Brazen display of hypocrisy
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A display of hypocrisy as brazen as that exhibited by Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil, is a rare thing to behold.
The corporate chieftain is an outspoken proponent of fracking. He has said that its potential regulation is the type of speed bump “holding back the American economic recovery, growth and global competitiveness.”
That being the case, he apparently doesn’t mind any of the annoyances that accompany the hydraulic fracturing process, like noise or truck traffic.
Except when it might occur in his own backyard.
Tillerson is among a handful of deep-pocketed plaintiffs in suburban Dallas who are seeking to halt construction of a water tower near their lavish spreads. They say it could hurt the value of their homes, create a “constant and unbearable nuisance” and that water from it could be used for fracking and, thus, create truck traffic.
“These are luxury properties worth multiple millions of dollars,” the complaint says.
As the story about the lawsuit has ricocheted through the media in recent days, attorneys for Tillerson and the other parties in the suit have been quick to say it is not about fracking, but that it’s about the size of the tower. They claim they were told that a handful of low-rise water tanks would be built rather than one “monstrosity.” Duly noted. But the fact remains that Tillerson and his neighbors appear to want their own solitude and peace and quiet to be completely, blessedly undisturbed, no matter the source. At the same time, Tillerson and other energy company heavyweights shrug off concerns their less well-heeled fellow citizens might have about how industrial operations impact their property values and neighborhoods.
Such as fracking, as a matter of fact.
We have stated before that we support natural gas drilling and the economic benefits it brings as long as the safety of residents and the health of the environment are made paramount. Perhaps, after this experience, no matter the outcome, Tillerson will be a little more sensitive when other people have worries about towers, whether for water or gas drilling, being set up in their neighborhoods.