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 A Response from Congressman Don Young. April 11, 2005 10:12 PM

This Just Came In! I added his e-mail address for anyone else who want's to respond...Birdman^i^ April 11, 2005 Mr. Kevin Francis Ramey (Birdman^i^) PO Box 223 Togiak , Alaska 99678 Dear Mr. Ramey: Thank you for writing to express your opinion on opening ANWR to oil and gas exploration and development. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views on this matter. Opening ANWR will benefit all the residents of Alaska, and contribute to America's energy security. The oil and gas industry creates thousands of good jobs for Alaskans, and pays taxes that enable the State Legislature and Governor to build new schools, hospitals, roads, and to provide vital public services. Just as importantly, oil produced from ANWR could replace oil that we have had to buy from other countries for many decades. This would vastly improve our nation's strategic and economic position by decreasing our need for foreign oil imports. Alaskans have shown they can develop oil in the arctic in an environmentally responsible manner. For example, there are six times as many caribou in the Prudhoe Bay oil fields as when oil development began in the 1970's. With the use of new technology and proper regulation, the environmental impacts of opening ANWR can be kept to a minimum. Two years ago Congress was deadlocked on a comprehensive energy policy. Since then, the situation has only worsened - oil is now around $55 a barrel and average Alaskan gas prices are fifty cents a gallon higher than they were a year ago. Fortunately, work has begun again on addressing our nation's energy needs, including opening ANWR for exploration and development. The currently proposed comprehensive energy legislation also contains many provisions to ensure development occurs without causing a significant adverse effect on ANWR's fish, wildlife, and habitat. I believed it is a balanced, comprehensive approach. Work is not yet complete on the energy bill, but I am hopeful that House of Representatives will join the Senate (which voted in favor of opening ANWR in March) in understanding how important ANWR is to our nation's energy security. It will not be a 'silver bullet' to solve all our energy problems, but it represents a significant start. Again, thank you for taking the time to write. Please continue to share your views. Sincerely, DON YOUNG Don.Young@mail.house.gov Congressman for All Alaska DY/cc-37665  [ send green star]
 
So in other words if you were against April 12, 2005 8:03 AM

Birdman, So in other words if you were against them opening up the Wildlife Refuge, screw you because he is happy with what has happened and will only listen to your opinions even though he just handed you a line of political horse chit to make it all look rosey through his political eyes? Is this a fair interpretation of this phony form letter? Correct me if I am reading this wrong. ---ginger  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Depends on The "Screw You Part"?...^i^ April 12, 2005 10:10 AM

The way I read all these type letters is it does indeed say "Srew You!" in a diplomatic dribble. I'm going to answer this today and hope others picking up on this find his address at the bottom by his signature and send him a response. A dialog is open let's put it to use and let him know we are here and a force to pay attention to. Don't call him what you think but call him on what he proposes to think. Keep the line open so numbers can get opinion in. Keep it as clean as you can is what I'm saying! Anyway thank you who ever out of 23878 members drop a opinion in his e-mail...Birdman^i^  [ send green star]
 
Heya I can lay on the diplomatic smooth talk as much April 12, 2005 11:08 AM

Birdman, Heya I can lay on the diplomatic smooth talk as much as anybody else can. I promise to write him a decent and politically polite e-mail. I just get sick of their phony form letters. I have written a bunch myself for other causes and well it appears to be more of the same. peace ----ginger  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Thanks Ginger...Well I Tried!!! LOL...^i^ April 12, 2005 2:43 PM

Dear Congressman Young,...^i^ I see no truth in your claims as Arctic oil development or anywhere for that matter creates underground faults such as one hell of a deep hole that needs filler to maintain it's original structure. Great place to hide toxic wastes isn't it? As for the jobs created for Alaskans? Where? Very few Alaskans qualify for the technological backgrounds needed to be roughnecks. Alaskans end up with show positions only. ANWR needs to be left alone and new energy sources developed. Fossil fuels are on their way out and we need to get in line with how to create environmental friendly energy such as hydrogen fuels or solar and wind energy etc... The problem with these are the petrol chemical industry would become what we already know it will become and that's extinct! Power brokers and lobby groups will have to look for a real job like the rest of us. We are killing the earth that sustains us with your drilling and pollution creating operations. You guy's in Washington are even getting to ashamed to say God Bless America! Will God Bless those who destroy His handy work for self gratification? Look at every country producing oil currently, how much death and destruction are attached to the price of an easy life? No I think your views are standard politician response to side step real moral issues. You in DC think we the people are ignorant to politics and don't know what your doing or saying...well nothing is further from the truth. If my vote was counted, there would be term limits in Washington on all just like a Mayor, Governor or even our President. I would also drop his title "Commander in Chief". This gives him two faces and when it comes to people who work for we the people, we only need to see one face in all. So you people need to stop telling us your views and justifications and get in line with what we think and feel. You guys are manning the ship as if it was your personal candy store! Think real and stop trying to pull the wool over the sheeple's eye's and get onto the buisness of being "A Government for The People By The People" and put real moral meaning back into our land and hey...DON'T FORGET; GOD BLESS AMERICA as well as the rest of the WORLD...Birdman^i^ Kevin Francis, Ramey Alaskan & Human Being...^i^  [ send green star]
 
My P.O. box is stuffed... April 12, 2005 2:51 PM

with envelopes full of this drivel from Young, Stevens and Murkowski, our wonderful Alaska legislators. Doesn't matter what the issue is. I've gotten to the point where I rarely bother to open them anymore, but I do keep writing. They need to know that at least ONE Alaskan (and actually, many more) does not agree with them or appreciate the way they sell the state. Good to know you guys are writing to them too, but as usually happens when I write to legislators not from my state, you'll probably start getting the notes that say they have to pay most attention to the wishes of their own constituents. This always burns my butt, because they (especially the Senators) are supposed to represent the interests of all Americans, in addition to those of their little corner of the world.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Birdman & Kristin this is my e-mail to him. April 12, 2005 5:34 PM

Dear Mr. Young, I am writing to you today because of my unhappiness with the government's decision regarding opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the drilling of oil resources. I am positive that this will affect the environment both animal and land wise. Any stone turned over in protected wildlife areas creates a change of environmental changes and circumstance. This choice represents a continuance of higher than normal gas prices to the consumers because obtaining this resource is not going to be any less cost efficient than obtaining it is now from the Middle East. I am also aware that there were several resources already available for re-opening within the Mid-Western to Western ends of the United States that we could have gone after. Why were those resources not considered instead of going after something that had been protected? And as far as using the old ideology on how wonderful this will be for the Alaskan community how could that possibly be so when it will affect them. It is their end of the world too. I have my doubts that environmentally any of the so-called politicians in nice dress suits can even begin to fathom how to protect this environment and keep it as pristine as the day they first stepped onto it.It never works that way in real life, it just looks nice written down on form letters and in legal and governmental documents. What are they allegedly proposing to do in order to keep it pristine? I find that issue alone difficult to swallow since the minute they step foot onto that land it will be changed and affected dramatically from the first step on. I am in sincere hopes that the House of Representatives will not join forces and vote in favor of these continued bombardments on protected lands. Opening up this protected area in no way shape or form even puts a dent into this country of ours energy resource issues. You have even admitted that this will not be a silver bullet to solve all of our energy problems. Truthfully if it were the silver bullet, even than I am not sure it would be worth what it is going to take in order to produce this little sampling of oil. It just doesn't balance out Sir. Sincerely, g.a.meeder Ginger Meeder I am in hopes that this meets with your satisfaction and approval Birdman & Kristin. I too am tired of their politically lame responses that are condescending & complacent. But if we can bombard them with e-mails and letters maybe we can keep the momentum up.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
FYI! Tundra Oil Spill April 13, 2005 12:46 PM

From adn.com 4/13/05 ... BP leak sprays oil over tundra PRUDHOE: Wind carries crude over an area nearly a mile long. By WESLEY LOY, Anchorage Daily News Published: April 13, 2005 Crude oil spewed out of a ruptured Prudhoe Bay pipeline early Tuesday and "misted" up to 200 acres of tundra, a state pollution official said. Wind carried the oil over an area nearly a mile long and 300 feet wide, acknowledged Andrew Van Chau, a spokesman for BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. BP runs Prudhoe Bay, the nation's largest oil field. BP crews plugged the leaky, six-inch pipeline and also halted oil production from wells on Prudhoe drill site 14. The drill site is near the center of the 213,500-acre oil field and produces an estimated 10,000 barrels of oil per day, which is a little more than 2 percent of Prudhoe Bay production. You can read the full story online at: http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/6374521p-6252465c.html --------------------------------------------------------------- This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use. For information on reprinting this article or placing it on your Web site, please contact the Daily News marketing department at (907) 257-4429 or marketing@adn.com.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Yet another spill... April 13, 2005 2:41 PM

I can't remember where to find it, but there's a report somewhere that shows there's about a spill a day. Of course, many are very small. But it's laughable to think this is all benign and won't leave much of a "footprint." Give me a break.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
"Foreign Constituents" April 13, 2005 10:38 PM

Yes, Kristin, you are right... I live in California, and have written Senators, in both snail-mail and email forms, from a number of states besides my own. It is galling to think they can ignore our opinions, wishes, desires, just because we're from another state. The worst experience had to be when I wrote to the entire committee of Environment and Public Works regarding Stephen Johnson's nomination to head the EPA. I was rebuffed from all but my own Senator Boxer. And this is a bipartisan committee! ARGH! But I keep writing, if for nothing else than to show that some people care enough to spend their time (and their $0.37) to tell these people what's what. I am also planning to write to Don Young, though I do not hold out much hope. Instead, I will channel a lot of my writing energy to Birdman and Kristin and hope that their (and all other sensibly-minded Alaskans) voices are heard by the politicians. You guys are great, keep up the good work, and keep us informed of how we can aid in this fight, for it does affect all Americans.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
One more thing April 13, 2005 11:29 PM

(Of course I only remember this after I put up the previous posting)... One other thing to add, for people of all states. If you hate the politicians ignoring you or giving you generic, non-committal answers, do not hesitate to visit them in person!! If you're going to be travelling to DC, contact their offices in the Senate or House and arrange to meet with them in person. Definitely have an agenda you put to them, as to what topics you would like to discuss, and be courteous. But they can't just give you short shrift to your face. Bone up on the facts of the matter you wish to discuss (I don't think I need to point that one out, but it is good to bring along sources, copies of reports, etc. that they could have for their perusal). And afterwards, be polite and send a thank you note for their time, and ask them what they have done about the issues you have brought up. If you can't make it to DC (and we can't all just drop over there on a whim) see if you can find out when your Senator/Representative will next be in your state or your area. We know they have to come home to raise funds and campaign and such at some point, so try to trap them when they are in your own neighborhood. It is amazing what kind of an impact you can have by sitting them down face to face and talking out the facts of the issues. Just a thought for you to consider.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Thank You All For You Support...^i^ April 14, 2005 12:05 PM

I am working on a home move and havn't been able to stay with ya but I am working to stay on top of this issue. Thanks for the spill news, we need to plaster that in a return letter to them. They are full of Shiznit and need to listen to the people they swore an oath to follow and protect. We The People are the leaders not them...Birdman^i^  [ send green star]
 
Just popping in... April 14, 2005 8:05 PM

to say I heard Don Young on Alaska Public Radio today in a snippet from drilling debate on the House floor. I believe he directed his comment at Patrick Leahy, but not sure... didn't catch it all. Here's what he said, as direct a quotation as I can remember: "I don't mess with your state. So you don't mess with mine." Then he went on to talk about how all Alaskans are solidly behind drilling, both because it will benefit us with jobs and because it will benefit the nation. And he listed a whole slew of people supposedly solidly in his court, including indiginous people. Well, that's overstating it... Most Native Alaskans oppose it, but there are a few who will benefit directly who support it. Anyway, thought this was a great illustration of the previous point about territoriality... and the nasty tone is typical of Young. He also said the whole environmental argument against drilling is hot air and I believe he used the words "passing gas." Something close. (Young and Stevens never use the word "environmentalist" without pairing it with an adjective like "rabid" or "radical" or "crazy" or "outside" -- meaning not Alaskan.) Don't have time to research this, so don't use anything as direct quotation without doing that yourself.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Wow April 14, 2005 10:20 PM

Well, now we know who is really "passing gas" ... and in the Senate chambers! Kristin, even if you mis-quoted him a little, those words do not surprise me coming from his mouth. It reminds me of what Duane Radtke, executive of Dominion Resources Inc., a natural gas production company, said once. He supports opening up America's coasts to oil and gas drilling, but said, "If I owned land in Florida, I might have a different opinion myself." The nerve! Keep the letters/emails/phone calls/etc. coming... show the wind-bag who's in charge!  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
"Waffle-stomping environmentalists..." April 15, 2005 3:32 AM

Some choice quotations from Alaska politicians... Just found this collection as I was going through stacks of stuff, working on taxes. "Like the locusts that ravaged the Old West, consuming everything of value and leaving the pioneers destitute, the environmental extremists are threatening to ravage the Last Frontier as well." Gov. Frank Murkowski, former US Senator and current Senator Lisa Murkowski's dad, in the Anchorage Daily News, 9/29/02 "They [environmentalists] are a socialist group of individuals that are the tool of the Democratic Party. That's all they are, always have been. I'm proud to say they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans." US Rep. Don Young, Alaska Public Radio Network, 8/19/96 "...the environmentalists, the self-centered bunch, the waffle-stomping, Harvard graduating, intellectual idiots that don't understand that they're leading this country into environmental disaster." Don Young, National Journal, 4/8/95 "We can restore our fisheries, and we can restore our oil and gas if we'll work together and stand up to these extreme environmentalists who've blocked us at every turn, every turn." US Senator Ted Stevens on TV program, "Running," 10/28/02 For more insight into the mentality of Young and his colleagues, check out this article from 1995 Sierra Club magazine: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/199511/young.asp. It's well worth it to understand the hatred and antagonism they cultivate -- and to understand the uphill battle we in Alaska have, especially if the rest of the country is going to turn away from us now. Fascinating.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
harsh words April 15, 2005 9:09 AM

But I must say, that if I am the enemy of such a self-centered politician, blind-sided by greed and power, that makes me feel a little better about myself. But we're dragging down the environment? We are preventing environmental growth to take place? We are not Americans? hmmm  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Are you all participating in the Earth Day Virtual March? April 15, 2005 5:14 PM

Are you all participating in the Earth Day Virtual March? See you over there soon.---ginger  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
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