The American people deeply believe in, respect and fervently support State's Rights. The American people know that the people of each State have the right to decide what should occur in their own State even if the issue involves "federal" land. The American people know that each state has sovereign Rights.
The American people know that "nearly 70 percent" (Juneau Empire, September 8, 2002) of Alaskans support oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The American people know it is the right of the Alaskan people to decide if oil and gas development should occur at ANWR. The American people are ready to vote for the right of the Alaskan people to decide if oil and gas production should occur at ANWR.
The American people know that if Washington can dictate to the people of Alaska, that Washington can do the same (and in fact has done the same) to the people of ANY other State. The American people know that the decisions made in Washington have not, and do not, represent the will of the people in the individual States. The people in the Southern States know this. The people in the Western States know this. The people across the United States know this.
Given the opportunity, the American people would vote overwhelmingly FOR the right of the people of Alaska to make their own decisions.
In 23 States and many foreign countries when a Legislative body has acted against the will of the people the issue would be placed on the ballot as a Referendum.
While the United States does not have a provision for National Referendum, (though a Time magazine poll showed that 76% favored National Referendum), Congress could vote to place on the ballot a National Referendum Question on the Right of the Alaskan People to Decide if Oil an Gas Production Should occur in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
The people of the United States, for over 90 years, have voted on issues at the ballot box on the Statewide level. in 23 States there are provisions for Referendum and initiative on the Statewide level. in 49 States the electorate, in a Referendum, must approve State Constitutional Amendments. Local Referendums and Town Meetings take place in States across the country.
All over the world people are directly deciding, through National Referendums, major issues at the ballot box. In Russia the people have voted in a National Referendum for a new Constitution. In South Africa the people voted in a National Referendum on "continuing to negotiate an end to apartheid". in France and Denmark the people voted in National Referendums on economic unity of Europe. in Ireland the people have voted in a National Referendum on the issue of abortion.
in the history of the United states there have been times when Referendums played a decisive role in the passage of such unsolvable issues for their time, such as Woman Suffrage and Direct Election of United States Senators.
James Madison, a signatory of the United States Constitution and the forth President of the United states, believed that the "supreme authority" is the people. A National Referendum on the Right Of the Alaskan People to Decide if oil and Gas Production should Occur in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would allow the "supreme authority" - the people - to be directly engaged and decide this issue.
It is time to let the Alaskan people decide if oil and gas production should occur in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).