The move to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline is a blow to the Midwest, and reminder that in a Joe Biden Administration, they are alone.

The move – revoking the permits for the pipeline, which moves oil from the tar sands in Canada to the refineries in Texas – is a threat to not just energy jobs (and in many ways energy independence,) but to growth opportunities in the Midwest, and America at large.

What should be noted is the total lack of caring from President Biden, and his soon to be Transportation Secretary, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. When pressed by Sen. Ted Cruz during his confirmation hearing on the new Administration’s pipeline shutdown, and the elimination of 11,000 jobs, Buttiegieg responded, basically, “It’s cool by me.”

I think the most important thing is to make sure that we make good on the promise of the president’s climate vision as being on that, on net, creates far more jobs. Millions, we hope. I know that won’t just happen. We’ll have to do a lot of work to make sure that’s real. But getting this right means ensuring there’s more good paying union jobs for all Americans. Delivered from that infrastructure vision.

When Sen. Cruz asked Buttigieg whether others would be getting the displaced jobs, Buttigieg answered:

The answer is that we are very eager to see those workers continue to be employed in good-paying union jobs. Even if they might be different ones.

One could, if one was cynical, watch this exchange and see the doe-eyed Mayor as almost gleeful. But a more careful view will show that he’s nothing more than a college professor-type who talks about “needed changes,” but never has to live with the consequences of his ideas.

Buttigieg’s answer does nothing to help those now out of a job. And it does nothing to explain to displaced workers how the Administration plans to create new jobs. They have no plan. Rather, they “hope” to create them. And not just any jobs – “union jobs.” (The Biden Administration’s idol- worship of unions will become a massive story during his term. Watch.)

His answer also doesn’t explain what a “good paying job” is. What those workers have now is a good paying job. What Buttigieg and Biden may be providing is a “good paying job” in a world where real “good paying jobs” no longer exist, because those jobs were destroyed in the pursuit of climate change religion purity.

And should we discuss all the incomes that will be affected by these job losses? The services that these 11,000 workers (unionized or not) utilized in small towns and big cities across the heartland?

The impact on America, and Canada, is immense. Relations with Canada will certainly be thrown into question. The climate woke in big cities and on the coasts will herald this as great news. But make no mistake, the oil is still going from Canada to Texas. Instead of traversing a well-working pipeline, it will be transported on trains…owned by Warren Buffet.

The Midwest worker’s loss is Warren’s gain. In this administration, outside the Oracle of Omaha, the Midwest has no friends.