Re: “…Now what?”

I guess I should’ve been more nuanced. I didn’t mean that they should have to categorically pay all costs should there be some sort of disaster. Specifically, if there was negligent behavior on the part of the company when building the Keystone XL pipeline, or if the disaster happened as a result of “cut-corners” on backup/safety mechanisms, then the company (or whoever they pay to insure the project) should have to pay for all damages. I don’t see the problem (if a company doesn’t have the proper safety regulations imposed on it’s project, doesn’t pay for adequate insurance, and is negligent in the planning and execution of said project) with that company going bankrupt. Companies should not be able to receive government funding to pay for damages that they, themselves, caused. Government’s job is to look out for the welfare of individuals, and I think that companies should pay big for their negligence.

It’s also worth noting that I’m no economics expert and I may be totally off-base on my opinion here, but I think (in the United States’ case) Republicans are all “Drill, baby! Drill!” with not nearly enough protection of individuals from disasters caused by negligent behavior on the part of companies. Democrats, on the other hand, care about individuals and the environment so so so much that they forget that there are resources we need, and then we have the ability to get them ourselves, instead of relying on the Saudis. Keystone XL isn’t exactly getting a ringing endorsement from me, either. I just say that, if we’re going to go ahead with it, there needs to be a better mechanism in place should there be a disaster down the line. American citizens shouldn’t have their livelihood threatened by an oil spill without ensuring that there’s a way to help them out should that ever occur.