We must change our lifestyles -- but does that solve this problem? We have better tools for dealing with spills. Yes we should shrink the industry that causes

We must change our lifestyles -- but does that solve this problem? We have better tools for dealing with spills. Yes we should shrink the industry that causes spills by removing demand. But that larger, slower, systemic change is compatible with also having more responsible responses to the near-term and acute problem. An American gun-shot wound victim still needs acute care, even if all agree that also systemically we need to get rid of guns. And in fact, placing responsibility on the companies involved to dedicate real resources to cleaning up the mess they've made makes the business less profitable and helps the system move towards more responsible behavior. Paying to clean up is of a piece with paying for emissions, in that both recognize some portion of the externalities that are otherwise inflicted on the community.