Alaska’s Founding Father on Big Oil
Two Alaskan originals from the days of statehood – Katie Hurley, and Vic Fischer.
On Thursday, rallies were held across the state to protest the legislature’s impending giveaway of billions of dollars from Alaska’s coffers to the wealthiest corporations in history with no strings attached. Speeches were given by many people, but perhaps the most important was that of Vic Fischer, one of Alaska’s original Constitutional delegates. Having Vic Fischer here is like being able to ask Thomas Jefferson or John Adams about the Constitution.
He addressed a large crowd in the chill of downtown Anchorage, in front of the Legislative Information Office. He was asked if he was freezing to death in the cold.
I’m not freezing to death. I’m hot under the collar! I’m disgusted with what’s happening in Juneau. The legislature is being stampeded into passing a horrendous piece of legislation that steals Alaska’s wealth from the people of Alaska.
It’s horrible to listen to the advertising where ConocoPhillips claims to be “Alaska’s oil and gas company.” They are not looking out for Alaska. They may have a governor who is a former lobbyist for ConocoPhillips; they have two state senators who provided key votes in passing this horrible piece of legislation – and they’re on the payroll of ConocoPhillips. But ConocoPhillips does not own Alaska. ConocoPhillips does not represent the interests of Alaska. All they’re out for is the shareholders of the corporation, and they are not interested in what’s good for Alaska.
Sixty years ago we fought for statehood so that we would get out from under the yoke of Outside companies. We don’t run Alaska for the sake of Exxon, and BP, and ConocoPhillips. The Constitution specifically provides that the legislature will provide for the management of Alaska’s resources for the maximum benefit of the people – the maximum benefit of Alaskans. That is the job of the governor. That is the job of the legislature, and if they can’t do the job, we must throw them out!
In the meantime, it is time to make something out of the legislation that is pending.
There is no need to have this headlong rush to be stampeded into something that is not for the benefit of Alaska. And so, it is time for the people to speak out – for the people to scream, “Let’s do it right.” Let’s do it for the benefit of the people of Alaska, not for the big oil companies that will only look out for their own interests, and not the interest of Alaskans.
Thank you all.
I had the opportunity to meet Vic this winter in a chance encounter. Very genuine guy. It’s not often that you get to chat with a true Alaskan pioneer.
If one wanted to get rill persnickety about the whole deal, it ain’t rilly a “giveaway” since it could cost all Alaska citizens a couple billion bucks per year. In the true spirit of Christmas(all year/every year) for nutters, rw giveth and Korporate Amerika receiveth. How can it be that a Founding Father in his twilight years is capable of reading and comprehending the state constitution while younger,supposedly better educated nutjobs are completely clueless?
Register new voters, and convince them that primaries are as important as the general election, and that elections happen EVERY year.
We are so lucky to still have one TRUE statesmen, speaking for and with the people of our home. I don’t know but did this make it on channel 2,4,5,7,9,13? It’s all so fanciful the constitution an all. Laws just get in the way of making money.
Crapitalism spoils our water.