Letters to the editor

5-year proposed plan is industrial overreachTo the Editor,

The American oil and gas industry is set now with over 9,000 leases on federal public lands and waters that are already approved. But they are not being used. Develop these leases first before the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEAM) offers up any more outer continental shelf oil and gas leases in the currently proposed BOEM National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Program and draft environmental impact statement. The lower Cook Inlet Lease Sale 267 is being proposed in this 5-year plan in 2026. No new leasing should occur. The no-action alternative is the best alternative.

I ask where is the industry interest in all of this? The industry has a shortage of workers and jobs due in part to automation. Investors are being restrained and reluctant to invest due to the many defaults in the industry and recognizing the climate changing impacts from the industry. About a quarter of all U.S. climate changing emissions are from federal public oil and gas leasing.

I am tired of the industrial whining that wants more and more without even using what they have. In June of this summer, 110 square miles were leased on federal lands in 7 western states. I could go on and on about the negative impacts to habitat, our fish and wildlife populations, quality of life, and pollution to name a few. But the simple issue is that this 5-year proposed plan is industrial overreach. It is unnecessary. Please comment at www regulations.gov by October 6 on BOEM-2022-0031-0001. No new leasing in lower Cook Inlet.

Becky Long,

Talkeetna

Data reveals a lotTo the editor:

With 60% of voters choosing republicans (Palin / Begich) in round 1, the final outcome should have been a republican win. One of the republicans should have inherited the other’s votes with rank choice voting. But the democrat won.

The factor that has not been considered in this race is Palin’s 63% negativity rating revealed by pollsters. A high negativity rating gives candidates a low ceiling, and makes them unelectable.

Some did not choose a #2 at all. There are probably many reasons for that. The ones chose Peltola as #2 defied logic. A man I know (who lives in the bush) told me that in the native culture respect is the utmost priority. If you sound disrespectful, people will not listen to you or vote for you, regardless your political viewpoint.

Many people in Alaska may not know her history as governor, nor her status as a celebrity, but they may have watched some of the debates. Her persona on the debate stage came to mind when I looked at the data and saw Palin’s negativity rating. Peltola and Begich were well spoken and had low-key personalities at debates. Sarah is not low-key. I suspect this played a big part in the Peltola #2 choice, and in Palin’s negativity rating.

A state-wide candidate cannot overcome the low ceiling that a high negativity rating causes. Joe Miller and Chris Kurka had that problem. Polarizing candidates don’t win our state-wide races. To further the point, Dunleavy has a very low-key, respectful personality. His campaign is low-key and positive. His ratings are the highest in the governor race.

I imagine that pollsters asked questions like, “If Palin and Peltola are the final two, who would you vote for?” AND “If Begich and Peltola are the final two, who would you vote for?” The data showed that Peltola beats Palin, and Begich beats Peltola. (Alaska Survey Research).

Polling data and the recent election prove that Palin is unelectable and cannot win. She prevents a republican victory by blocking Begich from facing Peltola in round 2.

Bottom line: it is all about data-informed strategy at this point. If Palin is a good strategist she will see the writing on the wall, and if our state and country are most important to her, she will do her part to help secure that seat for an electable republican. She’ll drop out.

Carol Carman,

Palmer