The Keystone XL pipeline project is currently a major topic, polarizing the left away from the center and right. Every poll done has found a majority in support of the project. Gallups poll of 2012 found 56% in favor, Rasmussen in 2013 found 57% in favor, and Pew found in 2013 66% in favor. A USA Today poll found that although fewer people were responding with no opinion and thus more were against the pipeline, still a majority polled supported the project. The most recent poll by Harris found that among registered voters support for the project is at 82%. The Pew poll found majority support for the project across all groups, male and female, young and old, Republican and Democrat. I am in favor of the Keystone XL. The objections based on how dirty the tar sands are, and the ugliness of the devastation from extracting the tar sand bitumen, are to me, beside the point, completely moot, because it is for the Canadians to decide whether and how to extract their own resources, and it is not for our government to limit the development of resources vital to the Canadian national interest. The tar sands will be developed, and transported to markets, regardless of how strongly any American feels. What matters more therefore is the manner of transport, and the pipeline system is the best. Fossil fuels will be burnt in the vehicles that would be used instead of the pipeline, trucks, rail, and tanker ships. Deadly accidents will occur that would not if the pipeline is built. The tar sands, in any scenario, will be extracted and sold, so the benefits should subsequently outweigh the drawbacks, which is best done by using pipelines, but the drawbacks will certainly outweigh the benefits if fossil fuel powered vehicles are the only means of transporting the bitumen. Also what matters more are the geopolitical consequences of access to fuels from sources other than potential enemies and present competitors. Nations that sell oil are funding the opposition to the Keystone XL, like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Our allies across the Atlantic need fuels sources that are not vulnerable to price gouging and strong arm tactics, and that has happened when Russia has pressured European nations to desist from objecting to Russian repression of freedom of the press etc. If the Keystone XL is not built that oil will be sold to nations on the Pacific, that is the next option for the Canadians, and that means China will get that oil which could be going to nations that are defenders of freedom instead of repressors of freedom and human rights. As for the job creating aspects: This is a minor and almost insignificant consideration. Very few good jobs will be created for the people where the pipeline will be transecting the countryside. The best paying jobs will go to the people who already have good jobs and experience, who will move from all over the world to work where the pipeline will be built. The consequence to employment numbers of not building the Keystone XL will be insignificant, but the political right uses the job issue to sell the idea to the people who have not read up on the matter. Each side of the political divide uses specious notions to sell what they want the people to believe. The left sells the pollution and spill aspects, while the right sells the job aspect, but most people who have studied the matter are deciding to favor the Keystone XL for all aspects, geopolitical, economic, ecological, and jobs. In the meantime the political left is leaving the majority to hold us hostage to their ill informed opinions.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 17:58:15 +0000