How the Liberal Outrage Towards BP and Offshore Drilling is Sounding Like Right Wing Talk Radio

How does right wing talk radio do its work? Take complex issues and simplify them, with particular attention to drawing rigid distinctions between the idiots, traitors, or scoundrels causing the problem and the brave, honest, and responsible listener/victim. Most of all, it involves an aggressive, though silent, repudiation of any sort of understanding of events in terms of systems and structures--especially ones in which we participate or from which we benefit. All this is used to create and direct outrage, the easiest of emotions as it provides a great release that is entirely externalized. Right-wing talk radio: the most non-introspective and unreflective media form, the one least likely to ask its listener to take a personal moral inventory or feel any discomfort with their own role in their society or polis.

Any similarities to the liberal, facebook-centric, Rachel Maddowy (whom I generally like) criticisms of BP?

Any resemblance, here, to the SUV driving, jet-setting, I-phone punching crowd and their parade of petitions, "like" groups, and Tony Hayward video clips?

Certainly there are many aggregious moments in this disaster that need exposure. But taken as a whole, the mounting fervour needs some redirection. A way of seeing is a way of not seeing, and each moment of outrage may push us one step further from real reflection.