Migration saga: Shopping for lawsuits north of the border

Texans want Oklahoma water. They're willing to pay dearly for it. We just don't want to sell it. Meantime, they're sending us their south wind and the pollution that comes in with it — pro bono.

Canadians want to pipe their oil to Cushing. They're willing to spend millions to get it there. Washington just doesn't want it to happen. Meantime, waterfowl from the northern climes have been coming here for years and the Canada geese aren't keen on going home. Also for years, Canadians have flocked across the border for health procedures rationed by their country's nationalized insurance system.

When Texas reformed its civil litigation process in 2003, a prominent Oklahoma politician invited Lone Star State attorneys to file lawsuits here instead. Today, U.S. lawyers view Canada as a friendlier environment for litigation involving shareholder rights.

This is no country for wise men.

Rather than a tale of two states or two nations, what we have here is a saga about migration. About the supply of and demand for valuable commodities (water and oil). About some feathered former friends who've worn out their welcome. And about the relentless pursuit of legal fees in a form of international venue shopping.