This sounds like a good start for an onion article.  "Bush:  We must
destroy America before the terrorists do"

So Bush is pro-drilling not because of its economic impact, which is
negligible, but rather the principle that raping the environment is just
the right thing to do?	The goal is to pave the way for bulldozing the
national parks?  There must be another side to this story...

Come to think of it, I've never heard an argument in favor of drilling in
Alaska.  Maybe someone (Cam? Bethany's or Mekayla's mother?) could point
us to articles that give a fuller picture of this issue -- characterizing
the environmental impact as well as the economic advantages.  I'm inclined
not to write my senator based only on propaganda.

Which brings me to another topic that I've run out of time to actually
say anything about, namely, how hashing out the truth on important issues
in this forum effects good in the world.

Danny

--- \/	 FROM Dave morris AT 05.01.13 01:14 (Today)   \/ ---

> > Dear NRDC Action Fund Supporter,
> >
> > No one voted on Election Day to destroy the Arctic National Wildlife
> > Refuge. But President Bush is now claiming a mandate to do exactly
> > that.
> >
> > Congressional leaders are pushing for a quick vote that would turn
> > America's greatest sanctuary for Arctic wildlife into a vast, polluted
> > oil field.
> >
> > Even worse, they are planning to avoid public debate on this
> > devastating measure by hiding it in a must-pass budget bill.
> >
> > Please go to http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/arctic0501c.asp right now
> > and send a message telling your U.S. senators and representative to
> > reject this sneak attack on the Arctic Refuge.
> >
> > And please forward my message to your friends, family and colleagues.
> > We must mobilize millions of Americans in opposition as quickly as
> > possible.
> >
> > Don't believe for a second that the president is targeting the Arctic
> > Refuge for the sake of America's energy security or to lower gas
> > prices at the pump.
> >
> > President Bush knows full well that oil drilled in the Arctic Refuge
> > would take ten years to get to market and would never equal more than
> > a paltry one or two percent of our nation's daily consumption. Simply
> > put, sacrificing the crown jewel of our wildlife heritage would do
> > nothing to reduce gas prices or break our addiction to Persian Gulf
> > oil.
> >
> > But if the raid on the Arctic Refuge isn't really about gas prices or
> > energy security, then what is it about?
> >
> > It's the symbolism.
> >
> > The Arctic Refuge represents everything spectacular and everything
> > endangered about America's natural heritage. It embodies a million
> > years of ecological serenity . . . a vast stretch of pristine
> > wilderness . . . an irreplaceable birthing ground for polar bears,
> > caribou and white wolves.
> >
> > It is the greatest living reminder that conserving nature in its wild
> > state is a core American value. It stands for every remnant of
> > wilderness that we, as a people, have wisely chosen to protect from
> > the relentless march of bulldozers, chain saws and oil rigs.
> >
> > And that's why the Bush administration is dead set on destroying it.
> >
> > By unlocking the Arctic Refuge, they hope to open the door for oil,
> > gas and coal giants to invade our last and best wild places: our
> > western canyonlands, our ancient forests, our coastal waters, even our
> > national monuments.
> >
> > This is the real agenda behind the raid on the Arctic Refuge and the
> > entire Bush-Cheney energy plan: to transfer our public estate into
> > corporate hands so it can be liquidated for a quick buck.
> >
> > House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) admitted as much when he said
> > this battle over the Arctic Refuge is really a fight over whether
> > energy exploration will be allowed in similarly sensitive areas in the
> > future. "It's about precedent," Rep. DeLay said.
> >
> > I take him at his word. If we let the president and Congress plunder
> > the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for the sake of oil company
> > profits, then no piece of our natural heritage will be safe from
> > wholesale destruction.
> >
> > Please go to http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/arctic0501c.asp and tell
> > your senators and representative they have no mandate to destroy the
> > Arctic Refuge. Then please be sure to forward this message to as many
> > people as you can.
> >
> > And thank you for speaking out at this critical time.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Robert Redford
> > NRDC Action Fund
> >
> > . . .
> >
> > Note: If you would prefer not to receive NRDC Action Fund updates, you
> > can send an email message to alerts Æ nrdcactionfund.org with "Please
> > remove my name" in the subject line.

-- 
http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/dreeves  - -  google://"Daniel Reeves"

Historical Fact of the Day:
  Gravity was invented by Isaac Newton.  It is chiefly noticeable in
autumn when apples are falling off trees.