The Big Question: Should BP still be allowed to drill?

Brad Delong, professor of economics at the UC Berkeley, said:
I think the investigation into how the blowout happened needs to be completed before we can answer that question.

Peter Navarro, professor of economics and public policy at UC Irvine, said:
You can’t just ban BP from offshore drilling without also figuring out a policy to ensure that BP will also sell off its reserves in the Gulf.  If the U.S. wants to play hard ball, it could seize those reserves as collateral for all the damage BP is doing – and help prevent BP from hiding in bankruptcy court.

David Schanzer, director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security, said:
Like it or not, the best hope for fully funding response and recovery is to have a healthy, profitable BP for many years in the future.  Undercutting the financial viability of BP is, therefore, not in the national interest.  That said, BPs operations ought to be given heightened regulatory scrutiny to ensure compliance with all safety and environmental standards.

Herb London, president of the Hudson Institute, said:
Although the ecological disaster in the Gulf of Mexico will haunt the southern coastline for years, I still believe BP should be permitted drilling rights. The American economy may be in a transition stage moving away from reliance on oil. But we are still a long way from completing this effort. As a consequence, we need oil from offshore drilling.  An even greater reliance on MidEast oil than we presently have only complicates national security concerns. Needless to say, greater precautions than we experienced are needed for any new offshore sites. However, we cannot let one disaster undermine the American economy. If one air accident could cripple the airline industry, flight would come to a standstill. Clearly every measure should be adopted to avoid accidents, but just as clearly the need for oil as the energy driving our economy cannot be overlooked.

Justin Raimondo, editorial director of Antiwar.com, said:
BP should not be allowed to continue drilling anywhere, nor should any company be so allowed, until and unless they can buy insurance to cove potential damage: not government-subsidized insurance, not with limited liability imposed by law, but on the free market at full rates. I don’t understand how the supposedly “free market” Republicans — earth calling Rand Paul! — are making exuses for BP and accusing the government of conducting a “shakedown.” What about property owners in the Gulf who have had their businesses and homes ruined?