I am willing to listen if you have legitimate points, but not sure your explanation is complete, especially when you say there is “no free market”. Why should it not be up to the state of Alaska to decide what is good for business in Alaska? Why do we need the Federal govt to regulate, and tie up these resources rather than let the American people and industry develop them, so long as that development is done responsibly? Public land does not mean “hands off”.
Either way its public land. And if it goes into the state of Alaska coffers to be doled out as tax rebates, that does not make it free market. You are just arguing states rights on federal land. Its federal land because Alaska wanted the fed to take care of it. But no matter. Its all about how much Exxon pays for the rights so Halliburton can be paid to build a rig and the Koch brothers can build a pipe, everyone getting paid before the tax collectors of Alaska get theirs. Tell me why we we should care. Its like doing business in Russia. Tell me why this is free market. Tell me why this is not just one billionaire and his lobbyists scuffling with another billionaire and his lobbyists.
It has nothing to do with the price of oil when they are capping wells.