Preserve Alaska refuge or allow drilling? Your Say

Letter to the editor:

The discussion over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a classic example of one of the big differences between the two major political parties ("Obama seeks to put Alaska refuge off-limits to drilling").

President Obama wants to designate a major part of Alaska's coast, included in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as a protected wilderness area. This is to ensure the natural beauty and wildlife that permeate the area are kept for generations to come. Not surprisingly, Republicans are against it. They want the land made available for oil and gas exploration.

In short, liberals are concerned about our environment, and conservatives about their wallets.

Jeff Clauser; Charlotte

Comments from Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Go ahead and drill. Allow drilling if safety measures up to Environmental Protection Agency codes are in effect. Many Americans support it. It's not like the entire protected area will look like a giant oil well.

— John Hatfield

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1960 by people with vision. Those who want to drill there don't understand the term "refuge" and have very blinkered vision.

— Scott Hardy

Alaska's land, Alaska's choice.

— Michael Wheeler

Why do people from so far away pretend to know what is best for us in Alaska? Putting abstract issues above real people and families is cold-hearted.

— PaulDani Clark Nowlin