Excuse me … you did WHAT?

Excuse me … you did WHAT?

Posted on April 3rd, 2011 by Jeff McDonald

Here, in the heart of the oil patch that is the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico, one often hears complaints about the image oil & gas companies have among the general public … mostly negative, and often unwarranted. And on that point, I agree … it IS mostly negative, and it IS often unwarranted.

Where I part company with many of my fellow Patchers is in the reason for said image. I’ve been told over and over again that energy companies’ bad image is SOLELY the result of ongoing efforts by Democrats in general, President Obama in particular … liberals in general, and environmentalists in particular … and don’t forget BIG GOVERNMENT such as the EPA and OSHA. Me? I’m willing to take all of the above into consideration … BUT, I’m also ready to add another, significant contributors to that negative image … the actions of a few companies, themselves. For example …

Transocean gives safety bonuses despite Gulf spill deaths
Company filing calls safety record ‘exemplary’ for meeting internal goals

Staff Report
msnbc.com

“Transocean Ltd. gave its top executives bonuses for achieving the ‘best year in safety performance in our company’s history’ — despite the explosion of its oil rig that killed 11 people, including nine of its own employees, and spilled 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.”
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story from msnbc.com

At the risk of sounding all Dr. Phil-like … “what were you you thinking?” I mean, what kind of year would this company have to have, where top officials wouldn’t get bonuses for an exemplary safety year?

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Jeff McDonald

There's a saying around here, something like, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!" That's me. I'm a 'dang Yankee from back-east' who settled in the Lone Star State after some extended stays in the eastern U.S., and New Mexico. I worked as an archaeologist for a few years before dusting off my second major in English, and embarking on a 25-year career in journalism. Since then, I've embraced the dark side of the force, and now work in PR for a community college in Midland, Texas.