Back here in Alaska and the outdoors / hunting columnist for the Anchorage Daily News stuck his two cents (tup'ny worth)into the fray. He is not known for either liberal views nor for gilding the lily. I share his opinion that there has been misdirection if not downright lying on both sides of the debate. I also think he's right that there is value in the pristine-ness of the land as it now is, and that is what will be lost should there be extensive drilling up there.

Column on ANWR from Anchorage Daily News

I'm starting a new thread on the topic because I think it will be revisited in public rather soon due to the high cost of oil and gasoline (although the high cost of gasoline is more due to refinery bottlenecks and fear). I also like to see Alaskan opinions being aired which might not fit our preconceptions.

At this point I am not personally solidly against the drilling, because what is being proposed is exploratory drilling which will be very very minor on the land. And I am partial to trees, and there ain't no trees up there.