Sioux City Journal

Hyperion versus the future

Posted: Sunday, March 02, 2008

MCCOOK LAKE, S.D. -- The golden-calf today calls itself “Hyperion." It demands all we have, promising a few dollars of spoils. Short-term thinking governs politicians, and developers are anxious to control shared resources, as tax breaks and incentives are obligingly doled out.

This "god" will create endless increases in the cost of living, as demands on every community resource and service escalate. We’ll sacrifice our lands, resources, water and air, as we embrace pollution, taxes-fees, crime, traffic, stress, and unemployment. (Each new job brings multiple applicants. Some live off of their income, some want to steal it, and some collect welfare.)

God’s given us a precious trust that is irreplaceable. Falling prey to Hyperion isn’t building a future, but selling it out. They’re here for one reason, to profit at the expense of our resources. Look at the real price-tag, and the greater price our children will pay. Consider "10 million gallons of water per day." (Make a sand-model representing the Missouri basin. Start removing water from anywhere. See what happens? Don’t forget that water is now toxic.) Do we want a toxic-arid community where crops and woodlands are no longer sustainable, and pollution, crime, etc., proliferate? Sell out and our grandchildren won’t grow up in the world we were blessed with. We’ll point to towers in the polluted sky and explain how we increased development and expanded our tax base.

P.T. Barnum said, "No one has ever lost a nickel underestimating the intelligence of the American public, nor in overestimating their desire to be fooled.” -- Robert J. Baker

Story Comments

FNG wrote on Mar 7, 2008 6:36 PM:

" To "Do the Research" The population increase will be spread over a very-wide area. Do you really think everybody that comes to work there would live in Elk Point? In my opinion, the answer would be no. They will live all over. Yes, Elk Point will grow, so will all of the other towns and cities within an hour of the place. Sioux Falls will probably see a lot of these workers. Having the influx of new families spread over a wide area will decrease the likelihood of this vast increase in crime that is so prevalent in all of the anti-Hyperion postings. "

Scared wrote on Mar 7, 2008 3:17 PM:

" Do the research: Absolutely I drive by the refinery near Coates MN on 52 nearly everyday on my way into St. Paul. "

Do the research wrote on Mar 7, 2008 9:25 AM:

" FMG- Believe that crime problems ,etc come with "economic development". How about Denver, Grand Island, or Storm Lake, or even Dakota City. Talk to their native residence about how they feel.How many people do you want in EP? If you like the city, why don't you move there?

Scared - As to seeing it a mile away I can only ask "Have you ever been near a refinery?" That is all the farther you can see the building (less on calm days as the haze grows), but the polution is in everything you eat, drink, and breath.

Friends, for the love of God and our future, DON"T BELIEVE THE MISINFORMATION AND HYPE OF HYPERION. DO THE RESEARCH.

Listen not just to what they say, but what they sidestep and don't say.

Their oil will come for Canada, not Arabia, which has a whole different set of numbers than they are presenting. Again, who is going to pay for the intra-structure? Not Hyperion!

Save our community, say NO! to the hype. "

Dick wrote on Mar 7, 2008 12:44 AM:

" Only a fool would let an opportunity like this pass. "

Scared wrote on Mar 6, 2008 7:25 AM:

" I don't understand why everybody thinks this refinery is going to make Union and Clay county a baron waste land. It will probably be noticeble for a mile or two before you drive by it.

Also, Joseph, I take it you have never been to Jefferson. Thank the perfect non-polluting feedlot across I-29 for that smell! I can't imagine anything smelling much worse then that! "