The parallels between the “Deepwater Horizon” oil rig disasterr and government are uncanny. Both exploded – the former spewing oil, the latter spewing dollars. So let’s recap the situation in the Gulf then address the situation in government.

For weeks and weeks, we waited for signs that engineering experts with BP and the federal government would find a way to stop the flow of spewing oil. After credible public charges that the administration had been “less than fully engaged in efforts to contain the damage” from the spewing oil, media attention eventually turned the focus on federal officials, including President Obama.

Finally, on May 27, Obama began the administration’s push-back, stating at a press conference, “This has been our highest priority since this crisis occurred.”

Obama also said that, “I was spending my time thinking about … ‘How do we solve the problem?’”

Then, after using the term “unprecedented” several times, President Obama took responsibility for the disaster response.

He said, “It is my job to make sure that everything is done to shut this down.” He also noted that he maintained a “constant sense of urgency” and was examining every recommendation to make the best judgment on the appropriate steps to take.

Well, something must have worked because, the good news from the Gulf Coast is a cap is finally on the well and the oil has stopped spewing.

So, in recognition, most sincerely: “Thank you, Mr. President!”

And, you deserve the subsequent vacations – the respite from all your hard work with time to recharge your batteries.

Why?

Well, to be refreshed for your next assignment: Capping government spending.

Here’s the parallel.

Americans will not soon forget the oil we watched spewing from the well live on TV. Hopefully, and with proper care and stewardship, such an industrial accident will never happen again. That said, there is a lesson to be learned from the shared experience of the BP oil spill.

The memory of the oil-stained Gulf can serve to motivate citizens to confront the situation in government in which trillions of dollars continue to spew from the well-heads of Washington as well as most states around the country.

When it comes to spending, President Obama has an opportunity to lead rather than play politics. Here’s how he could proceed:

He can take responsibilty for government spending, announcing that stopping the trillions of spewing taxpayer dollars would be his highest priority. He could maintain the same “constant sense of urgency” as he had in the oil spill. He can engineer a program to cap spending now and immediately begin cutting expenditures.

And, he needs to be absolutely receptive to citizen input about how to cap government spending and what program spending to cut now.

The president needs to do exactly what he did to cap the spewing oil, in order to cap the spewing dollars, whether it was actual know-how, luck, or a combination of both. If he refuses to act, the relentless pressure on citizen taxpayers will rupture American society.

But, if Obama wants to save America he will cap government spending now. It’s obvious he knows that all leadership action follows three words: “I accept responsibility!”

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications; founder of Citizens For Change. He can be contacted by e-mail at RichOlivastro@gmail.com or call 877-RichSpeaks.