text: Since the state currently funds the majority of exploration and getting oil into the pipeline and then allows little to zero production tax why wouldn’t it be in our best interests to take over the oil fields ourselves and cut out the middleman? After all, it simply is too much for them to operate without $100 per barrel oil and hiring Alaskans is a joke to most of the oil and gas corporations. Increase our production taxes on both oil and gas and buy out those that want out. Of course, with oil at such low prices we should get a great deal for our money.