Posted on 12/07/2016 2:25:44 PM PST by KeyLargo
What the Dakota Access Pipeline Is Really About
The standoff isn’t about tribal rights or water, but a White House that ignores the rule of law.
Kevin Cramer
A little more than two weeks ago, during a confrontation between protesters and law enforcement, an improvised explosive device was detonated on a public bridge in southern North Dakota. That was simply the latest manifestation of the “prayerful” and “peaceful” protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Escalating tensions were temporarily defused Sunday when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at the direction of the Obama administration, announced it would refuse to grant the final permit needed to complete the $3.8 billion project. The pipeline, which runs nearly 1,200 miles from the Bakken Shale in North Dakota to Illinois, is nearly complete except for a small section where it needs to pass under the Missouri River. Denying the permit for that construction only punts the issue to next month—to a new president who won’t thumb his nose at the rule of law.
Like many North Dakotans, I’ve had to endure preaching about the pipeline from the press, environmental activists, musicians and politicians in other states. More often than not, these sermons are informed by little more than a Facebook post. At the risk of spoiling the protesters’ narrative, I’d like to bring us back to ground truth.
• This isn’t about tribal rights or protecting cultural resources. The pipeline does not cross any land owned by the Standing Rock Sioux. The land under discussion belongs to private owners and the federal government. To suggest that the Standing Rock tribe has the legal ability to block the pipeline is to turn America’s property rights upside down.
• Two federal courts have rejected claims that the tribe wasn’t consulted....
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
Bingo
the point of the freezing is to give trump a black eye early on
It will be very interesting to see how he makes a deal to get the project moving again
I delivered on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. I can attest that I never saw a sight like that. For the most part, they are good and decent people in spite of the federal government’s efforts to destroy them via handouts.
I grew up in Palm Springs - our Indians were pilars of the community, wealthy (once allowed gambling), upstanding, and supported our HS mascot being the Indians (huge boosters of the HS). They also vote Republican.
Then I moved to South Dakota to run the family farm (which goes up to near Standing Rock). And the Indians here are like the Illegals in CA, except they shun anyone who wants to actually succeed. The reservations here are horrible because they want it that way. And if you don’t vote lib (as the chief tells you) you are kicked off and on your own. I know one nice gay Indian guy who when he first left the Rez acted like he was going to get killed by them. Now he has some more confidence and is starting to act as normal as can be expected.
“There is no doubt that Native American communities have historically suffered at the hands of the federal government. But to litigate that history on the back of a legally permitted river crossing is absurd. The Obama administration should enforce the law, release the easement and conclude this dangerous standoff.”
Mr. Cramer, a Republican, represents North Dakota in the U.S. House. As a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission (2003-12) he helped site the original Keystone Pipeline completed in 2010.
Excellent. Thank you for posting.
I hope they are going to declare the $15/hr on their taxes....
The snow covered encampment looks cold. Perhaps we should be nice and send some blankets their way.
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===I delivered on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. I can attest that I never saw a sight like that. For the most part, they are good and decent people in spite of the federal government’s efforts to destroy them via handouts.===
So true, I have lived in the 4 corners almost 50yrs and as the reservation pics show is that the ‘rez’ is the death spiral to tribes. All handouts, no work. Truly native ghettos by fed and tribal govts by design. The Navajos, a LOT of them refuse to live on the rez and move off, are employed, buy houses, go to school, incorporate into the rest of the surrounding population. You can’t ask for a harder working and prouder population than the rez native that has escaped the hellholes made for them.
Grew up in NM.
Amen to your comment.
What it’s about is Warren Buffett’s trains.
It’s time to close down the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service..
They are Americans of Chinese descent.
What if we had 320 German Sovereign Nations inside our borders?
“But let a bunch of Militia types try something similar in Oregon and in comes the FBI tactical units.”
Yes, and here’s hoping that Atty General Sessions will have some internal “short arm inspections” to try and find out what really happened in Oregon (and in Bunkerville, NV with the Bundys as well). Personally, I think some prosecutions of public officials and LEOs is warranted.
He evidently doesn’t know the difference between Indians who ride horses, and those who ride elephants! As him to take the press out to look at America’s huge elephant herds!
“The snow covered encampment looks cold. Perhaps we should be nice and send some blankets their way.”
It will be a wee bit cool there soon.
So we all hope that they paid protestors will be nice and comfy in their fake Tee-Pees...
The Latest: Dangerous wind chills to follow ND blizzard
Updated 22 hrs ago
My husband’s wood products company got a government contract to build and deliver 100 wooden doors to the Pine Ridge “Rez” for their homes. We delivered and our crew installed them. We went back two weeks later to check on progress.
Most of the doors were shattered and their homes were in tatters. I’m sure that many of them are wonderful and really want to improve their lives. But, in my experience, most are alcoholics, and abusive to their wives and children. It really saddens me
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