AP's 'technological arrogance and hubris'

An AP story looks at technological disasters, including the BP oil spill, and concludes the problem is "technological arrogance and hubris."

The common thread — which the new presidential oil spill commission will be looking for — often is technological arrogance and hubris. It's the belief by those in charge that they're the experts, that they know what they're doing is safe. Add to that the human weaknesses of avoidance, greed and sloppiness, say academics who study disasters.

Read some history of ancient Rome. The complaints Romans were making about society, the economy, and politics are almost identical to the complaints we're making now. In three hundred years, bridges will still fall, oil wells will still fail, politicians will still be self-serving, and reporters will still be misunderstanding the root cause of our problems.