Coast Guard Shut Down Oil Cleanup For 24 Hours Over Life Vests

Jillian Bandes | June 18, 2010 8:36 AM

Let's get this straight: oil-sucking barges in the Gulf were stopped by the Coast Guard because the Guard "needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board," and couldn't get in touch with the people who built the barges? According to a report by ABC, the barges were stopped for 24 hours before Louisiana Governor / Rockstar Extraordinaire Bobby Jindal called up the White House and got them to re-start operations. Here's what he said:

The Coast Guard came and shut them down...You got men on the barges in the oil, and they have been told by the Coast Guard, 'Cease and desist. Stop sucking up that oil.'

Here's what I say: put the regulations on the shelf for 24 hours, and get the oil out of the water. Regulations like these are the death of progress and rational decision-making.