[quote=The Nexerus]
We should absolutely be investing in numerous sources of energy outside of oil. A diverse economy is a competitive and efficient one, and the energy market is no exception. I'm not against investment in alternative energy, I just don't think we should be obstructing oil production and transportation in misguided environmental crusades.
[/quote]

Well, agreed. I never argued otherwise. As the current status quo goes, oil is our only option. We rely on it, so we need to damn well make sure it's reliable, 'cause we're fucked without oil. My whole point was to acknowledge that, and then to go further and say that we should try to develop alternate sources, to move beyond the "necessary evils" involved with our dependence on oil. I think it's pretty hard to argue that it's better to fuel ourselves on oil than clean energy sources, were that option available - so we need to invest to make that option available.

[quote=So Boerd]
The question is, should the government do it. I say no, because they muck it up. See: Solyndra.
[/quote]

Is that sort of a different argument? I referred to government because, in this situation, a) they're the ones who get to approve/disapprove Keystone being built, and b) they're the representatives of humanity on a wider scale. They decide our laws and represent us internationally. They act on our behalf. Therefore, my point that humanity as a whole should be investing in alternate energy... well, with the way things are now, that sorta means out governments invest, as our representatives, as those who collect our taxes, etc. etc. Whether you believe it should function in a different way is an entirely separate issue from my point - that [i]humanity[/i] should be investing in it (and the mention of government because it is just, currently, the way in which we'd do that, as leaders and representatives of us.) Maybe it would be better if it were done another way, sure, but that's a different thing.