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Comment by vkou | Hacker News Reader

Having a pipeline built through your lands usually doesn't bring you any jobs, or money.

The people building it come from out of town, the people who will be making money from the pipeline are its owners, and the people who will be picking up the bill if things go pear-shaped will be the people who live there.

If you have any doubts about that, check out how the Exxon Valdez spill was handled. The oil company makes the profits, and can find all sorts of ways to get out of paying for the damages.

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> Having a pipeline built through your lands usually doesn't bring you any jobs, or money.

Are you saying the land owners don't get paid?

Besides, this is primarily about oil wells, not pipelines. I know having oil wells on your land can be very lucrative.

> If you have any doubts about that, check out how the Exxon Valdez spill was handled

That was a one of a kind, history changing event in the arctic ocean decades ago. It's hard to think it's typical of rural Texas in the 2020s.

"The rich bastards will always screw you" is a fine sentiment over a beer in a country bar, but not a great analysis to to base trillion dollar decisions on.

So you would rather us directly fund oppressionist governments around the world, just so you can feel better for the 50 people living in the town next door to the oil fields? Ok.

Perhaps we could invest in other energy sources?

Every single time. Yes. Nothing will crush the source of power for oppressive governments faster than if we conserve our resources and drain theirs.

But you fail to mention that we have an oppressive government gearing up in the US too. So perhaps it's best if they help us drain ours.

How draining Saudi Arabia resources have worked so far?

Not bad, considering they're having to pump seawater down their wells just to get any oil back up. They're running out and they'll be broke within a decade.

And quality of life, democracy and individual freedoms work out wonderfully broke states.

As if the quality of life for the average Saudi isn't already garbage.

By giving them, money?

Our government already does support oppressive oil regimes (the saudis). You see those other governments as substantially worse because the only thing you read is american propaganda.

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