On Mark Hamilton

Alaska Is Doomed!

What in hell does Mark Hamilton know about the Alaskan Oil Industry? NOTHING. But since vacating his job at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, he is moonlighting as a con artist. Really, that was his main focus when running the “U” into the ground. Sure he built an infrastructure not necessary for higher education, but wait just a minute, he has “zero” authority or experience in the infrastructure some 600-miles away in the frozen North. It appears he followed Bill Sheffield's footsteps, in the category of waste, as the “U” has a bunch of fancy buildings and a whole lot of vacant “student” seats. But great, there's a parking garage, if you are rich! And it is dangerous when individuals like Hamilton, due their past influence, think they have something to offer, think they have the credentials to be experts on almost everything. They don't have anything to offer, so they should just go away with their lucrative state retirement and lucrative health care plan and leave well enough alone. There is dangerous precedent being set here, wherein non-experts try to throw a little weight at something, like “Big Oil”, that already knows what it is doing to survive even the toughest of economic times. Seems that there is coming a whole lot of hype over the fact that the Trans-Alaska-Pipeline is operating well below maximum throughput. So what, it is operating efficiently and safely, no matter what the Federal DOT is concerned about with the latest shutdown. I was on the side-lines that shutdown, and Alyeska's engineering staff knew what they were doing to start the line up, the “cold” start-up. Several years ago “Big Oil” realized that the good old days of 2-million barrels a day going south was history, and would remain just that for the rest of the Prudhoe Bay oil field's life span. It was supposed to last only 10-years, so going past 30 is something achieved beyond expectations, but all good things to come to an end. And these “Great” expectations beyond were made possible for one and only one reason, the industry was comfortable with the tax situation in Alaska. So there is no need to provide concessions this late in the game, with more tax breaks as it will not find anymore oil to fill the void. This is “Big Oil” reasoning, I will get to the Independents later on this broadcast, as that is a different animal to consider. Now, since the infrastructure was paid for in full, “Big Oil” set in motion a production rate that would be easy money, realizing that the price of oil “worldwide” was on the increase. Look, oil can only go up, so a meager but guaranteed production rate is fundamental with futures trading and economic success. With the new goals of continuous production at lower production rates, it required a re-alignment of the entire infrastructure and process, from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, and even affected the tanker fleet. On the pipeline, a project titled the “Strategic Reconfiguration” set in motion a multi-million dollar project to revamp the entire pipeline for, reduced throughput! That project is almost finished, with Pump Station #1 waiting for commissioning of the new equipment, including hi-tech pumps and drivers that can handle the current and future production rates. There have come hick-ups this new stuff that replaces the legacy stuff, but one must realize that the commissioning of the original pipeline back in the late 70s did take about 3 full years to accomplish, to get the bugs out. So this state and the bureaucrats yielding the doom and gloom sickle, just relax. See, with steady and sustained throughput, even this state should be able to balance the budget based on a guaranteed income. It is that simple. So there is no need or rush to judgment a call for increased production. It ain't going to happen. Not with Prudhoe or Kuparuk or even if ANWR were to get permission to open up for oil exploration and exploitation. If today the oil companies were designing a pipeline, based on the reserves leftover today, it would be a much smaller line than what is crossing the tundra and mountains for some 800-miles south to Valdez. So it works, as “Big Oil” knows what is good for its portfolio, for its profit margin. Since the Prudhoe Bay infrastructure is paid for in full, the profit ratio for what is produced is solid and mind boggling with respect to investment opportunities. The cost of lifting North Slope oil - defined as getting the crude out of the ground and on to markets – is less than that found in Saudi Arabia! Even though “Big Oil” will argue that fact for its own secretive manipulation the facts, as it paints a different picture away from doom & gloom, it is true, as history and numbers and data don't lie. So “Big Oil” is comfortable, mind you Mr. Hamilton. The sad thing behind the “state” doom & gloom warning is the fact that this state has wasted the resource development “nest egg” on failed projects and today, after some 30-years, we still have not provided a sustainable jobs infrastructure outside “Big Oil”. We blew it and there is no turning back. Now what is scary for the state is how the Independents are reacting. See, they are getting the dander up with state officials, it is their plan. The Independents can and will ruin the Alaskan oil business. They are running down to Juneau crying we need this and we need that, so the state bends over and what we get in return is a pittance on revenue and see maybe a few jobs, but no guarantee such are filled by Alaskans. The Texan mentality is positioned to “rape” this state “Big Time”. Here it is in a nutshell. We are not getting anything worthwhile from the Independents arriving to possibly fill the “void”. Remember, there is NO VOID. In efforts to entice the “Independents” into places even “Big Oil” laughed upon, to produce marginal fields abandoned by “Big Responsible Oil”, the Independents apply for royalty relief and tax relief. The sad thing, the formulas will allow the state to recoup some of the lost revenue, but the time line for such is way past the expected life of these marginal fields. We loose! Marginal fields to not contain enough of the “resource” to warrant an interest! Now that word “marginal” takes on a double meaning, as outfits like Pioneer Natural Resources offers marginal wages that cannot compete with “Big Oil”. The best thing that could happen in this day and age is for those working for the Independents is to “organize”, for better wages. And safety is also a concern. Look, 10-days after going on-line with production, ENI blew crude oil out of a flare stack? At Oligtok Point and only a few feet away from the ocean, which is the gateway to the Beaufort Sea. You get what you pay for and since wages are lower, so is the qualifications base. In this case, most are unqualified to perform safely. That is another reason a “union” would make it a safer place to work, as a concerted effort would demand “qualified” operators. Case on point: I was on a project down in California at a new power plant. The company could not find qualified operators to start the commissioning, due the fact that housing was still off the charts. So they stepped back and re-evaluated the entire pay structure, to include a hefty cost-of-living bonus. And yes it was a union job, but the union and the power company were in very good standing. And the power company was not about to gamble on beating the start-up deadline with an unqualified staff, so they waited out the storm and when said and done, started up with a staff that could run the plant safely. So what we see today in Alaska, with respect to the North Slope, it is highway robbery going on. When Pioneer came interested in Alaska, they sent an entourage of CEOs down to Juneau, to ask for tax and royalty relief, saying that they could only continue the project if oil was better then $44-bucks a barrel. At the time, oil was teetering on the edge, less then what Pioneer was comfortable with. So the sad state bent over, and for the 1^st time in history, the revenue boss allowed relief, to the lowest allowed by state statute. To show how ridiculous this is, I can have one foot on a Conoco lease with the other foot on a Pioneer lease, and Conoco is paying a royalty 10% higher! Do you think “Big Oil” cares about this preferential treatment? Of course, but they have different ways and means of getting even. Look, the state is getting nothing in return from the Independents flocking in. And when marginal fields are burping out oil, to fill the void we are talking hundreds of mom & pop operations littering the pristine wilderness and pristine coastline, as these fields produce nothing worth the bother, so we are talking a whole lot of little episodes which means a whole lot of meager income jobs. But I guess when Hamilton stands up in front of a crowd, he can get an audiences' attention, and glorify the doom & gloom scenario which will allow even more tax breaks and royalty relief, a few jobs, and “we the people” who own the resources by virtue of our citizenship will get screwed over again. Bottom-line, when we see “Big Oil” getting fined and jail time for stupidity when at the same time the “Independents” are getting away with everything and anything because the oversight authorities are being told to cool it, as we can not scare the “void fillers” away, this state my as well just declare the entire North Slope a “Super Fund” site, as that is what is happening on leases managed by the Independents. Wow, think about how many jobs that will create? And paid for by Uncle Sam, at Davis-Bacon wages. Maybe that is what is behind it all! If we don't care about the environment because we care too much about the worth of our yearly welfare PFDs, it goes to show that this state has changed for the worse. There is a report available at the AOGCC, titled “Alaska's Deadliest Sins”. It gathers together a years worth of abuse by the 1^st Independent that set foot on Alaska's North Slope. I wrote it, while working under-cover. It is mind-boggling what went on, the lies, the cover-ups. Pioneer likes to higher qualified lawyers to protect its interests. But if you really want an understanding of the “Independents”, those entities trying to get more and more concessions from the Juneau lawmakers, this reading, which is now available to the public, it is worth your while, as what is going on is pretty ugly! And until such time that one sees what is really going on with the Independents infiltrating, please Mr. Hamilton, forever hold your peace! Maybe Bill has a job for you down at the dock! Hey, when at your interview with Bill, ask him if he has seen the M.V. Susitna, as it is long overdue its arrival at the port!

Dylan on Sarah Palin

Maggie’s Farm Revisited

Bob Dylan entertained us with the powerful lyrics and “ants in the pants” like melody of Maggie’s Farm, off and on over the years. It started at the Newport Folk Festival, back in 1965. And most recently through a live rekindling the same, on national TV, as a performer with the task to entertain at the 53^rd Grammy Awards. We have to give credit where credit is due. When Dylan has the stage, the national stage in this case, the subliminal message surrounding the performance is something we need to pay attention to, as the message is probably the best state of the nation address we could take ownership upon and then act, “Ask what you can do for your country”! The words, his all so meaningful expressive words and phrases, the poetry within, it keeps on giving and the songs find different meaning, depending on the political situation at hand. It challenges our intellects, it challenges history. That is why Dylan’s songs never get old, and his works will entertain generations to come, like a bible. It is the only thing we need to include in a time capsule! “Every picture tells a story, don’t it”? Well, every Dylan song tells a theory, stone it, sometimes scary. And today some of it appears to be turning up, the scary stuff that is. But the true message within comes about through a combination of the words and musical attributes, and of course his mood. So why did Dylan pick Maggie’s Farm for this occasion, and during this 2-minutes claim to fame, surround himself in a jam session with many new generation talents? If indeed we as a nation “build to destroy”, Dylan sings to educate. It was clear and convincing an answer this question when he sang “Masters of War” at the Grammy Awards, in 1991, when he received the “Lifetime Achievement Award”. And this song, which defines how our totalitarian leadership engages in war, and does indeed “build to destroy”, it was so fit for the times, as this occurred when we had the neo-conservative thugs in control and this pathetic bowel movement following was trying to force democracy here, there and everywhere and if given the chance, was about to invade Heaven's peace and quiet. But due limited funds, they were successful only in pre-occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, and that success has approached total failure with many, too many innocent lives lost in vain. Yet they continue to smile as they wait in line at the bank. They lost, both the wars we are still engaged upon and we are about to loose the farm to pay for it. We really don’t like the title of Attila the Occupier, do we? And today we see “home grown” democracy taking root, without force, so the neo-snots were totally wrong their abuse upon others, which follows the trickle down theory and is an abuse on the “true” American spirit – that of brother can you spare a dime, Yes! So the “Farm” must have some meaning important with respect to current affairs affecting society. Again, he challenges us with this opportunity. Read between the lines we must, as Dylan is more than a poet, more than a philosopher, he knows too, too much, we must take advantage this gift and its giving. Silence is not golden in this case. So I will take the challenge this occasion this time. Now unlike many who have tried over the years to decipher Dylan’s lyrics, I take no claim to be an authority on this subject matter, as like already mentioned, the words bring different meanings as a sign of the times. So today may be different then tomorrow different then yesterday. Maggie’s Farm focuses on a family affair wherein the cast is bent on greed and power, a simple snapshot of things to come. I hear “dueling banjos”? The main Manson Family like characters include, Maggie, her brother, pa and ma. So who or what would fit so precisely Maggie’s roll, with today’s current state of affairs? Let’s try Sarah Palin for the fit test, this exercise. Why? Well for sure since Palin became Public Envy #1, I do indeed “fold my hands and pray” each day, that Sarah will go away and never return, except to face jail time for placing the target practice cross-hairs upon Arizona’s representative Gifford, wherein a nut-case followed through the order like Sarah was the Commander-in-Chief. John McCain created a monster with Palin, and today that monstrous maniacism finds a following, and this has taken our country on a crash course wherein if it continues it will convince the rest of the world that incompetency reigns and the once free nation called America will be banned from anything close to democracy. So the fit does indeed work. The shoe fits, she wares it well. Then there is Maggie’s brother that enters the scene. This has to define Corporate America, wherein CEOs are taking home all the “Farms” profits and using the same to buy government, through lobbyists, and since there is only so much loot to go around, “we the people” the “salt of the earth” may as well work for minimum wage, as that is what it amounts too when all is said and done – nickel and dime us to death the rich will. And complain, it means corporate fines, as with “at will” employment, one can be dismissed without prejudice for being gay, no matter how good a worker. Most recently when the Wisconsin maniac Scott Walker took an order from Maggie's brother, to make collective bargaining illegal, the Tea Party came to the governor’s defense. Remember, government has been sold to the highest bidder. This is war not only upon the unions, but war upon the American workers. And since most Tea-Party followers have not jobs and wait around with guns and dead roses, I guess the Tea Party membership finds not the intelligence to participate in concerted activity that provides for a strong America. Do they realize how important unions have been over the course of history? As paying healthy wages through “bargaining” finds an experienced work force that can build highways, can build bridges, can build America. And since the TeaCrappers have no future, they can be riled up to fight the Koch Brother's war, against humanity. Then we move on to pa, well, this is the GOP, the congressional GOP, which has been playing a hardball mutiny upon the government ever since the constituency lost out the majority. The pain and suffering they impose upon America is felt, “he puts his cigar out in your face just for kicks” says it all. When Mitch McConnell makes it clear and convincing that his main objective as a senator is too ruin Obama, to fail the presidency, we have treason run a muck amongst us. And with support from FOX's Murkydick, well I would bet this tycoon's “bedroom window is made out of bricks”. The National Guard that stands around his door? That's the PNAC, the William Kristols, the Dick Cheneys and the gun-toting neo-conservatives providing protection as the GOP attacks American decency, making it a thing of the past. And ma, well she identifies the missing link, the religious right and we all know that the IQ of this mass-murderous “preachers in disguise” snake-oil disease ridden brethren is so low that they still don't get it, that a strong America relies upon a separation! I hope that Gaddafi is correct with his assessment, that Al-Qaeda has given up on WMDs and resorted to spiking Nescafe and milk with LSD. We all can use a fix. During the 60s, it was relief to trip out and sail away from what was happening, getting away from things that were disenfranchising America. It wasn't an escape away from reality, it was a positive means to “Come Together” during tough and rough times, especially with the Vietnam conflict. The war we were supposed to “learn” from our mistakes, it didn't work. But that was the time the Cheneys and Rumsfelds were stuck in their dorm rooms and plotting against those exercising their 1^st Amendment rights, and that is the reason Dick once took credit for what happened at Kent State, no remorse, that this was a necessary form of control. Back then,I knew young republicans that found interest in Lucy. And when this side of the isle was high along with the other side of the isle, well things seemed to work out for the betterment of mankind. There was compromise and agreement that allowed Americanism to move forward without the burden of false witness precedent my way or the highway only. And back then, the greatest homeland threat was the fact that a terrorist group would spike the water reservoirs with LSD, as it was readily available and large quantities could be manufactured very easily with recipes make available from noted universities and Timothy Leary fan clubs. This country needs something, to “Come Together”, and then maybe we can come to grips, that Maggie's Farm and associated fan-club needs the chopping block and auction block, as that family and its followers is pure evidence that incest misbehaves evolution. I thought that 9/11 was the key, but it seems to have made things on the homeland more restrictive with respect to equality, with that, the enemy is so far the winer. And “I ain't going to work on Maggie's farm no more”, ever again, never did! So BRAVO to Dylan, that he has reminded us that things are creepy, if we fail to heed this warning, then we my as well get used to cigar burns and working for a nickel. We need to all come to grips with each-other, that we can agree to disagree as long as it doesn't disenfranchise my rights or your rights, if we cannot comes to terms, to settle indifferences on peaceful terms, then we deserve whatever Maggie's Farm can dish out, and it will be ugly. Armageddon in disguise it is, with well known family characters and traits that will make Atlantis look like a paradise! Now the Jokerman, that's a whole nother theory!

Scott Walker

Girly Men!

What's is with this KOCH(pronounced cock) Brothers' idiot imbecile puppet Scott Walker? And we think the Somalia pirates are bad! Anyway, Scott Walker loves to be interviewed, by “Girly Men” impersonators. His entire political agenda is weak, insecure and open to abuse, as he is an imbecile with a Sarah Palin IQ. So after getting threats for spaming the “I STAND with WALKER” web-site, wherein threats from a foreign offshore site does not intimidate, I decided to move in to see just how vulnerable this idiot is. So I surfed into “FIND A MEETUP NEAR YOU” and could find no meeting times set-up for Alaska? TeaParty Central! Sarah Palin's homeland! Joe Miller territory! That's right, the idiots that would be promoting a “Stand with Walker” are busy, engaged in duct tapping their mouths shut, its called the Iron Dog Classic. What does Palin mean anyway, that “Girly men don't ride the Iron Dog”. Look, this race since its inception has screwed up the Iditarod trail. Talk about “Girly Men”, if you insist on bashing, well Scott Walker meets the fit and let us not forget Son Parnell, Alaska's Governor. We call him son because Sarah is Maggie, of Maggie's Farm. Anyway, since the “Girly men” are busy giving away the farm, I set up a meting time, in support of Scott. I called it “Scott Sucks” and it was accepted? Here it is below, as I am sure that the offshore pirates will take it down when the “Girly Men” get back to town and complain:

Justice Served, Finally!

Justice Served, Finally!

This would not be front page news if Ted Stevens was still alive and kicking! There would have been some behind the scene way of covering up the truth, as Ted had the power and mentality to make things work out for his friends, especially those in trouble. Especially when the long arm of the Fed.'s was about to make trouble. Look at the facts, how many of the “Corrupt Bastards” ended up doing time? So maybe we are starting to see the fallout, that “our” government will prevail upon years and years of this Alaskan style corruption. We all know it happened, the corruption, as there was a private club for the bastards wherein they would sit around, smoke stogies and laugh and brag about their illegal shenanigans. Ted was the Godfather, the Don Coleone. But this just in news is justice prevailing today. WOW! I am talking the $1.6-million dollar fine that GCI will have to pay out, for taking advantage of the system of merits and violating the public trust. It has been happening for years, wherein yours' truly the American taxpayers have been screwed over. And here in Alaska, GCI's Ron Duncan used Ted Stevens as a whore, until Ted's doomsday, which occurred unexpectedly while entertaining lobbyists out at Duncan's private whorehouse. For years upon years of abuse, the telecommunication's legislation was pork-mocked and ear-mocked with greed seeking loopholes, with a little help from a friend here in Alaska who led a posy missing in action ethics to D.C., to take over righteousness. Zillions have been spent for bush communication upgrades, with stuff that we here in Anchorage don't even enjoy. Why? It wasn't for the customers, that they had to get “in-touch” with technologies, it was for the profits that could be made by those who have control of the airwaves, including GCI. The sad thing about it, Duncan made millions with Ted's help, just like Rubinni has done, with “privatized” military housing. It is “giddy up buddy up” all the way to the bank. With GCI having close to no competition and making a whole lot of loot courtesy the U.S. Taxpayers, Duncan bankrolled that money into his political “war chest” choice, making it available for outrageous campaign contributions. It was money stolen away from the U.S. Treasury mind you! That is where the system sucks, as in this day and age it is money that keeps the political system corrupt, and the rich are getting richer and getting more bang for their vote then the proletariat class. Look, my phone bill is more then my energy bills? Who and what am I subsidizing besides Duncan's habit to have political control over Alaska? And the sad thing about today's justice, the fine is but a small fraction of what was stolen away. That is what I don't get. We have rules and regulations, yet the Justice Department is always willing to settle for pennies on the dollar, like giving the OK to cheat, as in the end the fine will be less than the crime. There is still something wrong this equation! But today we can rejoice, a little. So great to the Justice Department that has fined GCI. And even though GCI will cry wolf, that they had nothing to do with the Ponzi scheme, then pray tell they didn't do their homework. GCI purchased controlling interest of the crooked business that was ripping off the Treasury because it was lucrative, from illegal activities, bottom-line economics persists doesn't it? If it is too good to be true... The balance sheets and books had to show this illegal practice, but that was all said and done when Ted was still the boss, so no need to worry was probably the ammunition to allow the takeover by GCI of some misfit organization that was bilking the taxpayers for millions. Regardless of the pittance in return for getting caught being crooked, today things may be a little different on this home-front. The sad thing, people like Duncan don't learn and that $1.6-million will most likely be secretly passed on to the customers, a few cents here and a few cents there. Pathetic it is that we have goons like this that think they are American when all the time they are just borderline terrorist, trying to change “My” America for their own greed seeking adventures. Just like the Koch brothers, and they now own Public TV through “money”! It is time to tax the hell out of rich individuals, for nothing else then to reign in control political clout that is disenfranchising America, at the same time allowing this “extra” income to buy favor with Senators and Congressmen throughout the land. America is being corrupted by wealth! We should have learned the truth and consequences of this kind of take-over in kindergarten, we did, that America is the home of the brave, wherein the fortunate are brave enough to share with one's fellowman, brave enough to say no to greed and corruption, brave enough to practice what it takes to be a true American – avoiding corruption. So when “dirty” money speaks and takes over ethics of government as appears to be the case when “collective bargaining” is under attack and in Sarah Palin's cross-hairs, it is time for Maggie's Farm to be auctioned off. And cheating your way to the top of the wealth tree is in no way shape or form a bonafide American tradition based on hard work and merit, it is a new age evil based on bribery and nepotism, wherein the rich get richer through cooperation our representative body and every day we see more of the same shame and sham taking over, but that can only go so far before it gets in the way of Democracy. And when that time comes, all the king's horses and all the king's men can not stop this pathetic wall of evil from falling down to hell, as the salt of the earth will definitely prevail, as “when you ain't got nothing, you got nothing to loose” and this America is getting very close to that “nothingness”!

Bush vs. Obama

Bush vs. Obama

Was it Bush or was it Obama that maintained real “capital” during their terms of endearment as Commander-in-Chief this great nation? Not a fare question you say as Obama still has time left on the elimination clock? That's OK, as the shortness of his term instills merit this question. For a while, it appeared that the Obama administration needed to find that warranty, as it seemed that the spoke was broken to begin with, not to mention flat tires causing delays on everything. But Obama had hurdles, and nothing was getting done except Mitch McConnell was getting uglier by the minute with time at the House pulpit, that glaring Hitler like stare I am talking about. When Bush was president – or at least he had that namesake minus the image or guts to perform statesman-like – he used the “capital” excuse to cause hate and discontent around the world. Like it was a credit card he could use at his disposal, at this nation's expense, for his own personal agenda. Which was, as we all know by now, just Dick's agenda, which was fueled by a neo-conservative “yellow cake” recipe, because Bush couldn't think for himself, a puppet government it was during those years so belittling this country t'is of Thee. So for starters, Obama was not gaining any ground and there was a movement to fail the Obama administration completely, that was Mitch “Little Hitler” McConnell's wishes and he made it his main job in life – on the taxpayers' dime and time. It failed. Time and money wasted during this humiliation campaign could have been spent on a more worthwhile cause, like getting the Secret Service to harass Mitch. What he was conceiving was treasonous like activity! But now, Mitch has lost, just like Bush and Cheney and the rest of the Rush Limburger rotten cheese crowd. See, with the rest of the world demonstrating that democracy is a home-grown thing, that it is the will of the people and can be done without taking up arms, even against a ruling dictatorship that surrounds itself with military security, this is “capital” that Obama can use to once and for all make that “Change” we all voted for back in 2008. And it is happening right on the heels of this worldwide democracy for the people uproar. Case in point. The Obama administration has voiced an opinion upon the Marriage Act, saying it will not support or uphold that age old mentality in the courts of law that discriminates. And the religious right lost another battle, over the Obama health care plan, something to do with Pat Robertson trying to bring God into the action. So we see two strikes just today against the religious right, and we all know what three strikes means, put them away for good. But they will not go down without a fight, and I fear that the next several months will bring out the worst in the worst of the neo-conservative movement, the TeaParty goons, who have not an agenda but follow their lemming leaders. What is brewing in the rest of the world is just a precursor of what is to come upon the shores of America. But a revolution is at hand, as we as a nation have become to darn dis-associated and disenchanted with each other and reality. Look, we can debate and continue to disagree on issues, that is OK because it stymies the free-will. But when we try to force one's opinion on another as law, we are treading on this ice, and a little heat is all that it takes to break through, and that heat I can feel!

Alaska Cross-fire!

Cut out and display in your car's rear window!
Or e-mail storylineonline@gci.net for download.

Alaska's Runt Governor

Big Oil, Runt Government

Now that Sarah Palin's protégée wants to give away what's left of the farm, with corporate oil tax breaks some in the know are preaching will cost the state billions in lost revenues, it is time to paint the big picture show of what has been going on for some 30-years by now upon the lucrative North Slope resource exploration and exploitation frontier. With Son Parnell willing to throw more money away, he will go down as another impeachable imbecile, just like Bill Sheffield. We never had enough time to impeach Palin, she quit! OK, enough bashing upon Sarah Palin, her posy and Bill the turncoat. Anyway, it is hard to impossibly difficult to define and explain in a nutshell what oil has meant to this state. On the state side, those in authority know the state's end of the business. On the other side, “Big Oil”, it is a secretive proposition, so only a select understand what the “Frontier” has meant and means, with respect to the business “books”! So it is like apples & oranges, when one tries to filter through the monetary quagmire, through both the state and private industry data wherein the outcome is meaningful, from the money honey that is standpoint. I have been on both sides of the fence, so have a better understanding of what it all means. To date, almost 16-billion barrels of oil have been taken away from the North Slope, down the great Alaskan pipeline to West Coast refineries then the by-products of distilling used to fuel our hydrocarbon habits and addiction. That's 16 with how many zeros? A lot. For that effort, “Big Alaskan Style Oil” has made an estimated $752-billion in profits, take home loot. For the state, as “we the people” own the resources and should be rewarded for such, the state coffers have enjoyed a money transfusion totaling some $77-billion, and about half of that was lost down the drain when the market's were taken over by pirates. Once again, a whole lot of zeros. Representative John Dingle once said that Alaskan oil is the cash cow of all cash cows, when the Congress was investigating why so much welfare - a.k.a. Stevens/Young pork - was going to the 49er, well above the national average, and right in this state's own backyard where the largest producing oil fields in North America were operating! And that ratio that is received, the difference for what we get verses what they - “Big Oink Oil” - taken away with an 800-mile long smile, it is going to get worse, as the state went where no righteous revenue bureaucrat would go after the new kids on the block decided to test the ice and go where no “Big Oil” brat would go, by decreasing the oil resource royalty to the lowest allowed by statute. So there are prospects being developed right now to fill the void, wherein we will “maybe” see a pittance of what the resource is truly worth. So it is a joke when Pioneer Natural Resources' CEO Ken Sheffield goes down to Juneau crying out loud that his Texas based company needs a tax break. Ken, go home and take tour pathetic company with you. And when a giant oil company from Spain gets the same royal treatment, with royalty reduction and tax breaks, when even our own “Big Oil” cannot get the same preferential treatment – American corporations! It would be better to give “Big Oil” the royalty breaks, as they pay more, so at least the workers could make a decent wage. It is pathetic what is going on these days with our resources. So on the home front turf battle please don't giveaway our inheritance, a few billion here, a few more billion there, it doesn't really amount to all that much as the corresponding zeros of the “big picture show” confuses the minuscule corporate welfare program. And there is a reason behind these political giveaways. See, Palin gave us energy rebates and gave away half the farm to Trans-Canada. It buys favor, that is what it is all about, what is behind modern day politicians giving away someone else's loot. It is the preferred method learned form the best con artists trust us, the U.S. Congress. And Son Parnell is young, has a law practice that is on mute while he plays the gov, and in a few years, he will have to go back to work, so why not make friends with “Big Oil” and “Big Foreign Gas” entities, as I am sure there is a lucrative “retainership” waiting in the wings of opportunity. $$$$$$$