10-5-12

This morning, House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (NGP Photo) commented on today's September jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  “When there are 23 million unemployed or underemployed Americans, it’s always welcome news to see people getting back to work. Unfortunately, staggeringly high unemployment rates have become all too common and there are still too many families struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has continued its assault on American job creators. Nowhere is this more evident than American energy production where government red tape and burdensome regulations have slowed energy production and stopped job creation."

Commentary.  Yesterday (scroll down), we alerted readers of a press conference being hosted by Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources, Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo).  We participated via teleconference.  Most of the reporter questions were thoughtful and professionally stated.  However. the Alaska Dispatch's senior editor -- always well intended but increasingly hostile toward efforts to reform oil taxes -- dominated the session asking question after question on the same general subjects.  In a courtroom, the opposing attorney would have objected, saying, "asked and answered".  We respect that journalists can sometimes be persuaded to 'ask the tough questions'.   But we flinch when a 'professional' journalist would become so emotional and ask questions in such a mean-spirited way.  Not suprisingly, the editor produced an editorial today characterized as 'analysis'.  If it analyzes, it does so more by opinion and inuendo than by a close inspection of the facts or dispassionate comparison of the facts.   We care about slanted reporting and poor commentary because public opinion and governmental decisions are affected.  To the extent that we can counter with information and logic that our readers find useful, we will have properly accomplished our mission.   Here is the link to her editorial.  We hope to provide a more detailed review of that piece next week.  -dh