Sorry, I don't have a snappy punchline for this one. Seems like both share a lack of facts.  Hopefully I don't have to rehash Tea Party members' stranger fixations. Let me just mention one.  Birthers.  OK?   So moving along...

I started noticing Boycott BP on Facebook, and my knee jerk reaction, was sure, I'm for that.  For about three seconds.  It started to bug me.  What would a boycott do?  If the goal was to cripple BP, did that make sense if we wanted them to pick up the bill eventually?  Is it realistic to boycott gas stations.  I seemed to remember some words of wisdom when other boycotts on gasoline were proposed.  If they don't sell it today, they'll sell it tomorrow.  Demand is there -- supply, not so much.

I understood the anger and the desire to DO SOMETHING, but what was the point?  As the movement swelled on Facebook and moved to Twitter, articles and posts popped up here and there - not only is a boycott illogical, it hurts small business owners. People who stop at  BP shops would not get their gas and their gum, soda, cigarettes, etc. at another store.  The irony, stations that pay to use BP name, might not even carry BP gas that day while another station, the very one you choose, might.  Gasoline doesn't only end up at stations that carry its name..  Didn't we also get this lecture within the past few years?  Stations do not make their $$ on the gas -- they make most of their profit from those other goods customers purchase.  So when we self-righteously pass by a BP station, we're hurting the owners and their employees -- NOT the mega-billion corporation and its top level executives.  But try telling that to passionate boycotters.  Facts don't matter.

Now, of course, people like Sarah Palin , Drill Baby Drill's cheery chant leader, talk about the need for regulations.  Funny, I don't recall her ever talking about that before.  Have I stepped into a time warp?  Bizarro World. Suddenly the right is screaming about regulation.  'Scuse me?  How do you do that?  Talk about less government on one side of your mouth and on the other side, blame Obama for lack of reguation.  Could you show me that trick?

Like sheep, we follow one idea after another without questioning the logic or evidently not caring.  Blame Tony Hayward, blame MSM, blame Obama, blame Republicans who fought energy alternatives for decades.  BYes, the Obama administration did not tackle the issue yet - they were kinda wrestling with that minor issue, healthcare.  Republicans are piling on about that.  AS IF!!! Right. Sure.  Oh, of course Republicans would have supported regulating the oil industry.  I can see that happening. (on my deathbed maybe, in a vision,)  Then there is us, the consumer, who bitched about sky-high prices.  We pay less than any European country, but we are so spoiled.  WE had to have our SUV's, our Hummers, and we re-elected the people who refused to steer us towards energy alternatives.  Year after year after year.  Shame on us.