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ANWR Calling

With everyone waiting on the decision later today by the Ninth Circuit about the California Recall, Congress has been able to stoke the fires for another crack at ANWR. President Bush and the western GOP Senators are eager to use the blackout in August to prove that a more "comprehensive" energy policy be devised at the national level. Alas, the intention is good, but once again, the problem of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains. The amount of oil likely retrievable is not really going to affect the US petroleum market. The reason instead that Alaskans like it is that their economy has gone from industries like drilling (which is a solid middle class job in the Great White North) to fish processing, which pays decidedly less. Add to the fact that ecological damage could be high or nonexistent, and the fact that President Bush refuses to push for drilling in offshore sites in Florida which have more oil and you have the ultimate greater-good, lesser-good dichotomy. After all, with the exception of Pennsylvania and California, most states traditionally with big cities had to import energy from states with smaller populations. Now that Texas is among the most populous states, and California has stiffer environmental regulations, this situation has been turned on its head.

But before you turn your head away from this issue, it's important to understand why ANWR continually gets brought up. Recall again, that Alaska's economy is all but falling away, and that after Sen. Frank Murkowski became governor in 2002 he appointed his daughter Lisa to the Senate. On paper, it appears that this race could decide the US Senate in 2004, however the retirments of John Edwards, Zell Miller, Fritz Hollings, et alia in the South could make this a moot point. Also, don't forget, the Senate Democrats are on a roll lately, overturning both the new FCC rules on media ownership (resign now, Mr. Powell) and overtime pay mitigation. So there's definitiely the chance for a showdown before Bush heads to Thailand for the APEC summit in October. Of course, this story won't get nearly as much play as the $87 billion Dubya seeks for the continuation of the Franco-Prussian War in Iraq or Carol Mosely Braun's official announcement to run for President. Hell, even Wesley Clark is going to get more airtime. But the harsh reality of the blackout, the political stew boiling in Alaska, and the sight of tape loops of wild caribou before Christmas mean ANWR's back...on the table.
posted by Thomas at 12:07 AM 0 comments