Viewpoints
"Taxes are bad"
ads by Big Oil
By Samuel Bergeron
April 03, 2006
Monday
If one were to be swayed with
the doltish ads produced by the Big Oil lobby, one could conclude
that we should give away the remnants of the last big oil reserve
in America for nothing.
In their ads, you will notice that there is no discussion of
what would be a fair and equitable for all involved. They take
out of context what some notable people in history have said
about taxes. This, my fellow Sitnews readers, is what is called,
governance by sound bites. The ad agencies, along with the millionaire
lobbyists, (who out number the legislators in Juneau three to
one) representing the billionaire Big Oil companies, want you
to believe that the remaining oil and natural gas that you and
I own should be had for a pittance. If the leadership of this
State could strike a deal that would bring in a fair amount of
revenue to all those involved, we as citizens of Alaska could
avoid such things as a State income tax, higher property and
sales taxes brought on by lower State participation in funding
at the local level and diminished funding for education and public
safety. If we lull ourselves into believing that it s in our
best interest in letting this great recourse go for less that
what it is worth, (20-25% of the profits) we'll be sorry.
What is being done here by Big Oil and their lobbyists and advertising
firms is an all-out assault on the future revenues of the State.
If this occurs, you and I will make up those revenues in the
form of a state income tax and higher local taxes across the
board. In my view, a fifty percent share in the profits would
be equitable considering we own the oil and gas in the ground
now and it only get more valuable by the day. Taking a smaller
share in the profits on our one and only, non-renewable, cash
cow to Big Oil because we fall for "taxes are bad"
ads is insane. The policy makers that tell you that the gas pipeline
and future development will all go away because we are asking
too much are wrong; they are being led astray by the lobbyists
who became millionaires from lobbing for Big Oil. Say yes to
us getting our fair share, say no the next great give away perpetrated
by outside interests.
Samuel Bergeron
Ketchikan, AK - USA
About: Sam Bergeron is a long-time
resident of Ketchikan and business owner.
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
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