Alaska fights polar bear listing to keep drilling and spilling oil

For some reason, Alaskans, the most prosperous citizens in the country (due to oil revenues in every citizen's pocket) don't want to stop drilling. Apparently the stink and appall at what the Exxon Valdez did to Prince William Sound has faded. Apparently the king of the Arctic, the polar bear, means less to them than a widescreen TV in every living room in the wilderness. Apparently the good life has to remain good.

Alaska fights to reverse polar bear listing
Governor doesn’t want expanded U.S. protection hurting oil development

The stakes are high for Alaska. About 90 percent of Alaska's general fund revenue budget is fueled by the petroleum industry. The trans-Alaska pipeline is running at less than one-third capacity and only high oil prices and a new method of taxing oil production have kept Alaska from slashing government services or looking for other revenue sources, such as a state income tax.

Polar bears or income taxes? Hmmmph... there's a choice for you.

I have SOOoo much more to say. Hope I can get to all of it.