Don't forget benefits of oil from pipeline

I completely agree with Joy Hansen's letter to the editor published on Jan. 23 stating that the rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline was simply politics over what is best for the country.

I would like to add to the benefits of more jobs she described the benefit of the oil also.

I do not understand why the government cannot negotiate the terms when they issue the permit to drill for oil that the oil involved cannot be put on the global market.

In fact, a portion of this oil could be designated to be used to build up the nation's oil reserves. This would mean the oil reserves could then be used more to control the spikes in the prices at the pump instead of just wars and natural disasters.

The prices at the pump affect the low and middle class the most so it is ironic that the current administration portrays itself as a fighter for the middle class.

The dangers of a leaking pipeline into aquifers is next to nothing, and the rerouting of the pipeline is nothing but a stall tactic. It is time for the politicians to do their job and control both the oil industry and the extreme environmentalists and not the other way around.

This project could help make our energy-poor nation energy rich again without using any taxpayer money!

Charles Davison

Yuma