The catastrophe of the spill itself will most likely be overshadowed by the political "ado" it will generate. Perhaps FEMA/DHS/ATF will rope off the coast and take control? The EPA will need new workers to scrub ducks and kiss fish; perhaps a national work force paying off their recently nationalized student loans? To say its a mess just doesn't quite grasp the situation. My prayers are up for the roughneck's families.
The Navy has/is using over 40 something nuke reactors, safely, and has produced a few thousand trained personnel who routinely build, maintain and operate said reactors on a daily basis. If you combine a "use less" cultural strategy, with a pro-nuke/wind/solar energy strategy, and biodiesel replacement for combustion engines, you promote a safe, renewable, sustainable model for the generations to come. The small high-yield reactors preferred by the Navy are also safely operating in China and France.
But it really does boil down to culture ... is America ready for "less"? Or are we merely the land based version of the people in Wall-E.