I have 10 euro's in my pocket. I try to maximize my own ROI. My strategy is to spend it wisely. Maybe lunch will be a good investment. I owe this money, so I am now an 'Owner', part of the ownership society. Does this make me a big corporation or am I now a conspiracy funded by Big Oil?

I wish we could let go of all this nonsense.

"I wish we could let go of all this nonsense."

What? And lay bare the reality they "we" are "them"? Then who would we be able to blame for everything?

Let the feces flinging begin (aka blame game).

But before we start, note: I was just wondering out loud who the "we" is in this original text:

... so the question should be how we intend to make the best use of ANWR.

My suspicion is that "we" is Big Oil; and "best use" is a code word for maximized profits. You all must be shocked, shocked that I could have such impure thoughts. "We", but of course, must mean the entirety of humanity and "best use" means helping the poor and feeding the children, yes, indeed.  I apologize for having had delusional thoughts and for not recognizing reality for what it is.

My use of "we" was as the U.S. in general.  How can this country use ANWR to give us time to make whatever changes we need to be making (conservation/alternatives/etc,).  Of course big oil will want to maximize its return.  Of course, we could just use it to lengthen the 'oil fiesta' and continue BAU.  But hopefully it can be used to help the transition.
rw,

Yes, your good intentions were apparent.
I was cynically pointing out that "we" has different meanings to different people.

There is a certain "we" who go to war and make the "ultimate sacrifices" when "their" country calls on them.

There is a certain other "we" who get the no-bid contracts as windfalls of war.

There is a certain "we" who suffer the pain at the pump because our wages are frozen thanks to the helping invisible hand and the threat of a globalized labor pool.

There is a certain "we" who enjoy record profits as the "numbers" for "their" companies leap from one stratum to a next higher one and as they promise trickle down rewards to those who lick their boots.

Yes, "we" will make the "best use" of ANWR once "we" get their hands on this supposedly reserved wildlife refuge that was supposedly reserved for America's posterity. And after that refuged oil is depleted, then what? Then what will the "we" on this side of the table do in order to keep going?

We wouldn't see oil from ANWR for ten years. So how does that make a transition which needs to begin now.  Drilling in ANWR will guarantee we make no transition because it will be just another reason for complacency.  Sounds like a heroin addict who just needs a few more fixes and then he will quit.
No, it'll make us energy-independent!  Whee!