[whatshisface]

A true pro-pipeline official would crack down on maintenance and inspections and demand that the pipeline never spill. These officials might think that they are pro-pipeline, but in reality they're pushing us towards a future where pipelines are banned entirely. It's ironic that in addition to polluting the environment in a way that sacrifices long-term health for short-term gain, they are also ruining the political environment in a way that helps them now but will make them pay in the future.

[vkou]

Their reward structures, and the reward structures of the people who bought them prioritize short-term planning over long-term planning.

Twenty years from now, oil extraction may well be banned, regardless of whether pipelines spill under their watch. But the profits from slap-dash operation can be made today.