Posted on 12/23/2004 7:50:56 PM PST by MissouriConservative
WASHINGTON--Environmental groups warned Congress on Tuesday with poll numbers that claim a majority of Americans oppose oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Zogby International, a polling firm hired by the groups, said 55 percent of Americans said "no" when asked whether oil companies should be allowed to drill in ANWR.
"Congress should take notice of these numbers," stated Jim Waltman, director of refuges and wildlife programs at The Wilderness Society, in a news release. "Members of Congress need to ask themselves, 'Whose side am I on? Am I on the side of the oil companies? Or do I side with the majority of Americans who want the Arctic refuge protected?'"
Congress begins a new session Jan. 4. Alaska's members have said they hope to change the law next year to allow drilling in the 1.5 million-acre ANWR coastal plain.
Kevin Hand, executive director of the pro-drilling group Arctic Power, said it's difficult to read much into polls such as that commissioned by the environmental groups. Arctic Power hasn't done any recent polling, but past efforts have found that 55 percent of Americans aren't even sure what ANWR is, he said.
"They mostly know the bumper sticker items--'six months of oil, we're going to rape and pillage the caribou'--that sort of thing," he said. "But when the average American is informed on the issue, they definitely support (drilling) and we have polls that reflect that."
Hand wouldn't offer a detailed critique of the Zogby poll, but said some of the questions seemed leading.
The ANWR questions were part of a more lengthy Zogby poll, on which the environmental groups piggybacked. The firm queried 1,200 people by telephone.
The first ANWR-related question was the eighth in the poll, according to an analysis released by Zogby.
Previous questions were not released and Pete Rafle, spokesman for The Wilderness Society, said he did not know what they were.
The eighth question was multiple choice, asking participants to name "the best way to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil." Forty-one percent said expand wind, solar and ethanol while relying less on petroleum. Thirty-nine percent said conserve more and develop more fuel-efficient cars. Seventeen percent said drill for more oil and gas "including areas within wildlife refuges."
The next question, again multiple choice, asked, "Do you think oil companies should be allowed to drill for oil in America's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?" Fifty-five percent said do not allow drilling, 38 percent said allow it and 7 percent were not sure.
After that, Zogby pollsters read participants two statements summarizing ANWR arguments. The pro-drilling statement, with which 31 percent agreed, quoted no authority but stated foreign oil contributes to high prices and ANWR oil could reduce those.
The anti-drilling statement, a third longer, quotes the U.S. Department of Energy saying not enough oil exists in ANWR to change prices and quotes oil companies saying it would take a decade to develop. Fifty-nine percent agreed.
Ten percent were either not sure or disagreed with both statements.
The next question asked participants to agree or disagree in varying degrees to the assertion that, "Congress is spending too much time trying to open (ANWR) to oil drilling as a payback to the oil companies for their campaign contributions, instead of focusing their attention on more important issues like keeping us safe, providing affordable health care and strengthening the economy."
Overall, 65 percent agreed and 27 percent disagreed, with 9 percent unsure.
Rafle defended the language.
"We work pretty hard to make sure that we're doing this as even-handedly as we can and use the arguments that each side is using," he said.
"There are lots of things that you ask in polls where you're looking to refine the way you talk about issues," he said. But the "bottom line" is that the "current poll finds a solid majority of Americans would like the refuge to stay the way it is."
Lexi Keogh, spokeswoman for the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, D.C., said the poll results match earlier, independent polls, including a November 2002 poll by CBS News.
"The numbers are almost exactly the same," she said.
ANWR was originally designated the Arctic National Wildlife Range in 1960. In 1980, Congress expanded its southern and western boundaries and set aside the coastal plain for study of its wilderness values and petroleum potential.
The U.S. Geological Survey in 1998 said the federal land in the ANWR coastal plain would produce, as a mean estimate, about 5.2 billion barrels of oil at prices of $26.20. The Alaska Department of Revenue said this month that the oil could add $500 million a year to the state's income by 2024, assuming royalties are split 50-50 with the federal government.
A Department of the Interior biological review in 2002 concluded the most likely development scenario, with disturbance limited to the oil-rich western part of the plain, would cut June caribou calf survival by an average of about 1 percent.
Critics of that analysis said the negative effects on caribou could extend well beyond June if oil work displaces the cows and calves, which tend to avoid roads and pipelines, from the coastal areas of the western plains where they often go in mid-summer to escape biting insects.
Ha ha... Akaska; I guess that must be the 51st state. The point is the land is IN the state of Alaska, and I don't care if it's "federal" land. It's about time the states take back land that should belong to them, not the Feds or the UN
Can't take it back if they never had it.
So?
Do it.
which freeper said "Polls are for topless dancers."
So how can a majority object to drilling?
I love throwing the "war for oil" smelly pile in their faces with petroleum prices. They sure shut up and skulk away when you give them...
A liberal turd who once fooled a few conservatives, but now is exposed and beginning to dry up and blow away...
SHE WROTE SPEECHES FOR BIJOUR AND DECRANE; CEO's OF THE COMPANY! SHE WORKED WITH THE RUSSIANS IN TEXACO's HEADQAUARTERS. SHE WAS COMMISSIONED ON THE R&D PIECES FOR REFINERIES! DO NOT LECTURE! FLIPPIN JERK!
Some of you instant gratification business consultants that cannot manage a lemonade stand need to get out of the classroom or decide to read trade journals, the Wall Street Journal and figure out how to run a business.
That is if you can read. And have an IQ above room temperature in an igloo in the Arctic.
I guess Zogby has decided to completely chunk his credibility, because there is NO way, and I do mean NO WAY, that a majority of Americans actually oppose drilling the ANWR, which would bring down fuel prices and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I repeat: NO WAY. And BTW, I've been known to blast folks who disbelieve polls simply because they don't turn out the way they'd like. My disbelief has nothing to do with my (admitted) desire for such drilling, but because this is a purely hard-left issue, and I suspect the number who'd really oppose it is somewhere closer to the 30% mark.
SHEESH.
MM
Of couse Alaskans want ANWR and want it now. But, you miss the point. The question is what do people in the lower 48 want for Alaskans? You see most people there view Alaska as their own private park and don't want Alaskans determining what is in their best interest or the best interest of America in this case. And now the ignorance of the manipulated masses in the lower 48 only want what is best for the caribou in a place they will never see or if they did would never go back.
Too bad your wife can't write your posts for you, because you are going in circles with the ones you've managed thus far.
I think we both agree that drilling should begin as soon as possible. How you gleaned that I somehow demand instant gratification is a product of your fevered imagination.
Put some ice on it.
Overall, 65 percent agreed and 27 percent disagreed, with 9 percent unsure.
LOL!!!! Oh, my gosh!!! Can they try ANY harder to lead the person being questioned? LOL!!!
How about "Congress is killing babies, old people, minorities, and women in order to spend too much time trying to open (ANWR) to oil drilling as a payback to the oil companies. Do you think it is good of congress to do this? (HINT - The answer begins with "Y.")
How can any respectable "journalist" not die laughing at polls like this. Instead they publish it as "news."
National Polls Find Majority of Americans Support ANWR Production
Results refute recent biased poll sponsored by activist group
"Two separate national polls released this week show a majority of Americans believe Congress should open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil production. These findings come in direct contrast to a Zogby poll released last week funded by the Wilderness Society and other environmental special interest groups."
See http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/releases/2005/0202anwrpolls.htm
And what do Alaskans think?
Poll: Eskimos Back ANWR Drilling
"The last time they were surveyed, Americans most directly affected by a Bush administration proposal to drill for oil in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge overwhelmingly backed the plan. Seventy-five percent of Alaskans told a February 2000 Dittman research survey that they wanted to open up the refuge for drilling, with only 23 percent opposed."
See http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/3/14/110729.shtml
Welcome to reality, Mr. Zogby.
When Bush starting "selling" his side of the Iraq war his poll numbers turned around. Same would be true if we "marketing" why we should drill in ANWR and show REAL pictures of the area which looks more like a frozen wasteland than a pristine animal refuge.
Not that it matters but is Zogby a Palestinian. I remember hearing that once and thought it was a good explanation for why his polls always reflect the leftist ideology.
Zogby could get whatever answer he wants based on the way he asks the question. How about: Would you want the US to drill and destroy the gorgeous beauty of the arctic refuge?
"Welcome to reality, Mr. Zogby."
Zogby does not live in the real world. It saddens me that America has become a society driven by polls. Polls are run by emotions rather than facts. When people think of drilling in Alaska, they think of the cute little animals losing their homes. What they fail to realize is that ANWR is a desolate place that is barren.
I like to tell people to take the front page of a newspaper and look at it like it is ANWR. Then look at one of the letters on that page. That letter represents the total area that we want to explore for oil. We won't be disturbing nothing while aiding the economy of Alaska as well as beginning to end our dependence on foreign dictators.
But then again, I'm not emotional on this issue.
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