In Arizona, did you all write or call our Senators Jeff Flake or John McCain about their “Yes” votes in the Senate for the Keystone XL pipeline?
Thank goodness the bill did not pass but before the vote in the Senate on Nov. 19th, I wrote to my US Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) politely requesting a “No” vote on the Keystone XL pipeline authorization; my reason being because the pipeline would not benefit the USA very much. Mr. Flake wrote back to me in a timely manner and politely explained his view disagreeing with me and stating that he supported the pipeline because it would: “enable the private sector to create jobs at a time when unemployment is at staggering levels” and “enhance our trade relationship” (with Canada), “bolster our national security” and “reduce our dependency on foreign oil”. That did not quite sound right to me; for one thing Canada is a foreign country, so then wouldn’t we still be using “foreign oil”? Also I thought we already had good relations with Canada anyway and didn’t know we needed more trade with them promoting “better relations”. Looks like Mr. Flake is getting our two governments mixed up with our private business relationships.
After reading some here on Daily Kos, I wrote back telling him I thought he was wrong. First of all it is not really USA’s “private sector”, but rather a Canadian company wanting to “transport crude oil through the middle of America to a refinery that is co-owned by Saudi Arabia where it will be shipped to China …. and beyond”. Second, the pipeline (after it is built) would only add about 30 - 40 permanent jobs for Americans on our US soil. Furthermore I don’t see Keystone bolstering national security although this may have been the case 20 – 30 years ago.
The pipeline will furnish more crude more easily to privately owned refineries associated with the Koch Brothers. I read here at Kos “Pine Bend Refinery in Minnesota is owned by Flint Hills Resources and is a subsidiary of Koch Industries. This refinery supplies approx 70% of Minnesota's gasoline and 50 to 60 percent of the refinery output is shipped out of state; and it is fed by a Koch owned pipeline from the Alberta Tar Sands.” And “domestic oil production is up seventy percent in the US, oil prices are down, and seven-hundred-thousand barrels move across the Canadian border every day”. . . but unfortunately I think it’s the politics that matter the most and are the most important for our Arizona policy makers for both US and our State.
So now I see the connection to what the Koch Bros. want and what our Republican legislators (and a couple of Dems) want both US and State. During the recent election, our candidates for US Senators, House Representatives; and our AZ State Governor, Attny General, House members, Senators, down to even our School Board and Corporation Commission nominees were all funded very well by big money, big oil and the Kochs. Oh they threw in a few bucks to the Dems but the lion’s (or should I say “piggy’s”) share went to Republicans all over our country and Arizona was not left out by any means. Why us? Why such interest in Arizona? Aren’t we Republican enough for their liking?
All but a very few elections in AZ were won by outside big money. I guess their royal majesties, the Koch Brothers, other big business and wealthy donors, don’t think our schools need funding or want us to make good laws, etc. so more businesses will come back to AZ. Nor do they want better regulations for our utility companies or corporations watched over by any members of the Democratic Party on the Corporation Commision; also we all know what they think about solar renewable energy; they want us to be slaves to dirty oil and clean coal (sarcasm) forever – be their loyal slaves and their faithful subjects. So in Arizona, we might as well get up every morning, stand and face north (a little to the east), raise our right arm up straight and pledge our loyalty to their royal highnesses, the Koch Brothers.
Joking aside, I think Arizona is cutting off its nose to spite its face and actually cutting off its ears and its eyes out too. Because if we were smart, with our abundant sunshine, and we did it right, we could be the suppliers of half of the US’s solar energy and even Mexico’s too! The US is now the second largest producing oil country in the world (second only to Saudi Arabia); but the problem is the US uses more than it produces and so we still must import more oil. Well eventually fossil fuels will have to be replaced with renewable energy so why not start now with us – why not AZ? If Arizona wanted we could be one of the largest producers of solar energy in the country; we could be the solar “Abu Dhabi” of the north western hemisphere … but noooo … we love our Koch Brothers instead. Maybe if we are good we will get a lump of “clean coal” in our Christmas stockings.
So back to Senator Flake; I heard him say he may be opposed to the building of the new casino in Glendale. However maybe he should change his mind about that if he hasn’t already because that may be the best that Arizona is going to be able to do to for jobs and for our students. In fact we should build more of them across the State! We need businesses and we need jobs! Big companies have left us and I would not doubt if more leave in the near future. Look at Tesla – now in Nevada - not in AZ; probably gonna give lots of Nevada’s young people good steady jobs up there – but for our AZ young people nada …. no jobs!
Don’t get me wrong, I think Senator Flake is one of the better Republicans but I think he is very wrong about this one.