Drill, drill, drill? Please help edumacate a fella regarding ANWR

[LeftyFingerPop]

I'll admit that I am somewhat naive on the subject of ANWR, so perhaps someone can help educate me?

A major theme of Rudy and Sarah's speeches last night was to drill, drill, drill.

I assume they are referring to ANWR, as well as offshore drilling in the continental US.

Can someone tell me this: If ANWR drilling were to be aggressively pursued, doesn't a portion the profit from the oil obtained somehow flow directly back to the citizens of Alaska?

If this is the case, isn't there a conflict of interest here with Palin? After all, if Alaskan citizens receive a monetary benefit from the oil profits, doesn't that conflict with the nobler "fictional" cause of increasing supply and reducing oil prices for ALL of the United States?

See what I'm getting at here?

Thank you in advance for any responses.

[MadHound]

1. I don't know about where the money will flow

But I do know that the amount of oil reserves in ANWR will, at Americans' current consumption rate, will only supply enough oil to last us four years, max. After that, ANWR will be sucked dry, the environment up there destroyed, and we'll be back to importing even more oil.

ANWR is a chimera, designed to be a political talking point, and best case scenario, to make many, many billions for the oil companies.

[ThomWV]

2. She and every member of her family would benefit directly

But that is because they are members of a class that benefits so it would be hard to say that she supports drilling in the ANWR for her personal benefit.

Think about what drilling in the ANWR as being more of a line in the sand than an economic matter. We have to stop them from raping every acre somewhere. The Alaska National Wildlife Reserve is where we have decided to make a stand.

[MissB]

3. Not one oil company has pledged to keep that oil in the US.

There is no guarantee at all that any of that oil will not be shipped overseas.

And yes, you're right about the money. It's called the Permanent Fund. You can google it up - it has an extensive website.

[baldguy]

4. You're missing one componant of the equation: Alsaks is a socialist state.

Its in their interest to keep the rest of us paying high prices.

[NMDemDist2]

5. the US wouldn't get that oil, it's stinky heavy crude (not sweet light) and

our refineries aren't set to handle it. it would be shipped to Asia for processing. whether is came back as gasoline is questionable.

now it would up worldwide supply and by that may lower prices a bit. and yes, the State of Alaska would get a bunch of cash AND lots of jobs from it. the saddest part is it would take years to drill and there isn't that much up there. they'd spend a decade tearing up the wilderness for less than a million barrels a day

here's a pretty good article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4542853/

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Some good links

http://alaskatrekker.com/anwr.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JbgzWCM0A4&feature=related

http://www.nrdc.org/land/wilderness/arctic.asp

[Canuckistanian]

7. Yes, Alaska will benefit. And the oil will go to the world market.

And there will be MORE Ted Stevens and Sarah Palins created to take advantage of it.

Net result?

No change in oil prices. But Alaskans will now get 2 or even 3 thousand bucks a year.

[Skink]

8. Once they get to anwar the whole state is in play.

The oil is already earmarked for China and all the newly formed democratic states around Russia, the ones we are building with our arms sales.

[idahoman]

9. Oil Earmarked for China?

Could not find a source for this....do you have one? Thanks