Keystone XL Pipeline: The Really Really Really Big Lie

“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” Dr. Josef Goebbels, Nazi Propagandist.

(LAGUNA BEACH, CA) - “The successor to politics will be propaganda. Propaganda, not in the sense of a message or ideology, but as the impact of the whole technology of the times.” - Marshall McLuhan

The US Chamber of Commerce sent out an email blast on Friday, April 20th urging all Americans to petition the White House directly regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline. It is filled to the brim with deception and avails itself heavily of the two quoted concepts above.

“Lies, damned lies and statistics” was a phrase attributed by Mark Twain to 19th Century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, but there’s no proof the man actually uttered those words originally. The quote does point out the inherent potential abuse of using statistics to bolster weak or even intentionally invalid arguments. The American public is falling for the BIG LIE, being deceived and betrayed by its own legislators in the case of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

And make no mistake: Both major political parties by their recent votes are assisting, are enablers to petrochemical greed-heads. It’s an insidious witches brew of stupidity, lack of homework and wallet-stuffing lobbyists. The pro-petrochemical, mining lobbyists and big bucks campaign donors (think SUPER PAC) are cramming 5-6 times as much money into our US representatives pockets as the green organizations can muster to fend this horrid monster and others like it off.

This is just one of the reasons that we desperately need to get beyond a two party system---The average working American doesn’t have time to research the veracity of such media barrages as we’re experiencing, politicians coupling with petrochemical lackeys in the broad daylight of your TV or computer screen. That’s where some of the precious money you’re paying at the pump goes: Very, very expensive infomercials using paid homey actors.

The only thing bipartisan here is how much money those Democrats and Republicans are reaching out and slipping each other across the proverbial aisles of Congress. Modern day Benedict Arnolds, they’ve planted a FOR SALE sign outside Washington D.C.

You can’t turn on your TV without seeing post-Gulf oil spill propaganda by BP, warm and fuzzy BS about how everything’s hunky-dory down there, y’all come back now, hear? And coal? Really safe stuff, huh? Running a close 2nd is Exxon/Mobil, you know those great folks that brought you the Exxon Valdez? They’re altruistically looking out for your future!

In the email and attachment my editor received and then forwarded to me, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President Rob Engstrom wrote:

“It’s the fourth time the House has approved construction of the Keystone XL Project – and now both Republicans and Democrats are expressing support for a measure that would create thousands of American jobs in areas hard hit by the recession.

The White House has threatened to veto the measure – but is increasingly standing alone in its opposition to a popular project that would do nothing but good things for our country’s sluggish economy. The Keystone XL pipeline would secure our energy future, decrease dependence on Middle East oil, and create new American jobs.

The 3 basic elements (secure our energy future, decrease dependence and create new jobs) have already been debunked for their outright fraudulence by better than I:

“In September, researchers at Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute used the information in the EIS to come up with an estimate that was even more modest. Factoring in the various durations of employment, it calculated that “on-site construction and inspection creates only 5,060-9,250 person-years of employment (1 person-year = 1 person working full time for 1 year). This is equivalent to 2,500-4,650 jobs per year over two years.” Source: Columbia Journalism Review 1/24/2012

Below is a direct quote from the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) put out by our own US State Department in August of 2011. Readers need to understand that this document, required per federal law, is the Bible for the project. It goes through years of negotiations and 3rd party peer review and analysis. It is the last word regarding findings, adverse impacts, mitigations, because it is just that: Final.

This FEIS noted a projection of how many additional TransCanada employees would be required, a more truthful appraisal. Americans should realize that they’re a little underwater up there in the Great White North too---So there’s no guarantee that this Canadian firm wouldn’t just import their own added personnel for the construction phase either:

“Approximately 500 to 600 construction and inspection personnel would work on each spread, except for the proposed Houston Lateral which would require approximately 250 workers. Each spread would require 6 to 9 months to complete. Construction of new pump stations would require 20 to 30 additional workers at each site. Construction of all pump stations would be completed in 18 to 24 months. Tank farm construction would require approximately 30 to 40 construction personnel over a period of 15 to 18 months.”

A March 12, 2012 column in the online watchdog BLOGCRITICS by Jet Gardner might help readers, the title pretty much sums it up:

Following the bouncing ball, the allegations that this will put 20,000 or more Americans to work is false. Ditto for claims that the post-construction, operation and maintenance worker numbers will be in the thousands.

Fact: There’s no guarantee in place to assure the US that the labor force (pre, during and post-construction) will be Americans. So much for new jobs in the mid-West to stimulate economic recovery in the region, huh? And if they hire their own, those profits, those paychecks, profits and income taxes go back to Canada. What do we get, a few lousy points from sales tax at the local restaurants, motels and 7/11 stores?

Fact: There’s no guarantee in place to assure US gas users that once refined in Houston, we’ll get first dibs. Not even a guarantee that we’d only have to pay fair market value. No, they can sell to whomever they want, the highest bidder, so gouging seems quite possible considering their track record. Oh yes, Dick Cheney’s pals will profit from the refining fees, but someone please tell me how that helps the 99%ers?

Fact: There is absolutely no proof that it will decrease our dependence on Middle East oil. That’s an outright lie and a bald-faced ruse. It’ll still be foreign oil even if we did get a guarantee that it’ll be earmarked for the US only. We’d still be energy dependent, don’t bet against Canada getting some unsavory, backroom concessions or trade sanctions out of us to achieve that end. They’re basically blackmailing or extorting our nation by threatening to sell it all to the Chinese as I write.

When have the petrochemical cartels doing business anywhere in North America, or the globe, EVER done what’s best for America? GOOGLE TransCanada and read up on their crappy record. They do what’s best for shareholders and profit-sharing corporate slime salaries. When in doubt, when you’re on the verge of trusting your own representatives and petrochemical leeches, think BP®. Or Halliburton®.

Hopefully the American public will wake up and smell the coffee, not that sulfuric stinky smell of benzene-thinned tar sand. Once these streams and aquifers become contaminated with hydrocarbons we’ll have the Devil to pay alright, come to think of it they will have already BEEN paid!

Probably have to hire the same TransCanada bozos too, as overseers in an attempt at an impossible regional bio-remediation. But hey, guess what? The actual cleaning up of the gunk WILL employ lots of low-paying, unskilled workers, now THAT’S stimulation. And can’t God just create new fish and fowl, maybe TransCanada will truck in a iceberg or glacier to provide water for aquatics, riparian life forms and human consumption?

Nothing but good things will happen? You must think that we’re all rubes, all media-brainwashed stupid suckers. You and the forces that measure America not by her passionate protection of her precious ecosystems and natural resources but by how much money your kind can bilk us out of, stuff into your bank accounts before we get wise.

If Canada wants to ruin their own country, let ’em ship this shit to their own refineries, take the risks on their own soil.

FYI: If a project near you has some interesting enviro-aspect(s) that you think is/are worthy of Salem-News.com coverage and our readers attention, feel free to contact me with a very brief synopsis. Water-related “Blue Interventions” are my specialty!

Launched in 2010, Odd Man Out is the creation of Roger von Bütow and his OMO columns are written exclusively for Salem-News-com. Born and raised in the LA Harbor area, son of a German immigrant father, he moved to Orange County in 1965 and has lived in Laguna Beach since 1972. In 1998, he began his professional career in environmental review processes (CEQA, NEPA, MND, MND and EIR/EIS). He's a rare mix of cross-trained builder, writer and consultant as he brings his extensive construction experiences dating back to 1972 into his eco-endeavors. He has tremendous field and technical expertise in successful watershed restorations, plus wastewater, urban runoff, water quality monitoring/improvements and hydrologic mechanisms. He's built everything from commercial spas to award-winning private residences, and provided peer review and consultant analyses for single homes, subdivisions and upscale resorts.

His resumé is extensive, try an online GOOGLE search of his personal journey and historical accomplishments. His consultation fees are reasonable and if you've got a major project that alarms you, that needs creative intervention, then he's your man. His credentials and "CV" can be provided upon request.

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Anonymous May 4, 2012 11:42 am (Pacific time)

Roger as soon as I clear the smoke out of my single-wide, burnt the Spam frying this a.m., I will respond. Oh, the USMC trained you in interrogation techniques? Back in he 60's recall some Force Recon train in our E and E program at our JFK Warfare Center at Ft. Bragg. A few actually showed some promise, but unfortunately our training budget was pretty strapped, so we could not [alter] our standards to accomodate their capability levels. Well, let me go find the fan, think my sister, also my daughter, has it in the bunker. BTW, only an MD can actually diagnose and provide a treatment plan for insurance purposes. Of course the Obamacare program, if it goes through, will allow anyone they so designate to do it, regardless of their credentials. Likewise for those writing about energy production and distribution methodologies. Hey remember that oldie but goodie, "Que Sera"?

Roger E. Bütow May 3, 2012 12:18 pm (Pacific time)

Anonymous? May I call you ANON?
First, that brainwashing BS you're using, trying to manipulate as if you're an advanced interrogator is hysterical.
Trained by the best (USMC), using the person's first name is a way to begin the erosion, break down walls and create familiarity for manipulation.
My lady HAS a MS, she's been a trauma/ER nurse at a major major hospital here in OC for 30 years. She was married for 15 of those years to a doctor who worked the same venues---So she's had to deal with urgent diagnostic tools for I'm sure a lot longer than you have.
You have yet to establish ANY credentials other than having too much time on your hands.
HINT: Never alienate the person being interrogated. You need to win them over, not insult/piss them off---Unless of course you are a self-righteous, semi-psychotic blog troll who lives in a van down by the river.
And I encourage SNc readers to read the online history of the environmental laws----Oh, and ANON, that Ice Age schtick is called CLIMATE CHANGE, so even if your viewing of Cheers somehow makes you an expert, or you stayed in a Holiday Inn last night instead of the trailer park, if temperature and storm patterns are slipping outside of cyclical models then we simply integrate them into our science.
Unless of course our scientists become stuck in the 70s by listening to 4 track tapes of Iron Butterfly in their van down by the river (Special kudos to deceased comedian Chris Farley for that metaphor)

Anonymous May 2, 2012 6:17 pm (Pacific time)

Roger, most RN's have very little training, much less appropriate ability to use the DSM in any meaningful and professional way, unless they have at least a Masters, coupled with specialized, and ongoing training courses for certification in making diagnostic evaluations from the DSM. Likewise for those making evaluations on energy production and distribution methodologies. Of course that industry, as well as the mental health field, have those great pretenders. Remember that song of long ago: The Great Pretender? I remember listening to it on my 4-Track, not the 8-Track Roger, the #4-Track...while waiting in line on the odd calendar days for some gas. It was rationed that way for a time in the early 70's, so I bought interest in a gas station so I always had it available. God bless capitalism. And yes it was Nixon who was president then...The ongoing fear during that period, actually beginning in the 60's was an upcoming Ice Age because of pollution which was reflecting the sun's warming rays. A few years later, Ted Danson (Cheer's bartender character) was warning us unless we stopped using oil, the oceans would be devoid of life by 1999. Though I have noticed my smelt dipping has been sparse the last couple years (how the Grunions doing where you live?), but still have plenty of seafood. You like Bluefin Tuna Roger? I have so much now that I have my "canning service" packaging it up for my Preppers bunker.

Roger E. Bütow May 2, 2012 12:04 pm (Pacific time)

I assume that the EPA manager resigned for using very un-PC verbiage. John Lennon got s---t when he wrote of his journey with Yoko: "Christ you know it ain't easy, the way things are going, they're gonna crucify me."
Online viral postings make or facilitate verbal lapses into over-blown issues.
If anyone looks up the actual (not their fantasies or projections/opinions) history circa late 60s---early 70s of the EPA, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, EndangeredSpecies Act etc., they'll see that Congress and that flaming eco-liberal Richard M. Nixon agreed: Our air, water and soil had become so degraded/impaired, that intervention (these acts/laws/regs and the agencies that administer them) were created.
They were created to REVERSE the adverse impacts of such degradation, we were in deep eco-doo doo. It was agreed that there would be a gradual ratcheting down, not an impossible magic wand of instant compliance, but a reasonable rehab or healing.
So 45 years or so ago our leadership and science community totally agreed on this. Violators were warned and handslapped, but everybody knew that more stringent parameters and heavy fines would be coming---So there's no surprises, just individuals and corporations ACTING surprised, using inflammatory verbiage like DRACONIAN, ONEROUS, etc.
So-called "Stormwater Permits," the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System ones (acronym NPDES) started out as simple docs, got more complex as scientific monitoring revealed more disturbing long term negative impacts from human behavior.
Medical research has contributed, we now KNOW that many airborne and waterborne pollutants are carcinogenic. Soil contaminants (think landfills, holding ponds and septic tanks) can leech into aquifers/wells that are used for drinking water. Or the contaminants can migrate osmotically into streams and lakes, erasing entire ecosystems.
Should we just ignore that research, those results? I'm not asking for a ban, I'm thinking moratoriums until we fully understand strategies like fracking and tar sand transport.
If you understand NEPA, the national act, then you understand that a huge gamut of endangered or threatened species (flora and fauna) can be wiped out----So the EPA brings in US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife, sometimes the US Forest Service and the local state/county/municipal agencies into driving a consensual, negotiated solution.
Public NGOs are stakeholders too, as are HOAs, water/san districts, etc.
These interactions get complicated but they are legitimate attempts with at least some structure or form, we call it THE DRILL.
If you go back a few columns of mine, yes, I expect that Ted Turner MIGHT be right: Food, gas and water riots aren't out of the question or possible equation.
As I wrote here, yes, we should have started seeking alternatives back when sitting in gas rationing lines 40 years ago. Jimmy Carter was right about at least that one thing---But we never really pursued energy independence until now, when we're getting crowded and desperate.
Anybody see Planned Parenthood or their like at EARTH DAY festivals? No one wants to stop their biological and ego urges to replicate long enough to let Mother Nature catch her breath. A 10 year moratorium on babies would do that, but nobody wants to be THAT messenger.
As for the diagnostic DSM, yes, my girlfriend is an RN, I'd seen it well before I met her.
I encourage ANONYMOUS to check back after Tim has posted my column I submitted yesterday on commentators and bloggers at sites like this one.
He's working on it now, maybe readers can judge for themselves if BLOG TROLLS are sick and deserve a chapter in the DSM.

Anonymous May 2, 2012 7:32 am (Pacific time)

Roger I also have seen the "Handbook" you speak of. If this is standard Operating Procedure for all, regardless of political affiliation/ideology, them why did that EPA manager resign? Could it be that he used "Crucifying" as an analogy in the way of dealing with those he wants to exercise egregious power over? By the way I am no fan of the music of Ted Nugent (though he has millions of fans), I cetainly have no problem with his exercise of his 1st Amendment rights. It appears that the EPA has come to the point that it has essentially become the spearpoint for environmental extremists, and will soon be reined in by the Whitehouse for election reasons. If the current administration is re-elected and congress remains in Republican hands, we will see more of the same. Gas will continue to rise, as well as all products that are energy-related produced and transported, i.e. , most all consumables. Riots for food coming? Keystone will be built, but we have far better energy reserves available here that will be pursued when we remove the current roadblocks in power. Roger are you familiar with the DSM? Is "troll" referenced?

Roger E. Bütow May 1, 2012 1:38 pm (Pacific time)

Urban Dictionary describes one as “A depraved individual who sits in front of a computer all day and posts flames of an idiotic or pseudo-intellectual nature on public forums and private websites. Many of these people actually become emotional about what is said on the afore-said mediums and feel it is their duty to punish those who disagree with them. They too may pursue this object in an obsessive-compulsive manner.”

Roger E. Bütow May 1, 2012 1:53 pm (Pacific time)

Forgot to mention: I have a Dept. of Justice, EPA Enviro-Compliance Division handbook from 2001 (Bush Administration), the headline: DETERRENCE DRIVES COMPLIANCE. It's what the justice system in America does, makes examples out of egregious violators. Ever heard of PUNITIVE DAMAGES in civil proceedings? They sometimes award treble the COMPENSATORY $$$. It's a known system, get it? The prosecutors and judges are Republicans, Independents and Democrats----and that's the reality of it. Everybody, corporations down to individuals know those rules. Don't play (go somewhere else) and make up your own system if you're as unhappy as you seem.

Roger E. Bütow May 1, 2012 1:46 pm (Pacific time)

Dear (choose 1 or all of the below) Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Whatever Gender ANONYMOUS is: I just wrote a column partially inspired (or provoked into) by blog trolls like yourself...One of the issues I have had with Tim over the years are multiple people who don't or won't sign their real names, so I never know unless I inspect the style if ANONYMOUS herein is #1, #2, #3 or the same troll, er, blogger. I've titled my next piece "BLOG, BLOG, BLOG EAT BLOG", and I came up with that name several hearts ago so it has nothing to do with celebutard Ted Nugent's recent popularity. Urban Dictionary describes a blog troll one as “A depraved individual who sits in front of a computer all day and posts flames of an idiotic or pseudo-intellectual nature on public forums and private websites. Many of these people actually become emotional about what is said on the afore-said mediums and feel it is their duty to punish those who disagree with them. They too may pursue this object in an obsessive-compulsive manner.” I just can't wait for the fan (hate) mail on that one when posted....On the other hand, whomever is behind ANONYMOUS, thanks for stopping by and staying so long @ SNc---NOT!

Anonymous May 1, 2012 9:34 am (Pacific time)

Please consider this fact: "EPA’s enforcement division works with the Department of Justice and other agencies to bring civil and criminal legal actions against companies accused of violating environmental laws, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act." Currently the EPA is ignoring Congressional Oversight in creating laws on their own,i.e., Rules and Regulations that have the power of congressional laws. We certainly need to be skeptical of current EPA leadership as the following story asserts: "EPA official resigns over ‘crucify’ comments." The EPA supervisor of area #6, the main producing areas of America said (note-he resigned recently because of following statement): "It is kind of like how the Romans used to conquer the villages in the Mediterranean — they’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere and they’d find the first five guys they saw and they’d crucify them. Then that town was really easy to manage for the next few years.” Armendariz continued: “And so, you make examples out of people who are, in this case, not complying with the law. You find people who are not complying with the law and you hit them as hard as you can and you make examples out of them. There’s a deterrent effect there. And companies that are smart see that. They don’t want to play that game and they decide at that point that it’s time to clean up. And that won’t happen unless you have somebody out there making examples of people.” WOW, SO MUCH FOR ENGAGING A DEBATE AND LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OUR FOUNDERS PROVIDED. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/224515-epa-official-resigns-over-crucify-comments

Anonymous April 30, 2012 9:01 am (Pacific time)

Canada has extensive documentation as per their [improving] methods of cleaning up after oil production accidents, including tar sand oil spills. I have no dog in this fight other than I like to hit the switch and see the lights come on...have gas for the SUV, motor home, and my gas guzzling inboard is also nice to see in good supply. Fact is, no matter what type of energy needs one has, we all need to eat and have a job, well the latter is not for everyone I guess, but without a continuing supply of energy we will be Greece in no time. I remind the readers out there about American know-how and problem-solving...Apollo 13 comes to mind. Actually the list of problem-solving appears to be endless. The Tides Foundation, based in San Francisco, has distributed nine grants totaling $439,500 to three Minnesota non-profits looking into the Keystone pipeline, according to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and grant disclosures listed online. Why Minnesota? Environmental Extremism: Following the money... It should be noted that the Tides Foundation connected to Teresa Heinz Kerry, no slouch in doing her part in using fossil fuel, starting with her Gulfstream Jet called the "Flying Squirrel." Ms. Kerry has been awarding many grants to radical envioronmenal groups where the scientific method is not a concept they seem concerned with. Tides has a website, but it is the other websites that critque them that offers the best insight on their direction to impact the lives of American citizens. I believe it's worth the time to research the Tides Foundation, and it will become obvious as to what their endgame is for us "serfs."

Roger E. Bütow April 30, 2012 8:11 am (Pacific time)

The "One minor correction" comments were written by me, sorry our webmaster didn't post my name appropriately.
As for the person hiding behind, ooops, I mean using "ANONYMOUS 4/29 @ 6:17 pm" comments, once again readers have no way of confirming whether he has knowledgeable friends or a chemical engineer son teaching somewhere. So fact-checking him is impossible. If "follow the money" is true, I'm not getting a dime to write, just who iS benefitting by no XL Pipeline, ANONYMOUS doesn't explain that statement so it's a dead end postulate. The criticism of Cornell is hysterical, if his son really went to MIT might explain the jealous insults directed at Cornell, but once again no admitted identity, how do you judge what could be propaganda?
Which leads us to that GALLUP poll: Yes, "garbage in, garbage out," EUREKA Mr. or Ms. Anonymous---You got one of my points exactly!
The American people have swallowed that BIG LIE, so they're in favor of it. Tell them it'll go through THEIR back yard and see how supportive they are.
Tell them that as of now even industry experts admit that the cleanup and remediation of this particular type of gooey substance if released needs more study. It's relatively new. So once again, claiming that spill cleanups can be contained when we have little or no track record re tar sand is, ahem, UNSCIENTIFIC.....As for Congress following the will of the people, that's disingenuous: It's Congressional leaders, pockets stuffed with Petro-dollars, that keep telling the ignorant public to let them progress a poorly understood or studied substance.
How many times have we experimented with our environs and become remorseful? What's wrong with getting it right the first time? What's wrong with taking TransCanada's track record or other petrochemical corporations under consideration? If ANONYMOUS' son and his buddies are so savvy, have they ever heard of a RISK BENEFIT ASSESSMENT or ANALYSIS?
Basically, ANONYMOUS is like that Holiday Inn commercial: Hey, trust me, I'm an expert on X, Y and Z because I stayed at a HI last night.
Uncorroborated or unsubstantiated comments by an anonymous person who can't/won't identify themselves is exactly how we got here.
Ditto for those asinine GALLUP polls. Once again, statistical massaging that came from media barrages that McLuhan warned us about: The Medium is the Message.
Now THAT'S a Hollywood movie scenario, not my thoughts.

Anonymous April 29, 2012 6:17 pm (Pacific time)

Never thought about how many thousands of miles of underground pipe we have carrying energy products, anyone have an estimate? I certainly am no expert in energy production and distribution methodologies, but I have several lifelong friends who are, and a son with a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering, who now teaches at a local public university. They all seem to say that "following the money" provides one the insight to see just where the expert(s) are coming from, regardless of peer review and replication. In other words, "Gargage in, garbage out." My one son did his graduate work at M.I.T., so he has some good natured fun with other colleges like Cornell, whom he says that they boasted that we could safely send astronauts to the sun for study, as long as we did so at night. It was recently reported that in the "fracking process" for natural gas extraction there has not been one case of any water wells used by people in the fracking vicinities who have had their wells polluted from that process. Of course we see Hollywood make programming showing that it happens all the time, then we have the current EPA leadership involved in many claims of pollution that seem to melt away when put under the light of objective review. Our level of technology has grown many times since even the Alaska Pipeline project, and now they seem to have many safety procedures to deal with the occasional spills. This is not in the deep oceans or seas, but on land. Looking around my house, I do not see one thing that did not come here on a truck, a truck that needed fossil fuel to run, as well as fossil fuel to be manufactured. Our economy, the global economy, hums along because of fossil fuel, and no matter how muching hoping and praying to change to alternative sources, is going to change that specific need for many years down the road. Bottomline: Congress follows (most of the time) what the voters want, and with high energy prices impacting all aspects of society, the pipeline will be built, as well as new developments in Alaska and North Dakota, etc. See Gallup on this reality: http://www.gallup.com/poll/153383/Americans-Favor-Keystone- Pipeline.aspx

Roger E. Butow April 29, 2012 4:39 pm (Pacific time)

One minor correction: The FEIS was actually generated and paid for by TransCanada, the project proponent per usual in these cases, went through the usual review process as I described, and THEN published by the US State Dept......Which makes it all the more of a lie. TC initially boasted 20,000 additional jobs, etc. etc., so it's media blasts exclaimed huge promises but when you read the final fine print (ratified FEIS), THEIR print, they had lied by a factor of about 10. It's as if I promised you a 100% increase in your gas mileage from an additive but then you realize it's only 10% better than what you're already getting if you pay the high price.
TC massaged the database in its advanced press releases to make itself look America-friendly. Readers should visit other sites using TAR SAND LIES and such as search words, many many other think tanks have already debunked the stats and calcs on this ---you'll quickly see that we already have the ability to be energy independent, use gas as a transition like T Boone Pickens has noted too. Fusion (NOT fission) holds a lot of promise, I strongly believe that US technological research coupled with capitalist incentives will find better, more efficient, less foreign-dependent means.
And puh-lease, spare me: Canada is not our friend, they're capitalist competitors, let's be real and not keep portraying them as our best pals---Or as bumpkins.
Economics, like war, makes strange bedfellows. The Canadians wanna sleep with China and India, let 'em, but let's keep that in mind when creating trade agreements. This global economy, now flat, means that old pals won't necessarily survive as such.
This is the Brave New World, sink or swim in it, but lamenting this pipeline's demise is needless mourning.

Roger E. Bütow April 29, 2012 12:32 pm (Pacific time)

I'm not an adult? Well, at least unlike you I take the risk of writing in my real name and accept the shooting gallery consequences of online publication. Unlike most shooting galleries, the snipers have journalists like me as stationary, easy targets.
That out of the way, you also seem to feel safe making threatening remarks as well, safely behind your posting, so now who's being childish?
It is funny, you write that no one really gives a rip regarding ANYTHING I write---Well, you logically refuted that by not only reading my column but blogging it.
And how can someone be more than 100% certain about anything?
Nonetheless, be skeptical about BLOGCRITIC, be critical about Columbia U., but Cornell is a very prestigious Ivy League school known for academic excellence.
Moreover, you challenge MY knowledge about enviro-issues, well, guess what? Under NEPA, the Final EIS is the living federal document and attachments/studies, etc., that provides extensive analysis, peer review, and justifiable conclusions (and proposed mitigations if possible) for projects that might have significant adverse impacts on our national natural resources. You're shooting the messenger here, this document took years of environmental review and the proponents had their day in court so to speak----You attack ME ad hominem (my character), who you assume to be another lunatic fringe liberal and hence make the quantum jump to that guilt-by-association logos.
As for the logic behind "Well, we've already got thousands of miles of below/above ground pipes carrying fossil fuels, what's one more" you ignore the basics of what and how this particular substance could affect, could impact. It's like a drunk saying "What's one more drink gonna do that the previous ones haven't?"
So what I hear you saying is that YOU know more about this subject than major universities and the US State Department, forget about me, a working professional in this field.
I've got a great idea: YOU provide YOUR real name and credentials, show our readers where the FEIS says that YOUR opinion is sustained by anyone other than the vendors, the project proponents?

Anonymous April 28, 2012 7:21 pm (Pacific time)

scratch my last link..its ok and I like Lindsey Williams and his accuracy over the decades is quite impressive, but he takes 4 hours to say something he could say in 4 minutes..Anyway Roger, when you talk of a third party I agree, but the dems and repubs passed laws that make it impossible, so they could keep power, our third party is Ron Paul..There is no other way...night all.

stephen April 28, 2012 6:29 pm (Pacific time)

Roger, I dont know if you read these posts, but you are super, super close, xlnt article. I have more, but not enough time right now. I know they have the largest oil reserve in Alaska, its more than the tar sand oil in Canada, and the agenda is even bigger than you know. But, you are still awesome, I will try to get some time to share tomorrow with links and proof, or I will email you..Thanks salem-news, now we are hitting the big time! And thanks Roger for opening pandoras box :-) Iron sharpens iron. I personally would approve of keeping Roger as a writer. Oh Roger, check out Lindsey Williams, the energy non crisis, u can find it on youtube..he worked as a pastor in the oil fields of Alaska. He drives me nuts sometimes, and his CD's are way overpriced, but his info has been 100% accurate for over the ten years I pay attention to him. Ah heck, let me get a link, ok, this link is 27 minutes and I know very few will will take the time, I try to post 3 minute videos...but here it is if ya want. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6ihn7x60eY

Anonymous April 28, 2012 6:22 pm (Pacific time)

Roger there are already literally hundreds of thousands of miles of underground pipes carrying various types of fossil fuel products, so should we dig them all up? Then to power everything, we use what? Pixie dust? The only propaganda I see is the stuff you are using as sources. You, like most uninformed/ignorants have no problem using energy, you just don't understand how we get it. All in all we have a pretty safe delivery system compared to other countries. Sure we need to make things safer, but I'm 110% convinced you have no background in this area, nor will you ever have. Leave the adults alone kid, get out of the way before you get your child-ass in a sling. What is it with you moronic libs, you know zip, but you prattle on thinking someone really gives a rip about your utterly absurd take [on anything].

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