Or the Norwegian model, or the Canadian model, or the Russian model, where the country has tight regulations and earns high royalties while letting private companies invest in the infrastructure and do the work.

Considering that almost our entire economy is bases on customer service (tourism) than this is a problem. We have so far to go in terms of customer service and it would benefit us all so much if we were able to improve it.

Seems to be with BEC, that 'sometimes things' happen all the time.

So this ridiculous government has spent money buying back 2% of BTC just so they can go ahead and open up competition to private companies. They should have been selling what was left of their share and then opening it up for competition. Does anyone in power actually think, or did they find another way to take under the table money from this setup too?

Absolutely, we need to approach the problem of young people to stop the problems we have today from continuing in the future.

That and cut the rampant corruption committed by our politicians so that we have money to pay for programs to help youth.

I don't see the world beating down our doors in order to invest in any non-petroleum businesses here. By all means, I think growing those are a fantastic idea, but that does not mean that we can look for oil as well.

All of the things you mention would be great but can all be done alongside a healthy and profitable petroleum industry.

This new trend in debates you are alluding to is called an Ad-Hominem, and is nothing new, and not what is happening here. Philip is attacking your arguments, not you. Nowhere do I see a personal attack in any of their statements.

"Undisclosed quantity of marijuana"? So essentially a personal supply. Is this really the best use of our police and court resources? Going after some tourists for smoking a joint when there are dozens of unsolved murders on the books?

I really doubt most of the leading politicians in this country even know how to use email. Getting them behind current technologies, even with under the table kickbacks would be an almost impossible task.

Not a single major, or minor economy in the world is trying to move beyond fossil fuels. By all means you should push for alternatives, but that is currently exactly what they are, just an alternative to our mainstay, fossil fuels.
A very tiny area of Alaska still sees some residual effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, which was the result of outdated shipping technology, a drunk captain, and very poor regulation. We have learned from such tragedies, and looking back and digging in our heals to point to one particular incident is a disservice to progression.

Should we not be pushing for better regulation, better oversight, and better use of our resources, rather than blindly pointing at oil and yelling that it is the devil?