The problem with the petroleum business angle is intuitive and already upon our doorstep all over GOP America. They push their radical single minded and very un-independent candidates who get into office and do their radical single minded passing of tax breaks and other incentivized favors and eventually the Congress and Legislature becomes corrupted and ineffective and Government doesn't work. Just look at Chennault, Michellette, MacKinnon, Meyer and on and on and that's why Alaska's legislature is totally constipated. 
But Exxon, Conoco and BP could care less. They are still not paying taxes and the State is running on Sarah Palin's huge tax increases not oil's current cash!