Comment by Mimi13: McCain says Palin "took on big oil" but lets look at what that actually means. Alaska taxes every barrel of oil that leaves Alaska at about 75% of value. From this revenue, Alaska returns $2000 to every man, woman and child in the state. This year, Paln added a $1200 payment to all Alaskans to use the extra money generated by the rising price of oil. In other words, Palin has grown her popularity in Alaska while sticking it to people in the Lower 48. We pay the higher oil prices and Alaska reaps the benefits. What a great American! Palin's belief that Americans in the Lower 48 are suckers ready for the plucking is also demonstrated in her requests for Congressional earmarks -- the highest per capita in the nation. Alaska sends about $5,500 per person to Washington in taxes, but it TAKES from Washington in federal spending about $14,000 per person. Alaskans pay a little but get a lot from their taxes --- and the rest of the country pays for it. McCain says that Palin used her "veto pen" and technically that's true. She cut about $500 million from the state budget. That is less than 2% of the total budget -- not a very sharp pen, Palin also made a tidy sum for the state by imposing a windfall profits tax (you know, that thing that Obama keeps pushing, but McCain says will ruin the economy) on oil companies. Palin thinks Alaskans are so much better than the rest of the country that it's just right and proper that those of us who don't shoot caribou or eat mooseburgers or race snowmobiles should just naturally pay to support the fine, upstanding, rightous, clean-living people who do. And there's nothing to indicat that her allegience to Alaska would stop at the White House door. Has there ever been a time when campaign rhetoric and the facts have ever been more at odds?