Executive Order on Polar Bears Restricts Domestic Oil and Gas Production

The International Business Times US reports that more than 187,000 square miles of on-shore barrier islands in Alaska have been designated a 'critical habitat' for polar bears.

This is an area larger than each of the 50 states, except Texas and all of Alaska. The area reportedly includes Chukchi and Beaufort seas, both sites for oil and gas explorations. The special status could mean additional restrictions over the companies applying for permits to operate in the region.

The imposition of probable restrictions on oil and gas drilling was done by Executive Order through Tom Strickland, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

I have nothing against polar bears other than the fact that I don't want to get close to them, since I know that the one thing they have in mind is to have me for lunch. However, this country is in dire need of domestic oil and gas production and any limitation, such as the above, continues to damage our economic position. The simple question is why do we keep shooting ourselves in the foot?

Is it because we don't have a realistic understanding of environmentalism, or is it a continuation of President Obama's program to equalize wealth on a worldwide basis, through restricting economic growth in the US?

It seems to me that this is another example of the executive branch of government controlling all government activities, while Congress sits idly by and watches destruction of our economy and increased vulnerability to physical destruction by foreign powers because of our energy weakness.