Yahoo! News - Senate Seen Backing Oil Search in Alaska Refuge
This is a perfect example of why I'm having a hard time paying attention lately. (see post below) Every day it's either the destruction of the environment, or a giveaway to big business and the rich, or cuts made to the kids, the sick, the elderly and apparently no one is going to stop it.

Happy now, America? Is the "moral agenda" you voted for? The "Greediest Generation" strikes again.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As U.S. crude oil prices soared to a record high on Wednesday, the Senate was expected to vote to open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling.

The ANWR drilling plan is a key aspect of the Bush administration's national energy plan, but has been blocked in recent years by a Senate coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats.

Republican Pete Domenici, chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said drilling supporters have enough votes to defeat an effort by Democrats to strike ANWR drilling language from budget legislation.

A vote was expected in early afternoon.

Opponents said there is not enough oil in the refuge to justify harming the area's caribou, musk oxen, polar bears, migratory birds and other wildlife. Instead, they say Congress should tighten mileage standards for vehicles to reduce U.S. oil demand and reliance on oil imports.

Nah, we wouldn't want to do anything that makes fucking sense, would we? Better to destroy more of the world to get a few sips of that precious oil.

Shame. So ashamed of my country.