Solyndra and Keystone: Not All Environmental Scandals Are Created Equal

The following blog entry is in response to the editorial “Solyndra and Keystone: Not All Environmental Scandals Are Created Equal.” The article was from the October 31, 2011 edition of The Nation by The Editors. The editorial was found through the political blog, Real Clear Politics.

Ever since governments have existed there have been scandals; for many they seem to go hand in hand. Cronyism, the appointment of associates or friends to positions of authority without proper consideration of their qualifications, is often a part of government scandals.  The Obama administration is no exception - it is currently involved in two major environmental scandals where cronyism is a factor.

The Solyndra scandal involves a 535 million dollar Energy Department contract to a start-up solar panel company - Solyndra. The law firm representing Solyndra is the very same law firm that employs the US official’s wife who pushed for the contract. Clearly there is a conflict of interest.

The second, the Keystone scandal involves a pipeline project and an interweaving web of cronyism. The players Paul Elliott, Hillary Clinton’s former deputy campaign manager and currently a lobbyist for TransCanada and David Goldwyn, a former State Department official and tar sands lobbyist. There is also a major tie in to Cardno Entrix, the consulting company that led the Environmental Impact Study. The Obama administration is pushing the project forward.

The editorial “Solyndra and Keystone: Not All Environmental Scandals Are Created Equal,” is interesting and topical and address all American citizens.  It focuses on two scandals that have an impact on our environment, a topic that is getting a lot of attention and a lot of government funding.  Both show a blatant corruption of government funds. The author draws our attention to the scandals, and in particular cronyism, to force us to look more deeply.  Environmental issues are a hot topic.  We want to fund alternative energy sources, we want to improve our world, but we must, as the Editors implore us, understand to what cost and to what purpose we align our supports.  It is the job of the American people to keep the government in check and insist on responsible use of authority.

The authors have done the research and show a reporting of the facts by identifying these issues and naming specific people. They ask the reader to balance their opinion and future actions based on these facts.  Reporting facts attributes credibility.

They suggest that the Keystone scandal is more significant than the Solyndra scandal; I agree, although both set of actions grossly manipulated trust.  It is the Editor’s note of opportunity for President Obama to deliver on his campaign promise to change the culture of Washington and put a stop to the Keystone issue that the Editors focus their stand. The lesson as stated in the article is that cronyism can drive policy and used against good judgment. I feel their focus has transferred the responsibility to the reader - to act, to encourage, and to insist upon President Obama to uphold his promise and responsibilities as our leader and Commander in Chief.