Why can't we have both? And why can't America put Alberta out of business by being better, rather than by government coersion?
It will take too long for alternative energy development to drive Albertas resources out of business, but that is the intention ultimately. How do you expect the US private market to compete with the Canadian government that has monetary creating capability?
Stopping the pipeline is about sacrificing a few thousand short terms jobs for (voters belief it is) harming the planet. The jobs will by definition find their way at the competition, and aren't really part of the equation. Imagine a hospital is killing patents. The government shuts it, then the patients, doctors, and nurses will eventually end up at a better hospital and everybody is better off. It's really a no-brainer when you take the politics out of it.