I promise to never discuss politics on Tweeters again! Perhaps a listing of
internet conservation forums would be helpful for those who wish to discuss
issues and political strategies. Maybe one of you who has the time could
bundle them all up and post it on Tweeters every couple of months.
Now my 2 cents worth:
* If we had drilled the refuge 25 years ago as Sen. Stevens had 1st proposed
the field would now be dry. The price of gas would be about 2 cents less
right now and a lot of wildlife habitat would be ruined.
* The vast majority of our oil comes from this hemisphere and not the Middle
East.
* Our leaders who got us into the elective war in Iraq have harped over and
over again that it wasn't about the oil. They cannot turn around now and
say it was about the oil.
* The oil from the refuge wouldn't even hit the pumps until 2015 if the bill
had passed yesterday. Surely new technologies will be on line in 10 years
that reduce the need for petroleum.
* If you're so worried about losing the oil from the refuge, simply drive
less or get a vehicle with better mileage. Better yet, ride the bus.

Steve Ellis
Coupeville, Wa
sellis at coup.wednet.edu