There Is No Reason to Build the Dakota Access Pipeline
Let’s not mince words. The enormous show of government force being applied to silence protesters’ exercising their First Amendment rights to free speech and free assembly in North Dakota is nothing short of appalling. Replete with attack dogs and rubber bullets (see pic), this brutality has, for good reason, garnered a great deal of international rebuke.
But there’s another, equally interesting way of looking at this struggle. Why is the pipeline needed, in an economic context in which we have more oil than we need? We know who loses from the construction of the pipeline: the local indigenous people and the environment at large. But who benefits? Here’s an interesting analysis.
The Dakota Access Pipeline is being built to move more Sweet light Baaken crude to the mid america market.
Then a large portion of it flows South to Cushing Okl and onto the Gulf Coast Refineries that have idle capacity . The end products much of it is for EXPORT as that is where the Big Moeny is.
The Dakota Pipeline is much like the now cancelled Keystone.
it is less about domestic jobs ( very few will be created post completion) and less about Energy Independence for the US .
The primary goal is higher profits from Exports of crude or refined products. Crude I believe is still restricted but refined products can be exported and the American and other co want to capture more foreign market share.
Like many big plays these pipelines are sold to the domestic people as Red Herring job creators and pathways to more energy independence.
The actual geographic pathways could be less environmentally challenging if a more Western pathway South of the Missouri ( avoid it ) thru the Dakotas and then East thru So Neb to connect up with the existing pipeline network.
The Canadian Tar Sand players need a major pathway to export market for Canada revenues so they have alot vested. But now politics in Canada is changing and they are realizing that exploiting the Tar Sands in a high volume level may not be in their best interests despite the export revenues . How long that position holds is un known.
But this gets into the delicate balance of needed supply into the Mid America market , refinery capacity and southern headed pipelines so then can get the crude to the refinery’s in LA and Tex. It would cost more.
So greater profits are causing the companies to try to once again Run Over the Interests of our Native American s. Sad state of Affairs.
How this plays out is Up in the Air.
Conservative leaning folks should bear in mind that if we allow too high a level of exports of either oil and gas domestic energy costs will Rise Up and create a political and consumer backlash.
We have 4 gas pipelines being built in Texas south to Mexico right now so the export play is gaining steam…while the public sleeps. but the price increases will just make solar, wind and end use efficiency even better economics along with EV s. So there is a longer term payoff for Green Energy.
But once again I dont believe it is right to run over the Native Americans a alternative course could be found and less damage done.
So these things Cut the Butter both ways!
Craig,
Why persist with maintaining the inaccurate, biased propaganda disseminated by the protesters ?
The conflict began when hundreds of violent rioters attacked a handful of company security guards and police. The armed protesters (many with long criminal histories for violence)used vehicles to ram the fence and demolish the perimeter storage fence. The protestors brought their own trained attack dogs to assault police and kill the site security guards guard dogs.
Their stated intent was to damage and steal equipment, but more importantly, gain access to a store of explosives. These are not claims by the company, but volunteered boasts and statements from the protestors themselves.
I’ve not heard you express one word of sympathy for the law offices who were injured or the injuries sustained by the security personnel who although heavily out numbered, bravely withstood a planned, determined and aggressive assault by dangerous radical elements intending to access more weapons to commit further mayhem.
These are not peaceful protestors, but violent attackers in defiance of a court ruling.
Protestors have a right to protest, peacefully. That right is guaranteed by the constitution. But the rule of law must prevail. If violent forces are a allowed to prevail, and law enforcement and the rule of law crumbles in the face of rioters, then a due process will collapse and armed conflict will replace the process of peaceful resolution.
Your typical left knee jerk assumption that all protestors must be right and on the side of the angels, and law enforcement must automatically be portrayed as thuggish and evil is unhelpful,inflammatorys and grossly irresponsible.
Minorities have a right to peaceful protest and have their concerns addressed in appropriate forums. However, the will of the majority just can’t be ignored every time a small group of radicals disagrees with a decision.
I’m very disappointed to see you condoning, even encouraging violent assault as long as it’s being perpetrated in support of what you consider to be a worthwhile cause.
Why don’t you show a photo of the young female officer, attacked and beaten in the execution of her duty ?
No one is suppressing the protestors rights to free speech, not in the courts nor in the streets. The conflict is solely created by the demonstrators attempt to violently suppress the rights of others.
Craig,
There’s always two side to every story. Why do you chose to ignore the negative behavior of protestors ?
Today an enrolled local tribal member, Mrs. Fischer and her husband Ernie, gave evidence that least 13 of their rare and endangered species of Bison were cruelly slaughtered, barbecued and consumed by some of the hundreds of activists trespassing through the pastures of their Cannonball Ranch Bison sanctuary.
The family produce video and photographic evidence to support their claims, and the evidence was supported by tests carried out by Authorities.
The Fischers and their neighbours have been the victims of abuse,threats by armed protestors, and even assaults by fanatical protestors. They have been forced to clear-up pile of rubbish and human excrement left behind by arrogant protestors.
Protesters on Highway 1806 cut fences and deliberately panicked their herd as weapon against Morton County law enforcement causing five buffalo to drop dead and injuring many more. (Two more later had to be destroyed).
On another occasion, Ernie Fisher complained that despite being informed of the negative effect on stock and wildlife, the protestors;
“they’re (the protestors) honking their car horns. Then the police are there, and the protesters are yelling and screaming and chanting, and the buffalo are across the ditch in the pasture, and they’re just running because they don’t know what to do,”. “They’re just running in big circles throughout the pastures,” he said. “By the end of the day, three more were had died.”
The Fischer family is not alone in voicing their complaints. The plight of local ranchers, farmers (many tribal members) and others whose struggle to maintain their livelihoods has gone largely unnoticed as protesters upend the rural communities along North Dakota’s southern border.
Most of the protestors are from large cities, and see the local farmers, even sanctuary owners as “despoilers” of the natural world.
The behaviour of the protestors doesn’t seem consistent with your idea of “decent folk”, or are the only decent folk those who agree with your political-ideological bias ?
I notice supporters of the demonstrators like Cameron etc, are very selective in what constitutes “decent behaviour”. They remain coyly silent at the outrages committed by protestors.
Or does that old leftie excuse of “the end justifying the means” still apply ?