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Originally Posted by driveway
I feel you're probably overestimating the economic impact of the Keystone pipeline. I imagine there are hundreds of people on this site with direct experience in the O&G sector who could explain better than me if this is true.
Also, I would argue that, as the deficit has been falling, the process of reducing the debt has begun.
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This was another good article by Yeldin, and I think helps covey the big picture of the economic impacts of Keystone.
http://calgaryherald.com/business/en...sands-keystone
This is bigger than just jobs created during construction. It helps on many levels including helping refineries in the US keep feedstock levels up which creates refining jobs, transportation jobs for the refined product from Huston area, less reliance on foreign oil sources that indirectly support oppression or terrorism, less reliance on oil by rail which is more dangerous, improved relations with the closest ally the US has, and frankly the oil is going to China or India (thus strengthening them) if they don't want it.
There are other benefits as well, but to look at it as a few thousand temp construction jobs, and a few hundred jobs after is dishonest. There is a larger picture here Obama is willfully ignoring for political reasons. The pipeline is not a cure all, but it is pretty close to a no brainier considering the thousands of miles of pipe that has been quietly built in the US while Keystone has grabbed the attention.
The whole thing is a farce, and that Obama is willing to at very least delay something that can help his people so a small environmental minority can (wrongly) feel better shows what kind of politician he is. A typical one. No better or worse than a guy like Bush, but the hype he gets is crazy and it was lost on me years ago.