No Pebble Mine (Homer, Prudhoe Bay: buying, safe, pollution)

[Metlakatla]

A fish ladder ain't gonna do any good, baywop. I think User2 explained that to you quite well.

[baywop]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

A fish ladder ain't gonna do any good, baywop. I think User2 explained that to you quite well.

Must have missed it, I tend to bypass most of what user2 has to say...

[DannyL]

if you're near a tv, watch channel 18, 360 North right now.

[lifelongalaskan]

You have to love User 2. Please, everyone, read his posts. Everyone who does not share his point of view is Mod Cut...no name calling!

There are plenty of facts out there. User 2 states "The US and the State of Alaska don't get jack out of Pebble's plans. Our royalties and tax structure is a joke and the vast majority of the wealth and profits generated from this project will not do anything for the US economy".

Mod Cut Here are some facts:

Mining companies paid $80 million in corporate income taxes in Alaska in 2007. Mining was the second highest corporate-income tax payer in the state, second only to the oil sector. About $175 million was paid in state government royalties, rents, fees, and taxes in 2007, an 11% increase from 2006 and up more than 350% since 2005.

The Red Dog mine paid $170 million in net smelter royalties to the NANA regional corporation of which $125 million is being redistributed to other Alaska native regional and village corporations. Of the 465 jobs at Red Dog, 56% are filled by NANA members. Red Dog is also the largest taxpayer in the Northwest Arctic Borough.

Almost $500,000 in royalties was paid by mining companies to the Calista Corporation, the regional native corporation which holds 6.5 million acres of land and mineral resources in southwestern Alaska. Meanwhile 90% of the 200 exploration jobs at the Donlin Creek gold project were filed by Calista members.

The largest taxpayer in the Juneau City and Borough is the world's fifth largest silver producer, the Greens Creek silver, gold, lead and zinc mine. Alaska's largest gold mine, Kinross Gold's Fort Knox, is the largest property taxpayer in the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

These are the facts. DO NOT BELIEVE ME! Contact the State Department of Natural Resources. Contact the State Department of Revenue. Contact NANA. Contact Calista. Contact the City of Juneau. Contact the City of Fairbanks.

All I am asking you to do is to not believe me and check the facts. Contact any source above, and get them to say any of this is untrue. Please quote the person and office, or publish any official source disputing what I'm posting here.

Pebble is not tax exempt. I challenge User 2 to prove that it would be exempt, and that it would not contribute to state revenues. That there will be no workers, and that they will pay no federal taxes. Prove that "the US and the State of Alaska don't get jack out of Pebble's plans".

If you can do that, then I guess User 2 wins the point. But it will not happen, because what User 2 says is a lie. The State will get jack out of Pebble and so will the people of Alaska. Maybe what we get is not worth it to you. Maybe the environmental risks are too high for you. I respect that. Unlike User 2, I will not try and sway your opinion with lies. If you believe Pebble is not worth the benefits it offers, you sure do not have to argue that with me. And I will not insult you if you disagree with me. Despite what User 2 thinks, people deserve a certain level of respect. No matter the outcome, I respect the ultimate decision of Alaskans on this issue.

[Metlakatla]

If you can do that, then I guess User 2 wins the point. But it will not happen, because what User 2 says is a lie. The State will get jack out of Pebble and so will the people of Alaska. Maybe what we get is not worth it to you. Maybe the environmental risks are too high for you. I respect that. Unlike User 2, I will not try and sway your opinion with lies. If you believe Pebble is not worth the benefits it offers, you sure do not have to argue that with me. And I will not insult you if you disagree with me. Despite what User 2 thinks, people deserve a certain level of respect. No matter the outcome, I respect the ultimate decision of Alaskans on this issue.

Nice job of not insulting someone. You mention User2 in just about every sentence.

Yes, the people of Alaska may ultimately decide this issue, and that is how it should be. Right now Northern Dynasty's biggest obstacle is winning over the Natives.

Is it really all about money? Is that what our state and our way of life come down to?

[lifelongalaskan]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Nice job of not insulting someone. You mention User2 in just about every sentence.

Yes, the people of Alaska may ultimately decide this issue, and that is how it should be. Right now Northern Dynasty's biggest obstacle is winning over the Natives.

Is it really all about money? Is that what our state and our way of life come down to?

Hi Metlakatla,

Of course I'm addressing User 2. I do not think I insulted him. I said he is:

Rude, which can be defined as uncivil, lacking civility or good manners and

Arrogant, which can be defined as having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride.

Another word that comes to mind is pompous.

I would ask anyone to read the replies User 2 has made to myself and others. I think I've made a fair characterization. Is it insulting to point out what looks to be obvious? If so, my apologies. But I see no reason why I should accept User 2s insults without response. I am after all an Alaskan, and so not inclined to let poor behavior pass.

Of course it is not all about the money. I thought I made that clear in the last paragraph of my post. "Maybe the environmental risks are too high for you. I respect that". Unlike User 2, you seem to be a fair minded person. Like you, I am a miner, and fairly well versed on the subject. I'm not for or against Pebble, as there is not a formal mining proposal put forth at this point. But your concerns are certainly valid, and even User 2 makes some good points.

I just object to his condescending manner. And I had to set the record straight when he spouts nonsense like there will be no economic benefit to the state. That is not the same as saying Pebble should come to pass, based strictly on profit. That is but one facet of the issue.

[Manmountain]

99% of the Sheeple dont understand the fundamentals of running a country. The sheep are into global warming, Kosovo, civil (un)-rites .

Looks like the enviro-nazis have the power and being assisted by anti-USA GW SHRUB--- You people are gonna lose everything .

It appears that the left is death and the right is death with pain.



We are tucked........ so lets get together and fight the real enemy!!!

[Rance]

He's baa-aa-aa-aa-aack!

[Manmountain]

Originally Posted by Rance

He's baa-aa-aa-aa-aack!

An Ameaaaaarican! The C-Data DOT. Corp machine must give Sir Rancealot a lot of leeway being the Admin. here , as AK /THE BIG LAND is SPECIAL. How long between Costco visits? Hows all on the slope? more $ raises yet again? $100 oil BUYAAA --- I like gold to $2000 by years end--- be me workin in the mines--- we be friends.

AK Ferry is the ticket-- I will ADD TO THE LAST FRONTIER WHEN I ARRIVE.

But to the topic--- Corporations are in bed with the US Gubermint--- and the US Gubermint is in bed with 3000 more whores---

so WHY DO WE FIGHT AMONGST ourselves?

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Manmountain

AK Ferry is the ticket-- I will ADD TO THE LAST FRONTIER WHEN I ARRIVE.

you'll fit in just fine...

remember our motto:

"alaska...characters welcome...."