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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Court issues civics lesson to school district ... State, miners headed for showdown over dredging ... Jacksonville to add downtown parking spots ... Our View: Court issues civics lesson to school district ... State, miners headed for showdown over dredging ... Jacksonville to add downtown parking spots ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: Get the best deal on pipeline Comment By Dorian Hastings MailTribune.com By Dorian Hastings Posted Jan. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Dorian Hastings Posted Jan. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News I am against this travesty in which we become vassals of foreign states — better to bring back the timber industry; that at least gave real people real jobs. This project reminds me of King Midas: As wealthy as he was, he wanted more, so he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold. At first, he was delighted — gold and more gold! Then he called to his little daughter, but at his touch, she too turned to gold, a cold, dead statue. Then he grew hungry and thirsty, but all his food and drink turned to gold, too. As much as I hate the idea of this pipeline, I wonder if we will be able to stop it. I am a survivor of the Hurricane Katrina evacuation and nine years of the storm’s aftermath. In the massive reconstruction that followed, I saw little that got done that wasn’t in the best interests of the wealthiest and most powerful. There are powers that want this pipeline and it will not be easy to turn it back. If it must go through, let’s be sure we get the best deal possible. I am not an engineer, so I can’t speak to the safety of a utility such as this passing through some of the roughest and most pristine wilderness this nation has to offer. But I am a historian — what will this pipeline look like in 100, 200 years? Forget the warm fuzzys of the spotted owl and the salmon. Who will be responsible for maintenance? Will it look like the crumbling infrastructure of our cities, where old gas lines explode, destroying whole neighborhoods? What will be the effects of natural disasters — wildfires and fire storms, earthquakes and tsunamis? Will the jobs generated be worth the cost of mitigation in the event of a disaster? And speaking of jobs — our people need to be trained now to ensure that they are the ones hired. Most of the jobs in post-Katrina New Orleans, even the most basic labor of cleanup, went to outsiders and did little to benefit the people who most needed the work. By the way, I also witnessed the effects of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The infrastructure and funding to protect present and future populations must be in place before this pipeline is built. Let’s be sure that the companies put aside funds now to mitigate against worst-case scenarios. Be sure they invest in our community colleges and universities to train locals now for these promised jobs. Are the companies that will profit from this project willing to set aside up-front money and a specified percentage of annual profits into a mitigation fund now? If so, at least we taxpayers and residents will be less likely to have to pay for poor results. Dorian Hastings lives in Talent. By Dorian Hastings MailTribune.com By Dorian Hastings Posted Jan. 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501