"If I don't see it, it's not there"
Birdchick just posted some very disturbing news: members of Congress went to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and didn't see any wildlife. Apparently, if you don't see any wildlife (specifically trees and caribou), it's not there, so drilling for oil won't cause any environmental hardships. I really despise congress people (and I'm not calling them congress critters because that's an insult to critters) this round.
Here's the final passage from Birdchick's entry that sums everything up:
So, any blog readers been to this area of Alaska? Would you care to let Ms. Bachmann know about the wildlife you have seen (202-225-2331)? I don't see this as a republican vs democrat issue. I don't even see this as a do we drill there or do we not drill there issue. I see this as an issue of--Did you actually have your eyes open while you were there issue. Don't tell the country that there's no wildlife just because it's flat and there's no caribou. That's like calling the prairie boring. There's more to wildlife than what is big and obvious and easy to see.
It's almost tempting to start a campaign of birders mailing her a copy of Sibley with Alaska birds highlighted.
Here's a list of all who went in case you want to check on your state's rep and their report.
John Boehner (R-OH)
Michelle Bachmann (R-MN)
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Mary Fallin (R-OK)
Dean Heller (R-NV)
Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Robert Latta (R-OH)
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
Steve Scalise (R-LA)
Adrian Smith (R-NE)
Just in case anyone missed it, here is the link to Bachman's report. And here's another (pro-environment) summary of the topic. According to John Boehner, the GOP trip leader, ANWR is a "desolate coastal plain." Gee, as Born Again Birdwatcher noted, preconceptions anyone?