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Originally Posted by Boo
Actually it would probably add another $500+ per person to the PFD. Other effects could add up to a lot more money. Figure in occupational bonus', 401 K matching, and lessen the possibility of having a state tax. That (in my figures) could add up to over $5000 a year per wage earner per year. So if you want to call Alaskans greedy, so be it. Nothing "measly" about $5000 a year. What about the effect on industry in the lower 48. How many millions of dollars will come up on the barge? How many people from TX, OR, WA will fly up for the jobs and bring the money home to spend.
Before you knock someone making money from the resources in their state, look at the lower 48 and the reliance upon natural resources. Tell Arizona to stop mining, tell Colorado to stop exploring for natural gas, tell Mississippi to stop the offshore oil production, tell Florida to stop shrimping etc... etc.... . Animals live there too, lets be fair across the board.
IMO - It does not matter how much oil there is. Obviously there is enough for the oil companies to want to pursue it. Until testing is done we cannot make an informed decision. Estimates are just estimates.
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Boo, I'm an Alaskan also.
First off, simply because there will be a "large' Influx of oil, you must realize does not effect your PFD. The money given to you in a PFD is investments the fund makes. The fund is invested 100% into the market, and what you get every year is not oil revenue. It's revenue from the investments the fund makes. You can dig around the .gov sites about the PFD and find that information if you want to look for it. You may be already aware of it, I don't know.
An influx of oil might affect the market in a positive manner, however, the repercussions of a huge oil in-flux and then nothing, will have serious econmical issues down the road in Alaska. I.E, the late 70's when people were renting hallways because apartments were so insansly priced.
Secondly, you live in Alaska. Where you live, I don't know. I live in Anchorage, I have a good job, I pay my taxes, you pay your taxes. You and I both know there will be a state tax, or a sales tax. ANWR has no effect on this, simply because our wonderful politicians in this state are as greedy as the rest. They WILL take the PFD at some point, they will also mandate a state or sales tax. You know that, I know that.
ANWR will open, at some point. There is nothing any of us can do about it. I'm rather optimistic about the enviromental impact there. I hunt on the Brooks Range for Caribou, I worked for BP In the early 90's during the layoffs. I didn't work up on the slope, but I have been there. The heards still come, the polar bears still thrive. The heards in the brooks range, you simply can't imagine how HUGE they are. I'm more worried about long term econmical impact after the influx or oil is over.
I'm still for drilling in ANWR.