""Don, it sounds like you are more concerned about your portfolio than you are about the lives of millions of people. Shame on you.""

God Carol, when you decide to be obtuse you really make a good job of it.

First of all I have precisely zero shares in any company. My pension won't run to it. So I'm afraid that little ad hominem was a waste of your time.

Secondly, I have never said that BP should get away with not paying every last penny of the damage.

I have simply questioned whether it makes sense to keep up a barrage of vituperation which may result in you, and other US taxpayers having to pick up the tab if BP goes under. It isn't smart, and it isn't practical.

That is not support for BP (I couldn't care less if they fold tomorrow), but you should care, because if they fold, you get zilch out of them.

Now do you finally understand what I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to get across to you?

Don T.