Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, Dave Archarnbault II, said in a statement on Sunday, “This pipeline was rerouted towards our tribal nations when other citizens of North Dakota rightfully rejected it in the interests of protecting their communities and water. We seek the same consideration as those citizens."
Conservative thought would dictate that we should all have control over “our own property and lands.” This is a conservative value with which I agree. However, we should also consider the control that others have over their own property and lands, as well. It is not subversive that Native Americans and others want the pipeline rerouted (or stopped), and there is nothing inimical or anti-American by taking into consideration our native American citizens' concerns regarding this pipeline. If a group of individuals, communities, or business entities were viewed as more politically powerful than Native Americans, and they wanted the pipeline to be rerouted, most likely it would happen, as it was already rerouted into tribal lands.
The other reality regarding these pipelines is that there is technology that would allow detection of, and rapid reaction to problems. Yes, it would add expense, but it’s an expense that we as a society must bear. It also should be recognized that expenses to do things right creates jobs, preserves value, and are better for us as a society in the long run.
Lastly, we should use all means, including a partnership of private and public resources, in a deliberate, graduated, and planned manner to reduce the use of fossil fuels to a bare minimum. This would not cause a loss of jobs or capital; it would cause a shifting of jobs and capital from one industry to another. It would also be exponentially more beneficial to us as a society in innumerable ways, including extracting us from being both the object of and the perpetrator of violence, tension, and disequilibrium in the Middle East.
Loren M. Lambert © February 5, 2017
Conservative thought would dictate that we should all have control over “our own property and lands.” This is a conservative value with which I agree. However, we should also consider the control that others have over their own property and lands, as well. It is not subversive that Native Americans and others want the pipeline rerouted (or stopped), and there is nothing inimical or anti-American by taking into consideration our native American citizens' concerns regarding this pipeline. If a group of individuals, communities, or business entities were viewed as more politically powerful than Native Americans, and they wanted the pipeline to be rerouted, most likely it would happen, as it was already rerouted into tribal lands.
The other reality regarding these pipelines is that there is technology that would allow detection of, and rapid reaction to problems. Yes, it would add expense, but it’s an expense that we as a society must bear. It also should be recognized that expenses to do things right creates jobs, preserves value, and are better for us as a society in the long run.
Lastly, we should use all means, including a partnership of private and public resources, in a deliberate, graduated, and planned manner to reduce the use of fossil fuels to a bare minimum. This would not cause a loss of jobs or capital; it would cause a shifting of jobs and capital from one industry to another. It would also be exponentially more beneficial to us as a society in innumerable ways, including extracting us from being both the object of and the perpetrator of violence, tension, and disequilibrium in the Middle East.
Loren M. Lambert © February 5, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment