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The Obama Administration Should be Investigated over Handling of Keystone Pipeline
By EconMatters
Environmental Symbolism
The Keystone Pipeline was turned into one giant debate over ‘Environmental Concerns’ it became a symbol for the fake environmentalists to rally around, and became politicized far beyond the scope of common sense reasoning on the issue.
Pipelines that deliver natural gas, oil, and other petroleum products underlie and support every major US city and geographical region, they have been one of the core infrastructure elements, and a mainstream of efficient, safe transportation of energy for the last 50 plus years. If one stepped back and took a Bird`s eye view of a map of the contiguous United States with an overlay of existing pipelines interwoven on this map, one would see just how much modern civilization relies on this successful infrastructure invention in the pipeline.
Alternatives to Pipelines
The pipeline is actually an incredible invention, it is ironic that is has been vilified as environmentally unfriendly when in fact it is the environmentalists best friend when one considers the alternatives to pipelines, and the fact that it is a given that human beings are going to rely on these energy sources for the foreseeable future.
We have seen what the alternatives to Keystone Pipeline were for safely transporting oil from Canada to the United States in the form of railroad transportation which is a much more dangerous, environmentally hazardous, and inefficient mode of transportation of this energy resource.
Railroads
There have been three major railroad disasters over the last two years all revolving around the issue of oil transportation via trains, which is just ludicrous even on the most critical interpretation of logistics when seen through the warped lenses of the lunatic environmentalist.
Environmental Extremism
This is one of the problems with the environmentalist movement, they go to such extremes in many aspects that the cause justifies the means no matter how ridiculous the extreme, that they lose credibility where in fact it makes for sensible policy to makes positive changes for the environment in many cases.
The analogy here is like a movie scene where they go for such a ridiculous special effects scene that it takes from the credible storytelling because the movie has just jumped the shark and has turned into a complete farce, a comedy, a parody of the sublime.
Politics of Environmentalism
In fact the environmentalists if they weren`t more into the politics of environmentalism, and actually just looked at the environmental effects of the Keystone Pipeline would realize pretty matter of factly that they should be on the other side of the Keystone Pipeline debate. It really should never even be debatable, how this issue even became an environmental politicized event is the real area where investigative minds should focus. It is a no-brainer that all pipelines modes of transporting fossil fuels are safer, more environmentally friendly and cost efficient as opposed to the alternatives of transporting these same energy resources. It is as close as one can come to a scientific fact, given that this isn`t for practical purposes a perfect scientific experiment, but if one spent the money, the experimental evidence would verify this conclusion. Pipelines are safe, environmentally friendly, and cost efficient over the long haul, this is why we have so many of them, and why they have been such an important infrastructural tool for modern societies and are interwoven into the fabric of the American landscape.
Follow the Money Trail
One of the key elements of anything that goes on in this world whether it be warring factions, religious fights, political debates, financial markets, educational debates or even environmental concerns is what is really going on behind the scenes, and it usually involves money.
The Keystone Pipeline debate isn`t really about the environment at all, but rather money. I find it rather convenient that one of the biggest supporters of the Obama administration is namely Warren Buffet who just so happens to have major railway exposure both in terms on owning a railroad outright, but also owning shares in other railroad companies. Who benefits and is hurt if Keystone Pipeline gets blocked or tied up in legislative procedure and governmental red tape?
The railroads as a group benefit because more of this potentially dangerous product is freighted across the rails as opposed to being pumped through the pipelines, and at a time when the commodities and coal freight markets are down, the railroads cannot afford to lose this cash cow of oil transportation. Any incremental threat towards more pipeline transportation and less railway transportation is going to be lobbied on K-Street in Washington. I hazard to bet if Warren Buffet bought a pipeline company instead of a railroad company that Keystone would have been passed long ago.
The Big Business of Environmentalism
The other money trail to follow is the money behind the environmental movement, most movements are really about raking in money, and the environmental movement is no different, environmentalism is big business just like any other major business. The environmental movement needs causes to get people stoked up about and show how much they care about the environment, and get the money raising campaigns a high profile issue to put on marketing materials all with the goal on raising money for the business. Unfortunately for the Keystone Pipeline Project, the environmentalists used this run of the mill project for their symbol to raise a stink about in over to publicize their movement, create the hysteria, get the publicity machines going full force, and bring in the donations from across the country from the uneducated tree hugging crowd. The Keystone Pipeline was really serving as a campaign Mantra for environmental fundraising, a symbolic cause that could be put on glossy marketing materials.
One Country`s Lobbying, is another Country`s Bribing
The money angle all ties into the equation as who are the biggest voters and supporters of the Democratic Party of which the Obama Administration is of course affiliated? Well it is the environmental demographic and the environmental movement and industry as a whole as they are major financial contributors to Democratic Political campaigns. It all comes back to money, just follow the money trail. Keystone could be the most favorable thing for the environment since plants, but if it has been identified and framed as anti-environmental by the environmental movement, the Obama Administration was always going to veto or block the pipeline project. This is political payback, or what other countries label as financial bribery!
Shady Obama Administration Maneuverings
I won`t even get into the machinations that the Obama Administration undertook behind the scenes both with the Canadian government, and the Pipeline company involved with building Keystone, but rest assured this could be an entire new focus for investigators.
The Irony of the Keystone Debate
The complete irony of Keystone Pipeline is that while all this furor was going on in the media and public debate regarding the environmental worthiness of the project, thousands and thousands of miles of pipelines were being constructed and laid out all over the United States. While the blind lemmings debated and fought ‘the good fight’ consumers all across America benefited from cheaper, more environmentally friendly and safer transportation of these important and vital energy resources for keeping their transportation costs lower and their homes heated this winter. Just imagine if we transported water via the railroads instead of the pipelines from an infrastructure standpoint? I think I found Warren Buffet`s next lobbying effort, and future cash cow!
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"Pipelines that deliver natural gas, oil, and other petroleum products underlie and support every major US city and geographical region, they have been one of the core infrastructure elements, and a mainstream of efficient, safe transportation of energy for the last 50 plus years. If one stepped back and took a Bird`s eye view of a map of the contiguous United States with an overlay of existing pipelines interwoven on this map, one would see just how much modern civilization relies on this successful infrastructure invention in the pipeline."
Of course. But the US was naughty for using that gas and oil. Must be punished and Obama's the stick.
More gov't instrusion, from Cook Co., got hands slapped: http://fee.org/anythingpeaceful/federal-court-slaps-down-sheriffs-internet-censorship/
Of course, the whole discussion overlooks the problem of railroad infrastructure.
The picture alone of that Omaha Tax Cheating Cunt next to the Chimp/Puppet is laughable. Talk about fucking staged.
Plus, Mr. Cherry Coke guzzler is probably pointing out Chimpy's share of the loot.
"Here Chalkie....there's your $250,000 and a case of Colt 45 for your Choom friends - see?"
TWO TOTAL FUCKWADS
Going back 50 years the boys and I would pilfer plywood to build our tree houses and forts from new home construction sites.
Good times!
The modern day version of that here in Florida is the kids steal Warrens 4'x4'plywood property for sale signs - "Berkshire - Hathaway".
They're springing up like weeds around here.
Warren, could I get you to consider changing the sign color from light purple to a green or beige color?
I'm afraid that purple just stands out too much in the woods.
Think of the children Warren.
Among other things...
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/UploadedFiles/Barbara_Durkin.pdf
As a Canadian, I can live with it that we dont sell the stuff. I always thpught building a refinery is the way to go anyway... China will buy it if USA wont.
As a Canadian, I can live with it that we dont sell the stuff. I always thpught building a refinery is the way to go anyway... China will buy it if USA wont.
Yes it would be the correct way to build refineries here and refine all the oil we need.
However, production is at 3 million bpd and refining is at 1 million bpd. The latest forey into building a 50,000 bpd refinery in Alberta has so far costs of 7 billion and rising.
At that rate, to build refineries here to handle 2 million bpd would cost 280 billion dollars in todays dollars, and would likely take 20 years to build. So run the bill up to 500 billion and you have a pretty good idea of where it stands.
Who is going to invest that?
Obama did exactly what Warren Buffet told him to do. Besides, Obama likes Older White Males. Our president is a "Flaming Homosexual!" Just ask Michael his Husband...
Isn't this going to become less and less of an issue moving forward considering oil prices only keep falling?
Any idiot knows that this is all about Warren Buffet
He's making billions transporting that oil with his Railroad MONOPOLY
Hussein is making millions off Buffett
Liar purple lipped liar............
Buffet also owns more than $500 million of Suncor. Who is the idiot?
Be careful when suggesting other people are idiots. Suncor is an integrated oil company with refineries and gas stations. A business least affected by Keystone.
Leave The Tribal Lands Alone.
great article - glad to see it here, and it is absolutely maddening to try to talk to lefties about this.
they simply assume that if you're for a safe and efficient means of transporting eeevil oil.... you must want to burn down the forests and skull fuck bald eagles to death.
...
... oh fuck you, you've thought about it too...
So Tank cars can be turned into affordable Housing, just like shipping containers ?
wait they're toxic inside. better turn them into Fallout Bunkers. nobody will care about a little greasy smear, when they dive down thru the hatch.
Too bad Boehner bailed. He was going to fix this too.
The portions in Texas were taken by imminent domain via Good ole boy conservative governor Perry. The Constitutional Party Gubernatorial candidate last year actually ran on an anti-keystone pro-private property platform.
Eminent domain is a power usually reserved for government. The way Trans-Canada was able to use eminent domain in Texas was to claim common carrier status. The common carrier provision was put into place back in the day for the telephone companies to be able to run cable and provide landline service to nearly every business and household in the state. It takes a creative imagination to be able to visualize a pipeline with only one destination in Texas as a common carrier that provides service to almost every address in the state.
Besides that, there are stories from landowners in the northern part of the state about the strong arm approach taken by some of the landmen. The landowners were basically told that their choices were to sign the agreements or be sued and get much less.
Trans-Canada and the lawyers they rode in on are welcome to leave Texas.
The opposition to the Keystone pipeline is more in line with opposition to the TAR SANDS they will transport. There is also the issue of private property rights, the fact that it was going to potentially impact major watersheds and acquifers and the list goes on. What's your interest in writing the article? Money? Are you invested in the pipeline or represent clients who are invested?
Nope. Still against Keystone, and the tar sands, and fracking and all the other environmental disasters they all produce or will produce in the near future.
"There is also the issue of private property rights..."
Go do something anatomically impossible to yourself. I bet you didn't have a problem with "property rights" in Kelo vs City of New London.
I'm pretty sure if you read the whole article it is clear that the writer hase polarized the issue as a transportation dichotomy - pipeline or railroad - and the safety aspects therof.
And, as most of the world recognizes (environmentalists excepted) the OIL SANDS produce oil. They are only tar sands if one wishes to be inflamatory.
I doubt you have any clue what oil looks like in the sand configuration in Alberta or Utah for that matter, however I do. I am intimately familiar ith the whole terrain, infrastructure, region, and products.
Many in the environmental movement have no clue about any of it other than what some celebrities have made their own cause.
People are completely unaware that there is significant oil leaving Alberta that is at a stage of refining so as to classified as White oil, and the impurities have been refracted out. The by-product is sold as coke - simiar to steelmaking infeed.
So, until you have intimate knowledge of what comprises this industry, please STFU and stop spreading bullshit environmentalism gobbledegook.
Oh but Fukushima and WIPP and San onofre etc are fine with you? Glad to see you got your priorities straight. /sarc
I'm pretty sure being against Keystone doesn't somehow make you pro-Fukushima, but cool strawman bro!
When I now fill up my boat at the dock, I don’t care if gasoline squirts into the sea. Makes pretty colors and patterns to look at while I fill. I imagine seeing unicorns and WMDs in the swirls.
Another reason to want that insider pretending to be an outsider, Buffett, to hurry up and die.
And take Greenspan with you.
You have to remember the first rule of government "It's not illegal if WE do it". There are so many things going wrong now that this is just one more little act of self-destruction in an opera of Armageddon......
we are drowning in excess of oil, 5 years out-why another pipeline?