News-Miner Editorial
ANWR numbers
Poll results show a long-awaited change
Published Sunday, July 6, 2008
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Stumble It!Supporters of drilling for oil in a sliver of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have known all along this day would come. They’ve kept the faith that some day, a majority of Americans would come around to the idea of getting oil out of an area that Congress had already set aside for that purpose.
That day may be here at last, which means a Democratically controlled Congress reluctant to drill could find itself under some pressure to change course.
The latest poll numbers came out last week from the reputable Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. The numbers are encouraging in that more people see the merit of energy exploration, including drilling in ANWR.
Amazing what a sharp increase in the price of oil, and the trickle down to the price of gasoline, diesel and heating fuels, can do to people’s views. Those who monitor the relationship between pocketbook and positions know how it works.
The Pew poll found the following:
• “Support for energy exploration at highest point this decade.” The poll found that 47 percent believe it is more important for U.S. energy policy to expand exploration and build new power plants. That level of support slightly exceeds the percentage who believe U.S. policy should have energy conservation as a priority.
• With regard to ANWR, 50 percent of those surveyed support drilling in ANWR, up from 42 percent in February of this year.
• Support is even up among Democrats, who generally have opposed efforts to obtain ANWR’s storehouse of oil. The Pew poll found that 36 percent of Democrats now favor drilling in ANWR, up sharply from 31 percent in February.
• Those who classify themselves as “independent” accounted for one of the larger shifts toward ANWR drilling, up 7 percentage points to 48 percent.
• Big shifts toward opening ANWR for oil production came in multiple age brackets regardless of political identity. People age 18 to 29 favor ANWR drilling 37 percent, up from 27 percent in February. Fifty percent of those age 30 to 49 support refuge drilling, up from 40 percent, and 62 percent of people over age 65 back opening the refuge, up from 52 percent.
This isn’t a poll conducted on a whim by a fly-by-night outfit. The Pew Center has a long history of polling and is regularly cited by media outlets of all sorts. It is open about how it conducts its polls; you can find out about the energy poll and other Pew polls at people-press.org.
The Pew energy poll is based on contacts with 2,004 adults, age 18 and over, and was conducted from June 18 to June 29. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, a particularly low number — meaning it’s a good, reliable poll. Take that into account when looking at polls by others in the coming days. Groups that have long opposed opening the arctic refuge to drilling will trot out their own polls with results more suitable to their beliefs, but the Pew Center’s poll comes with high credentials.
The numbers are good news. Now, if Congress will just listen to the public ...
Community Discussion
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Luckily, Congress is smarter than whoever wrote this....at least in this case.
Will it happen? Yes.
Will it have any effect upon the world market? Nope.
"It's our oil", people cry. Then, why, exactly, is it shipped to Japan?
Why, exactly, does the futures market not care about the relatively small amount of oil contained in 1002?
Why, exactly, do people stick to the hopes that they can continue to be as wasteful as they are now?
Why, exactly, do people care more about their PFD checks than the future of the planet?
This will be my last comment.
Go ahead and drill. While you're you're at it, keeping listening to the sound of freedom, praying to your god, poisoning your water with fluoride, and breeding military babies.
Your great-grandchildren are going to be very disappointed in how you chose to live your life. Then, 7 generations from now, we will be looked upon with simple disdain for being so foolish, greedy, unaware, and egocentric.
But, you don't care, really.
Darwin was right.
Geez sdoownek, no wonder you dont have any friends on your 'myspace' page...
at least there will be great grandchildren.
sdoownek - How can I get into breeding military babies? I tried raising Alpacas and they all ran off. The chinchillas got fleas. Nothing ever goes right for me. Would it go better if I prayed to your God instead of mine? Are military babies as collectable as beanie babies?
I used to think we should wait until the price of oil went to $100 a barrel before we drilled ANWR. Now I'm thinking $1000. ANWR oil should be the most expensive oil on the planet. That way when we screw it up at least the money will be good.
Alright, last comment by sdoowknek. My day is looking up already.
I got to admit though, he is sticking to his beliefs. Which is more than one could say for all the Dems and young people who came to the conclusion, "Values, schmalues. Let's get drilling". Something that many of us Alaskans have been saying for a long time.
Pssst.. FDNM... the 1002 area was not set aside for drilling for oil. It was set aside to inventory & assess the coastal plain fish & wildlife of the Arctic Refuge, as well as an analysis of the impact of oil and gas exploration development and production. ANILCA also authorize some exploratoration within the 1002 area that avoids adverse effects on fish, wildlife & other resources.
Also, in section 1003 of ANILCA, Congress prohibited oil & gas production of from the Arctic Refuge, and that no leasing or other development leading to oil & gas production from the 1002 area will be done until specifically authorized by Congress. We are not anywhere near that time nor is it in the foreseeable future. The only poll that is going to count is by those that sit in Congress & Senate. Even with election year politics, it's a long, long shot at best.
sdoownek, you really are a negative human being. Some of us on this board would like to engage in positive comments, but you seem to be convinced that hate and discontent are more valuable. Instead of insulting everyone that breathes, why not offer up a logical opposition argument? There are plenty to choose from, only half of the country agrees with your opponents. Just a thought.
glacierles,
Why is "sticking to beliefs" a good trait. As the economy changes, and people experience hardship from price of oil, a good leader could be seen in one who changes his/her mind with the new information. Sticking to one's beliefs could also be seen as being stubborn and inflexible. People mention "flip-flopping" with disdain, but if a human being goes a whole lifetime with the same views and opinions as when they were young, what do we call that? Foolishness?
akwebsurfer---
There is a lot of value in being able to admit a wrongheaded view, and then changing it. That is the whole point of debate, and I admit to having my mind changed on occasion on political and moral questions.
On the other hand, there is something (in some of us) that can best be called "core beliefs". For instance, I feel the same today toward terrorism as I did on 9/11/01. It is a position that I cannot moderate. I feel the same today about racism being evil as I did when I was a kid. Again, it is a position that I cannot moderate. If one feels as though it is a catastrophe to drill in ANWR yesterday, the only difference today is the price of energy. That's not a very deeply held belief.
As for leadership, I dont respect leaders who govern by polls. Polls are snapshots, and people change their minds. A great leader has "core beliefs" to rely upon, and while they ignore polls at their own peril, in terms of popularity, it usually will work out for the best. Of course the "core beliefs" have to reflect morals, consistency, courage, compassion...
Under Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States: ANILCA is unconstitutional. http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html...
If drilling supporters had their way, ANWR would have been drilled and drained empty years ago, and it wouldn't have made any difference, not even a 1 or 2% difference, in today's situation. Let's hold on to that oil until we have the last untapped oil reserve on earth. While we wait it out, technology will improve so our eventual drilling will be more efficient and environmentally safe.
To favor expanded drilling over energy conservation is irresponsible and short-sighted, whether it's an editor's opinion or that of Americans in a poll. Unsurprisingly shameless of you, dnm.
glacierless, I'm appreciating your perspective on things more and more over time. I thought I never would have said this 2, 3 months ago.
I think what this editorial points out, really, is that money talks. Everything else, including our values and beliefs, just sort of kinda walks. We're feeling it hard in our wallets and pocketbooks. Our values are changing in hopes that by doing so, we'll somehow alleviate the pinch, the Big Squeeze.
That said, I think Ken Woods has a point. I think ultimately what he's saying is that Americans are missing the point, missing the bigger picture - the "7th generation" perspective, which is one that considers how our great (x5) grandchildren will view our actions today.
We've been needing to make profound changes in our lives, lifestyles, culture, values, etc., for years now. The writing's been on the wall for decades. The time to change is now. As a whole, as a nation, we're resisting those changes, tooth and nail. Yes, let's open up ANWR and offshore drilling so we can try to maintain our supply of oil, and continue *not* to challenge the illusion of affluence to which we've become accustomed. In truth, I feel that the supply of oil and ANWR and additional offshore drilling can provide absolutely pales in comparison to our levels of consumption as a nation. Drilling in ANWR and offshore will help, sure. But not much at all, comparatively speaking, and not for long. If we do nothing more than that, we'll find ourselves in this exact same predicament all too soon.
We need to change, as individuals, as a nation. Like it or not, that time is now. And if we do so now, then we're honoring the tradition inherent in the 7th generation perspective. This change is the greatest challenge of our generation. We owe it to future ones to squarely meet that challenge.
Daily snooze miner sez:
The numbers are good news. Now, if Congress will just listen to the public ...
They should have said, once ANWR is open will the oil giants actually drill and produce it. Seems to be lots of other oil fields where they sit on their duffs and warehouse the oil, tying it up so nobody else can produce it.. I am wondering if they would have the incentive to drill and risk having the price drop. The oil giants learned a lot from OPEC in the last 30 years. One thing is for certain, nobody in the oil industry cares so long as they are earning record profits as it stands now.
LadyNYC - I agree with you, and we should have gotten a clue back in the 70's and used that 30 years to make the required changes. This time I think we have no choice but to change our ways. Can't wait for the "challenge" of heating my house this winter.
It'll be even more interesting when the borough gets done with the 2 million dollar air test they are doing with the feds and ban wood stoves. Fairbanks winters may feel a little cooler in the near future.
The pipeline is operating at about half capacity and we are still supplying more than 20% of domestic oil consumption. ANWR can double that. If not now, when?
I from the lower 48 and I don't see that drilling in ANWR is the answer for oil problems. The oil from Alaska needs to come to the US and Alaska - not be shipped overseas.
There are great pools of oil in North Dakota and Montana which are not being exploited. There are huge oil and gas reserves found by our own USGS in Baffin Bay, Canada.....Canada could go after this oil instead of ours. The oil deposits in Montana and North Dakota are actually part of a millions of years old inland sea that existed from the Gulf of Mexico up through Alaska with shores in Kansas and Colorado. There is lots of oil/gas under the ground along this pathway.
We are being manipulated by this administration to allow them to drill in ANWR and other places....but, we have oil which is not being used by Americans. Why should we be paying special monies to the American oil companies in subsidies when they are using us to make an even greater profit.
On the subject of oil commodities manipulation....Look at ICE CLEAR EUROPE. This is an arm of an Atlanta GA company. The CFTC is NOT doing it's job seeking manipulation. In the beginning of 2008 there were 157,000 oil contracts(not barrels)held on this Commodities board in electronic trades. Today is it is under 50,000 contracts. Goldman Sachs held 17% ownership in this commodities board in January 2008. They have pulled out their money and now have bought a 33% interest in a commodities trading board in Dubai. Do I believe that Goldman Sachs is manipulating the oil commodities market? You better believe it! The CFTC is a corrupt agency with the chairman being the same lawyer who helped write the "Enron Loophole" bill which has allowed totally unregulated electronic trading of commodities in energy....oil, gas, etc. Our Secretary of the Treasury was appointed by Bush in 2007. Where did he work before - Goldman Sachs as CEO. He received $63 million in bonus from GS that year. Now the Bush administration is talking about giving the Secretary of the Treasury power over all financial aspects of this country. Write your represetnatives and say no. We are being destroyed from within Financially by greedy thieves and liars. Just like they lied about the war - they are lying about oil and what is happening here. \
Tell me, why is the price of gas at the pump is so high for Alaskans. The oil comes from your ground, it's refined right there. Why are you paying so much????? The oil companies should be paying taxes which would subsidize your cost at the pump. Why aren't they? Who are your political representatives and what are they getting out of their voting records.
This report was based on a survey of 2,004 people. Just about the population size of some smaller villages in Alaska.
I hope for the sake of my children and their children we have the courage to say no who think that drilling in the Arctic Refuge is the answer. It is not. We need leaders who are not afraid to point out that our gluttonous lifestyles and unwillingness to change to benefit others is the great problem. If we could all give up a little so others can have more and the fragile ecosystems of the planet can survive than we would as a whole be better off. But we greedy. We must have our toys and the "freedom" to go wherever we want whenever we want. We call it "independence", but it is selfishness. We need bold and effective leadership from one party or the other. The feasting off of the oil cannot continue. There will be consequences beyond a pain in the pocketbook.
Drilling in ANWR is NOT the answer, it's a band-aid on a problem that won't go away. And for what? Some political points, a few jobs, and the loss of one of the most beautiful, pristine places on the planet that Alaskans can be proud to call their own.
Alaska can be one of the wealthiest states in the nation without drilling for more oil. Let's invest in the massive coastline that we have (larger than the rest of the continental united states) to generate hydroelectric power, or tap into the immense power of the earth by investing in geothermal energy creation. Just talk to any miner (and we have many in Alaska), the earth is warm down there.
The pipeline is currently running at about half capacity. ANWR could double that. We currently provide more than 20% of domestic oil consumption. We could double that. If not now, when?
Seems everyone has a price, and this poll shows that some have found thiers. Go another $25 a barrel and we will see many more, especially this winter.
What really needs to be focused on is the development of syn gas in Fairbanks. In South Africa communities where Sasol has it's plants for such fuel and primarily chemical production, the air pollutants found were as follows: dicloroethane, butanone, benzene, carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachoride, carbon sulphide, methyl choride, elhyilbenze, hydrogen sulphide, methylene choride, m&p-xylene, o-xylene, propane,stryrene, tehachlorethane, toluene, trichlorofluro-methane,trechloralrifluro-ethane,vinyl chroide,methyl-tertbutylether, and 2 hexanone.
Why doesn't anyone want to talk about the fact that these liquid fuels from coal using Liergi's fixed bed dry bottom gasification process produce some of the worst air pollution in the world. fairbanks you cry for chemical plants, do you want the chemical cocktails they produce. Proceed with caution.
I go to the North Slope all the time and in my opinion it is a mosquito infested, crap hole. I mean no offence to those who live there but it is no pristine wonder land. The reason people from the outside want to lock it up is due to their guilt over what they have done to their own environments. Humans down in the lower 48 have packed themselves into crime and trash ridden cities, endless suburbs and all points in between. They have covered their land with asphalt, fences and no trespassing signs. If I were them I would be ashamed to.
So, where in the world did anyone get any information that Alaska oil goes to Japan? It's just another urban myth that has no basis in fact whatsoever! And how many of you "experts" on ANWR have ever been there? Not to the hill country miles away from the coast but to the Arctic desert along the coast? It just amazes me how facts seem not to count in some people's arguments or opinions.
When democrats passed a measure that stopped filling the strategic petrolum reserve, diane feinstein stated that the extra 70,000 barrels a day on the market would reduce the cost of gasoline by 4 to 17 cents a gallon. ANWR will provide 1 million barrels a day for 10+ years... so by her logic it would drop the cost of gas by anywhere from 56 cents to $2.42. Is that true? Absolutely not! But will it make a difference? Heck yes! Anyone who says otherwise should take the time to look at the issue rather than parrot false information.
An extra million barrels at say, 200 dollars a barrel. Does anyone have any idea how amazing for the economy that will be? to pump out 200 million dollars a day? 73 TRILLION DOLLARS IN A YEAR? It's idiocy say that because it'll take ten years, it's not worth it.
the dollar has been dropping due to poor fiscal policy (abuse!), but there is a rationale behind it (poor, but it's there). Increased domestic production means a stronger dollar, because then at least we dont have to devalue the dollar to get more oil from foreign countries.
Suggest removal 1. Since when is it best to listen to the masses? With an average reading level of the 7th grade!? The North Slope oil amounts to a sneeze in the world market. It will have NO affect on prices AND much of it is earmarked to be sold overseas. So...how smart are you?
All it WILL do is give some US companies (who are in bed $$ with the right people) a chance to rape our state a little more and take it outside and sell it back to us. I am amazed at how ignorant so many Alaskans are about world markets and our OWN resources. The largest reserves that are untapped reside in the former USSR. Estimates for the slope amount to very little against world reserves. They want to DRILL TO MAKE MORE PROFIT FROM US. IT WILL NOT CHANGE PRICES. In fact, as soon as they start drilling more insignificant amounts off-shore and in remote places like our north slope, it could raise prices. The more chances for a risky story like a spill or a hurricane, the more likely those who ACTUALLY control the prices will use those stories to play Las Vegas with the market prices.
Read a book, go to school, learn how things work and let those of us who care more about ALASKA than helping a few politicians line their pockets keep our state in tact! Who do you side with? Politicians? Corporate leaders who only see $$? Or are you an Alaskan? Are we so poor and uneducated that we cannot come up with ANY other way to make a living than oil? How sad for you!!!
Again- why are so many conservatives so ignorant and uneducated about how the world works? Their education seems to come from headlines! They believe drilling a little oil on our land will change world markets??? Just because we drill some small fields in America does not mean it will affect world prices! So the price you pay at the pump will not change!!!! DUH!
I am sincere when I plead- Why don't you all move to Texas with your families and leave this state to people who care about it??? I will help pay your moving expenses editorial monkey! MOVE!!! Get out and drill somewhere that is already trashed like Texas!! MOVE! Go! Leave Alaska to people who will take care of it and want to be mindful of it's development. People who can actually find work without raping the land! I am serious- LEAVE!!! As an employer, I make sure I do not hire ANY conservatives, and I will continue to urge friends to do the same. Let them go somewhere else. For once, we a have an actual reason to discriminate in the work place. Conservatives are trashing our state and our country. Kick them out any chance you get! If they listen to talk radio for any reason other than a good laugh- they should not be working for you!!!! I am thinking of one idiot at TCC right now. Please- educate a conservative or help them out of this state!
the darkhorse speaks but has no facts....what a man. Typical. Their are leases already sold on the slop to several countries in Asia. Sorry kid. So tell me, what classes and books have you read about economics and world markets? I bet talk radio guides you quite well! Go fetch a banana and stay out of state issues.
WHY...do those the staff at the Newsminer lack any skills for the profession???? Have any of them actually graduated from an actual school????? Even Cole seems to write at the 7th grade level. Can we please GET AN ADULT to write ANYTHING of interest at out own paper??????? Too much to ask????
newsminerbrainminers---
Once again, we are able to see the liberal thought process at work. No real debate, no real information. Just name calling and insults to conservatives that disagree with you. And telling us that this is not our home, it is only home to people that agree with your point of view.
Do you know for a verifiable fact that if we drill in ANWR, in conjunction with oil development offshore and in the western states, along with some nuclear plants, that the price of energy wont drop? The law of supply and demand would indicate otherwise. Now, we have no supply of our own, and lots of demand. You think that might be causing some high prices? Duh..
I'll bet that you believe in freedom of speech and thought also. For yourself, of course. And those that agree with your point of view. Not for any of us dopes that dont agree with your diatribe.
Finally, if you want me to leave Alaska, you better be a better marksman than you are a user of the English language. Evidently, the ? on your computer works very well.
I find it very humorous that newsminerbrainminers sees fit to slam everyone's "7th grade writing level" while at the same time writing at a "5th grade writing level".
Consistent spelling mistakes, poor grammar and an obvious lack of puncation knowledge. Throw in the even better "3rd grade writing level" name calling and it seems his opinion is completely null and void.
Try formulating an intelligent arguement in the future and maybe those of us in the 7th grade will consider what you have to say.
I hope that Congress listens to the people... We live on the Kenai Peninsula (South of Anchorage, Alaska)... The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge has been producing oil and gas since the "mid 1950s"... We can and should safely develope and use our natural resources such as oil, gas, timber and fish...
glacierles and company- Hey monkeys- I said "reading level." You proved my point- perfectly. And yes, type-os abound when I am writing to morons at 3 am. And I need to be a “marksman” to ask you to leave??? So you must be talking about guns? HA! Another point proved! You kids make this too easy. I said- leave if you do not care about this state and clearly you don’t. And YES...anyone with any sort of knowledge of markets knows drilling the drops of oil on the slope will HAVE NO AFFECT on the world market prices.
Now kids...and try to keep up...if the US or Alaska especially, would designate oil as privatized or make it illegal to speculate on oil as a commodity, than we could control the price based on overseas purchases at their rates blended at a weighted average with what our states will charge to a national oil reserve. This would take the Las Vegas gamblers out of the mix and not allow them to set our prices. Of course, this will never happed and is not a market system, and we all know how conservatives think that all things should be on markets systems- even health care. So…enjoy the prices at the pump. They are feeding a handful of Corp execs and maybe 1000 investors worldwide that have enough stake in the system to really make a lot of money off of your ignorance!!
And yes you should leave. My hope is that in my business dealings I have already hurt your business or your standard of living in any way possible. I welcome your free speech as it proves my every point. You do not care about Alaska as a place. You think of it as a resource to help support you because for one reason or another, you have found no way to do it yourself!! If all of the oil, mining and military dollars leave, a large percentage of business and money will leave too as will people who follow money! And I am willing to bet you will leave too! But many of us would remain without cable TV or Wal-Mart or the military bases or the rapists at VECO, etc. We would stay here and do whatever it takes to provide the necessary services in a place we actually love and want to see protected from further development of the kind you promote. LEAVE now! For someday soon this will all come to pass, and you will run looking for a job to support your over-indulgent lifestyle somewhere else. So go now!! Leave Alaska to people who love it!! Why is this so threatening to you? There are cheaper places to live with better weather. Why not move and make your money elsewhere. Just know there are hundreds of us business owners and managers in this town and we are doing all that we can to keep hard-core conservatives from prospering in any way in this town. From the looks of most of them in North Pole, they are not doing to well anyway. Goodluck.
Just to quote your actual words brainminer:
"WHY...do those the staff at the Newsminer lack any skills for the profession???? Have any of them actually graduated from an actual school????? Even Cole seems to WRITE at the 7th grade level. Can we please GET AN ADULT to write ANYTHING of interest at out own paper??????? Too much to ask????"
Funny how your point proves not only those that may be conservitives can't read or write, it proves that you also fit into this catagory.
Hello Pot, I'm Kettle.
Someone on this thread has a few brain cells that don't seem to be functioning at an optimum level.
It isn't surprising that at least half of the American public is willing to continue to toss the health of the planet down the tubes in order to be able to maintain their lifestyle in the short term, with no thought to the longterm. The facts have been stated: drilling in coastal waters and the Arctic Refuge will not decrease the cost of oil or gas at the pump. All it will do is give access to more riches to the already filthy rich oil execs. In the meantime, Americans will continue to burn fossil fuels at an unsustainable level, the Earth will become more and more polluted, global warming and its damaging effects will escalate, and our children and grandchildren will pay the price for our greed and lack of values. It isn't surprising but it is disappointing.
Pffft. I am conservative, I love the state I was born in, I have no plans on leaving and I certainly can read and write beyond an elementary or junior high level. Broad generalizations and assumptions often prove those making them to be capable of little more than ridiculous ranting.
Brainminer - which business do you own and/or manage? I'd love to not support it.
newsminerbrainwhateverthell---
Yes, please tell us the name of your business. You are, without a doubt, the most insulting, illogical, illiterate excuse for a businessman that I have run into in quite a while. Like DVD, I would do whatever I could to avoid your business. Notice that, unlike you, I'm not saying "Leave Alaska", I just want to avoid you, and the stench of your business enterprise.
I wasn't born here, but I've been here damn near 40 years, I plan to be here another 40 years, so get used to it, you ignorant dog lump.
ISN'T IT ANNOYING WHEN PEOPLE WRITE SELECT WORDS IN ALL CAPS??
Some one needs to explain to me how increasing the supply of oil will not lower the price of it as I only have a forth grade ejimication.
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