To drill or not to drill? What length of investigation are 11 human lives worth?

In the wake of millions of gallons of oil ruining, perhaps forever, life as we know it in U.S. states abutting the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration sought to halt deep oil drilling for six months to allow for an investigation of the risks of deep water drilling with regard to BP's problem rig in particular and the risks of deep water drilling in general. Oil interests and other business interests filed suit to protest the temporary stoppage and won their first court decision from a judge in Louisiana. Now Obama et al will file an appeal.

Is a six month moratorium on deep water oil drilling a common sense safe guard to prevent further disaster? Or is it a knee jerk reaction born of fear? Even worse, is it merely a political maneuver to push energy reform?

Do we know how and why BP's rig exploded? Was it a one-in-a-million happenstance or was it an indicator of wide-spread shoddy drilling practices embraced across the oil industry to keep costs down?

What length and depth and breadth of investigation are eleven human lives worth?

How many oil rig workers are actually out of jobs because of the moratorium? How many lives would be put at risk by another explosion?

If another rig is crippled, how would the resulting leak further affect the Gulf states? Are oil rig workers' jobs more vital than protecting the eco-systems and the Gulf area from another disaster? And if the oil company responsible for a hypothetical disaster is American, would the money required for mitigation bankrupt that company? Would it bankrupt the American oil business?

How high or low is the risk of another explosion or leak?

Until we know the answers to these questions, can we make a prudent decision on this matter?

Scud Downing