, which means you'll make the same mistake again.

BFD. A lot of us knew what we'd be getting. The other choice was President Palin.

All Obama is likely to do is disappoint me. That's the better alternative.

 

[Jack Springer]

I don't know enough about the matter to have much to say about it.

Unfortunately, you have decided to speak despite your ignorance.

Your stance makes a mockery of any reasonable standard of responsibility or liability. And your foolishness in broadcasting your ignorance makes a mockery of your self and your ancestors for no less than 7 generations.

Only 7 generations? Thanks for the laugh.

 

[NickCole]

BFD. A lot of us knew what we'd be getting.

I don't believe you. Your posts don't read like it.

We are a select group, we were attacked and ridiculed in specific ways by fellow Democrats and we recognize each other.

Those of us who knew what we'd be getting with Obama are focused on substantive issues as we were during the Primaries, things like the truth of what's in Obama's health care reform and the oil spill, not distractions like Rand Paul.

The other choice was President Palin.

That's idiotic.