Keystone XL pipeline: One pipeline too many for Texas? - latimes.com I don't get it. I thought these tough guys didn't care about environmental regulation? Isn't that a commie thing? Big business first. Now these Texan wusses are killing jobs for no good reason.
I think many people in Texas have gotten bitten in the butt by lax environmental rules. I have a friend that used to live in Texas. His ranch became worthless after Alcoa moved into the area, and the pollutants contaminated the area. He couldn't sell. I think this may have been a common problem in the past 15 years or so. Texans, like the rest of us, do notice when something adversely affects their net worth.
But...but...but... ALL government regulations are bad! Between self-interest with a long-term positive outcome and a quick Fox News soundbite, I thought the average Texan voted the latter without a second Yee-haw (I would say "second thought", but this IS Texas we're talking about).
It doesn't read to me like anti-oil, it's reads like this: That's more than enough there to rile the libertarian right. They don't want to be forced to do anything by anyone.
Perhaps it would be wise to pass a series of wide-sweeping pro-pollution laws. Then threaten to send in a bunch of Federal Agents to enforce them.
You're saying that the other oil companies in Texas are light handed and get permission from everyone in the state before they do their oil thing?
There are two groups in Texas, the ones that believe corporations should rule, mostly corrupt Texas politicians and rednecks, and then everyone else. The everyone else can't get past the corrupt politicians and rednecks, and the only time we get to play is when rednecks get pissed and allow everyone else to have a voice, which this seems to be. Fact of life in Texas.
Everyone in the state?..No. The affected landowners?..Yes. The Canadians just don't want to share the $ with the landowners. It's just a matter of $. For the right negotiated tariff, they be glad to let the line through.
So you're saying these aggrieved Texans would stop associating with the Sierra Club if they were adequately compensated?
No, I'm saying that people who have land taken or run through using eminent domain are going to be pissed off, particularly when they have a libertarian view that says there shouldn't be such power available. They don't have to be fervent opponents of Big Oil not to want a pipeline running through their land. Oil and gas companies have the power of condemnation, but they're still meant to follow due process and pay a fair price. If they do neither it's just going to rile people more.
