Yes, I know that China is trying to pin down long term sources. I am not concerned for our sake if they get this tar sands oil. We have so much potential in US with the shale oil and gas finds, that we are already exporting some of that oil. We have plenty to serve our needs for many decades. In that time our potential for solar and wind will more than make up for anything we are not getting from the tar sands. Moreover we probably will no longer need the Middle East oil either. I know there seems to be a strong oil bias here at FR, and I should add I have PB stock, but a number of the oil companies are already diversifying into harnessing all that free sun and wind we have in abundance in parts of the US. There are many potential jobs in solar and wind, and in weatherizing homes and providing superinsulation in new construction. Please Google the Kalamazoo River Enbridge pipeline disaster to see what I am anxious for our country to avoid. It has already cost as much as Solyndra, and if the XL Pipeline is built from Canada to Cushing, it crosses about 4 major rivers, and a number of small streams. Even if the pipeline gets built to the Pacific, they will still be transporting it through the US by truck and train.
Our Nation has made tremendous strides from standing on the moon, to typing to one another via communication links, to knowing, as a Nation, there are discoveries yet to be realized, to sometimes accepting defeat. It is the accepting of defeat which worries me most. I am not implying your words speak of defeat and if am going off on a tangent you care not to read, please, stop here your honoring me by reading.
I will be short and brief in my remarks if your eyes and a desire to continue have led to a continuance of words offered up to your eyes for contemplation of our present ongoing exchange of posts. I am willing to bet like you America is becoming tired in the eyes of the world. The world thinks America is ripe for the taking. The world is thinking America is ready to fall. I do not think and I bet you do not think America is ready to fall.
We each deal with our lives and love our family members. There once was a time Americans, all Americans felt like family. We were killing one another but were settling a family dispute. During the Civil War or War Between the States as Americans were killing Americans on both sides a belief was held as true. Blue and Gray believed God was on their side. Today Blue and Red believe God is on their side. Our Nation has come through the fires of Hell to only find ourselves in the fires of Hell. A fact ... It will always be as is. I too seek solutions but I have lain down fear. I have lain down my fear of my fellow man and woman and fellow Americans. There are greedy people in this world, which your post eludes to, but I no longer fear them. You and I both remember our History. Each American versed in History knows Americans have had to lay down our fears and do what had to be done to preserve, protect, and keep America strong. I have probably not one single solution, but someone in America has at least one solution, and where there is one solution there is another and another. The fork in the road, I think we should take it as Yogi Berra said. America is capable of doing more than one task at a time.
Our communications, I pray, have been enlightening for both of us. I believe the post sent to me emphasizes your belief in America and solutions. Solutions are what the sane seek. We have been a Nation divided, where solutions came from the barrels of death. Our Nation did not die, instead our Nation became stronger. This time will be no different. We the People complain and here is my complaint, for I would like to know who will stand against America, who can defeat America, what plan is so great as to cause America to fall? A truthful answer is there is none who will defeat America nor the ideas of America, for solutions are everywhere for any task set before America.
If you have made it to this point gleeaikin, my compliments. Seeking solutions are difficult. Seeking the love of many on this planet for America maybe is impossible. Finding, and doing is always an elusive prayer or Oh, What's the Point moment. I remember one set of words to rule me. To paraphrase ... We do not seek to go to the Moon because it is easy. We seek to go to the Moon because it is hard. The same can be said for any task, even moving tar sands. I pray my point has not eluded any of We the People, and especially you and I.