Keystone XL Pipeline is Win-Win

Keystone XL Pipeline is Win-Win

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

December 9, 2011

Unaccustomed as I am to giving campaign winning advice to Barack Hussein Obama, the Keystone XL Pipeline project, to quote Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is “a no-brainer.”

The Keystone XL Pipeline project should be the shovel ready dream this so-called leader of the free world has been clamoring for since before he moved into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. An immediate 20,000 jobs would be created before the ink is dry signing the deal into existence, with up to roughly a half million jobs to follow throughout the project and beyond, indicate industry experts. These are the same experts noting that industry unemployment is at 13 percent.

But, Obama has dismissed this instant job creator in lieu of clinging to, and appeasing, the leftwing extremist environmentalists who would prefer that motorized modes of transportation cease to exist. This is a sterling example of Obama’s hypocrisy of playing politics when he continues to make speech after speech decrying the GOP for doing the same thing.

“Here’s what I know. However many jobs might be generated by a Keystone Pipeline, they are going to be a lot fewer then the jobs that are created by extending the payroll tax cut and extending unemployment insurance,” said a convoluted Obama.

Convoluted because extending unemployment insurance creates zero jobs. In fact, it ensures that those out of work will remain unemployed until the extension expires. Why look for a job that probably does not exist when there is a guaranteed check from the government. If anything, Obama is an anti-growth job killer.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels concurred, noting that the pipeline project has bi-partisan support and that Obama is “kissing up to those with extreme environmental views.” It’s a “pro-poverty policy.”

Even a half dozen unions support the pipeline project because of its job creation ability. Obama should at least listen to those folks as they are part of his eroding base.

Congress must force this issue and put it on Obama’s desk immediately because failure to do so would ship this project from Canada to the south to Canada to the west. Oil will be produced one way or another. Either the United States or Asia will benefit as this is a black-golden opportunity that should not be passed up. Should the plan proceed, it will run from Hardisty, Alberta, through Cushing, OK, through Houston to Port Arthur, TX to the Gulf of Mexico.

The United States simply cannot be timid when it comes to domestic oil production. This nation is a hostage to OPEC oil producers and it continues to drain our economy of money going into the pockets of despotic regime dictators who are not allies to the US and clearly seek to do this country harm. The United States is fueling unfriendly nations with the weaponry that will one day be used to destroy this country.

Instead, the United States should be drilling for its own oil in the Gulf of Mexico, in ANWR, from the shale in the Rocky Mountains and in Pennsylvania. This is win-win for all parties involved. Legitimate, long term, private industry jobs will be created – not government funded jobs for which the taxpayers ultimately foot the bill. Keystone is such a privately funded project, with no cost to the taxpayers. Additionally, the United States becomes less reliant upon enemy states for oil, thus stunting the growth of those economies, making them less able to harm this country. Canada, on the other hand is a historically dependable ally with whom more business should be conducted.

In spite of the Exxon Valdez and the BP disasters, which were tragic and should not be ignored, in order to make a good omelet, a chef must crack a few eggs. Care should always be taken whether in the drilling of oil or the making of the omelet but yes, accidents happen. Should the auto manufacturers close their doors because car accidents occur on the roads? Of course not, and neither should oil drilling be discontinued.

Obama said should the Keystone XL Pipeline project be linked to the extension of the payroll tax cut bill he would veto it. Obama should not be an obstructionist when it comes to job creation. There is enough support from both houses of Congress to overturn his veto, thus a win-win for his opposition – the pipeline project would be approved and Obama would not be able to take credit for it.

Obama has complained that with the lingering bills he is “stuck” in Washington. Congress needs to make the Keystone XL Pipeline a reality now and we the people need to ensure that Obama is no longer stuck in Washington and can hit the links fulltime as of January 20, 2013. This is not a potential bill on which Obama can vote “present.”

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.