South Dakota Access Pipeline

[AE Bravo]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-rule-today-dakota-access-pipeline-case-protests/story?id=41973080

Interesting developments and attitude by the government towards the tribe. Standing Rock tribe has a right to deny corporate designs over their territory, but at the same time how would this end if they're not willing to strike a deal on infrastructure projects? From what I read the company tried to coerce them first without consulting them on the project so that should count for something in court.

[Hooahguy]

Generally I believe that when it comes to such projects, ones like these that can potentially harm the locals (such as with fracking) it should be left to the will of the locals. I remember reading about a case somewhere in the south (maybe Texas? I dont recall) where a local municipality voted to ban fracking in their area but the state government came in and overrode their ban to allow the company to drill. That I think is wrong. When it comes to environmental issues I personally choose environment/people over profits, but it is ultimately up to the people it effects the most. If they want a fracking operation or a oil pipeline in their area, then by all means go ahead. If not, we must respect their wishes.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Generally I believe that when it comes to such projects, ones like these that can potentially harm the locals (such as with fracking) it should be left to the will of the locals. I remember reading about a case somewhere in the south (maybe Texas? I dont recall) where a local municipality voted to ban fracking in their area but the state government came in and overrode their ban to allow the company to drill. That I think is wrong. When it comes to environmental issues I personally choose environment/people over profits, but it is ultimately up to the people it effects the most. If they want a fracking operation or a oil pipeline in their area, then by all means go ahead. If not, we must respect their wishes.

The Constitution is written around the several states being sovereign in such things. The locals can leverage their state government -- or not -- as appropriate. The rights of an Amerind tribe are different, regrettably, as we have a hodgepodge of different federal level laws covering them as they are, and are not, part of the states in which they find themselves. We didn't just conquer them properly and have done with it.

[Montmorency]

We didn't just conquer them properly and have done with it.

We did. Just that apartheid was the arrangement we sought and developed at every step of the way.

[Strike For The South]

We did. Just that apartheid was the arrangement we sought and developed at every step of the way.

Which would have been fine, provided the backlands we forced the natives on had nothing of value on them.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

We did. Just that apartheid was the arrangement we sought and developed at every step of the way.

Sought yes, we had our cultural chip on our shoulder regarding superiority, but the development was slipshod and haphazard at best. Do goodership, cultural assimilation, cultural pariah status, reservations as loosely-designed prisons, thoughtful multiculturalism all blended together in a hodge-podge that did nothing well. We took neither the Roman approach (acknowledge the government, pay taxes, keep your local customs where possible but we are in charge) nor the Mongol (enslave the children, women, and artisan, slaughter the rest) but employed bits of both haphazardly with an admixture of Missionary Christianity.

Apartheid in South Africa had, at the least, the advantage of clarity.

[Don Corleone]

Personally, I think the Standing Rock Sioux Nation should sue the US government in the Hague. I suspect you'll see a change of attitude fairly quickly.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Personally, I think the Standing Rock Sioux Nation should sue the US government in the Hague. I suspect you'll see a change of attitude fairly quickly.

Other than our routinely ignoring the Hague, you have a nice point.

Nice to see you are well Don C, hopefully those gals of yours are thriving as well.

[Don Corleone]

Thank you sir. They are getting big. And a little sassy. But still sweet and still pretty like their Mama. I hope all is well with Fermanagh clan.

You make a valid point, of course. But as we look for legitimacy of International Law when dealing with the South China Sea situation, we may find our forked tongues in need of silencing.