U.S. VOTERS SUPPORT . . .

ANWR drilling

A NATIONAL poll conducted for a coalition of labor and business groups shows that those most likely to vote support energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2-to-1.

The poll was taken in mid-February and indicated likely voters support ANWR drilling 62 percent to 31 percent. Its results were released last week by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of its sponsors.

The poll question was: "Some people say we are too dependent on foreign oil and that we should drill for our own oil in Alaska. Other people say that oil exploration will damage the wildlife in Alaska and should not be allowed. Which one is closer to your opinion?"

The result: 62 percent agreed with the first statement and 31 percent agreed with the second. The other 7 percent said they didn't know or declined to answer the question.

The Teamsters announcement said previous surveys by groups opposing ANWR drilling "have wrongly offered a false choice to participants. Those surveys ask questions that make the participant choose between developing new sources of energy and exploring the ANWR." It noted that the coalition, called Job Power, has long maintained that the United States should do both.

Whether the Senate vote will reflect the desires of the nation's voters remains to be seen. That seems unlikely given the fact that so many senators have thrown their political lot in with the green zealots who control so much of the American political scene these days.

PETA under fire

FINALLY, someone is going after the tax-exempt status of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

The Associated Press reports that the Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise of Bellevue, Wash., is asking the IRS to revoke PETA's tax status because "publicly available information strongly suggests that PETA induces or encourages the commission of unlawful acts."

Center Vice President Ron Arnold said it has been linked to breaking the law, the AP reported.

And the IRS?

Well, it's not talking, one way or the other.

No matter the outcome of the Center's complaint, there are far too many tax exempt organizations with dubious aims that are, in effect, subsidized by taxpayers.

The world would be a better place if PETA and the others had to pay their own way.