November 6th, 2011
05:24 PM ET
Thousands of pipeline protesters circle the White HouseWashington (CNN) - Thousands circled the White House Sunday to protest the proposed construction of Keystone XL pipeline that would stretch from Canada through Texas. Read more here. |
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This demonstration once again affirm the power of democracy and the efficacy of "One Voice". Americans are voicing their feelings and opinions on how decisions made by the government could potentially impact their livelihood, while injuring the sustainance of the future generations. The pipeline project was said to potentially provide over 70,000 American jobs, the figure that sounds extremely exciting in the face of unemployment. The lingering question is, at what human cost? Afterall, the Economists taught us that, "for evey marginal utility, there is always an accompanying marginal cost".
There have been serious concerns from different quarters over the damaging impact of the pipeline project on the environment – specifically the water pollution. We all remember the BP incident, where the water and other natural aquatic endowments were destroyed at the expense of the people. That incident on its own was seen by many as a "Job killer".
The effect of carbonous oxide that continually polluting our environment, leaving millions highly susceptible to all sort of diseases and sicknesses is something to think about. Hence, I could understand why people had to carry placards and posters around the white house afterall, democracy was defined as the "government of the people, by the people and for the people". More people are needed to stand for the good of America! The fight however must not stop there rather, it must continue to the hall of washington to inform the Legislators of what is at stake at this troubling times.
Enough of Law makers abadoning the bills that have been widely praised by the Independent groups to spurn job growth and send families back to work. Republicans must shun the dictates of the detractors and work to provide returns on voters' investment. They must act honestly, diligently and supportively to breakthrough this tough time.
Democrats must also work in tandem with the Republicans to work out ways to alleviate this problem for the sake of the people who voted for them. Don't get me wrong! I suffer no illusion that most Republicans are singularly committed to the failure of this administration as reiterated by the Republican Senator Mitch Mcconnel hence, they are out there defeating every bill and declaring job prospective bills dead on arrival. All these things are clearly known and that's why the non-violent fight muist be extended to the corridor of Washington and to the constituency offices of the law makers. Having said all these, there is only a basic way out if everything else proves not effective and that will be to provide President Obama the tools he will need to make life a lot easier for the people.
Americans have a choice at the next election to vote Republicans into the house as they did in the last House of Reps and Senates' election, or vote Democrats thereby providing the tools Obama requires to effect the positive change and provide a vibrant hope for the people.
Can we not be tolerant of each others opinion during such troubling times. This country needs jobs, and this is a means to get them. It also is a step to energeny independence. It makes more sense to buy oil from our peaceful neighbors than from overseas. We must trust and have faith that this pipeline will be built and operated on safe and environmental friendly engineering. The alternative of higher unemployment will be scenes from Greece!
Thank you for your comment, but I have to disagree with it. The jobs created for the construction of the pipeline would not be enough to make a significant dent in the unemployment statistics, and the oil produced from the tar sands would only delay the inevitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables. To the best of my knowledge, refined oil products are sold in the international market, so any production, even domestic, is transacted without regard to national origin, so the idea of reliance on foreign oil is not valid. The risks to the environment are not worth it, TransCanada assurances notwithstanding, in my opinion.
Arkansas also has had a big increase in earthquake activity, which residents have blamed on injection wells. Natural gas companies engaged in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, use fluid to break apart shale and rock to release natural gas. Injection wells then dispose of the fluid by injecting it back into the ground.
There are 181 injection wells in the Oklahoma county where most of the weekend earthquakes happened, said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which oversees oil and gas production in the state and intrastate transportation pipelines.
I find it interesting none of the enviro's have noticed that pipeline pieces are already being delivered from Canada to North Dakota. There are pics of it on cbc.ca they're already setting up to build. Doesn't seem likely TransCanada would be doing this if thought it wasn't going to get approval. Just saying