The debate surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline – which will carry millions of gallons of oil a day – once again proves how ignorant Americans can be. The plan to build a new pipeline through the Great Plain states also proves that, more often than not, both sides are wrong.

The debate isn’t between environmentalists and conservatives, or between business-friendly politicians and farmers. Rather, it is a group of misinformed people battling the facts.

As a Nebraskan myself, I can vouch that the United States federal government is getting involved where they don’t belong. It was Nebraska’s Republican governor who first delayed the pipeline to conduct studies on the safety of the pipeline, not the Obama administration.

It was only after the people of Nebraska wanted answers that the federal government got involved. Unfortunately, the state’s investigations wrapped up long before, concluding that as long as the Keystone XL pipeline went around the Ogallala Aquifer, the largest source of underground water in the nation, the pipeline was safe.

So, one of the main concerns about contaminating the aquifer was shot down after the pipeline was rerouted to go safely around Nebraska’s largest water supply; still the Obama administration stands in the way.

The truth is that tar sand oil, before being refined, cannot even seep through to the underground water supply. The only valid concern regarding a pipeline burst was the chemicals used to transport the oil, which could possibly seep deep enough to the underground water supply.

Since that concern is no longer applicable due to the reroute, we now turn to focus on the job creation argument, which many see as invalid since the pipeline will only create a couple dozen permanent jobs.

However, thousands of temporary jobs will be created. These temporary jobs could help the currently unemployed by allowing them time until the economy gains further strength, with hopes that the job market will be better by the time they are done constructing the pipeline.

Even the dozen or so jobs that will be created in a state like Nebraska is still sizeable growth for a small Nebraska town. To put it into perspective, it can mean over $140,000 in new tax dollars for a school that typically has a budget in the low millions. That might be small change in Chicago, but that’s a sizeable difference for small Midwestern towns and schools.

Additionally, pipelines already exist throughout Nebraska and neighboring states to the north and south. These previously existing pipelines are not only older, but were built with weaker and less robust materials. These existing pipelines, such as the original Keystone pipeline, are already built across the famous Ogallala Aquifer.

The real risk lies in these older pipelines, not the new one. Of course, we could always justify this risk by saying that it helps America achieve energy independence, right?

Wrong. The truth is that the tar sand oil from Canada will go straight to Saudi-owned refineries and be sold to China.

This is also exactly why it doesn’t matter if the pipeline is built here or not. TransCanada, the company that plans to build Keystone XL, is already planning to build the pipeline across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean if the original plan is officially halted across the Great Plains.

The state department’s recent report citing little effect on carbon emissions and the environment means there is practically no risk. Also, a federal study conducted last year found that the development of the pipeline has no significant impact on the development of tar sands.

Essentially, tar sands will continue to develop as a fuel regardless of the Obama administration’s decision, and there is nothing that can be done with the pipeline that will curb fossil fuel emissions. Thus, the United States might as well seize a profitable, easy, low-risk job creator that puts more power into the hands of Americans.

In the end, the part of the country the Keystone XL pipeline actually affects has already agreed to the terms. In Texas, construction has already begun.

It’s time to tell Obama and the rest of the country to “get lost.” This issue is best dealt with locally.