The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been a sanctuary to thousands of animals for more than 100 years.

It is one of the most breathtaking places on Earth. Drilling for oil there would make absolutely no difference to our current energy crisis or the high cost of fuel in this country. Common sense should tell us that the monstrous cost and small benefit that is drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge could not possibly be worth it.

President Bush would be the first of 10 American presidents since the refuge was established to try to revoke the land promised to the precious wildlife of the arctic. I hope our current government is not mistaking that for innovation.

I have traveled to Alaska on more than one occasion, so it makes very little sense to me how someone who has seen its unique beauty firsthand could still vote and even fight to destroy it. Drilling in the refuge would not only make it toxic for the animals that live there, but it would also mean letting go of the one piece of coastline not already open for drilling.

It is simply a bad business decision. The cost is greater than the profit.

The oil America would gain from drilling would be minimal at best, considering our country’s high dependency on it. The Energy Information Agency reported that drilling in the Arctic would save less than 4 cents per gallon in 20 years.

We would do much better to take the billions of dollars that would be spent on drilling and invest them in alternate energy sources.

We live in a society powered by money. It would be wise of a person running for office in this country to display good business judgment. Drilling in the ANWR is the exact opposite of that.

Magnolia Gramling

Bowling Green