As I sit here contemplating on what to write my blog about, I keep going back to the fact that there are Alaskans (specifically myself) that don't know about the future of our state. As a third generation Alaskan, I pride myself on the fact that I am from Alaska. But how can I, the daughter of a teacher, and the granddaughter of and Anchorage Pioneer, not know about Alaska and where it is going.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I watch the news. I hear words thrown out like "Oil reserves, gas exploration, and ACES." I have heard that the oil production is declining, but it didn't mean anything to me. Unfortunately for me, now it does. I guess if you knew me, you would know that I am a worrier. Now my eyes are open and I am worried about my future as well as the future of my family. But I am also worried about the future of our state. How can we keep spending $13,500 per capita? When the oil is gone, who is going to pay? Or more importantly, when the money runs out, what is getting cut?
When I used to think about Alaska, I thought about gold, oil, and money. Sure our state has some budget issues, but the bottom line is that we have liquid gold flowing down from the slope. That oil will be there to fix all of our financial problems. But, I am slowly learning that that is not the case.
So what is the problem? Is it our production taxes? Is that what is limiting the oil and gas exploration? If so, how do we change that? In Juneau, that is what they are looking at right now. So is HB 110 the answer? I don't know. What I do know is that something has to give. To me, it seems as though our state is burning the candle at both ends. We are using up our oil supply and at the same time we are constantly stalling on the gas line. So without oil and gas, where is our money coming from?
So, is being ignorant about Alaska's future better than knowing the truth? I don't think so. I may stress more about it, but it also helps to put a fire under me. It helps me see that I need to be an active participant in our government, that if I want things to change, I have to help make that change.
Aimee Campbell
E-mail your legislator to vote yes on HB110! Visit the web site www.prosperityalaska.org and click and take action! Select your issue, Reform Alaska's Oil Tax System Now! Then, enter your information, click continue, then send. ACES has created a decline in oil investment. Our one exploratory oil well will be drilled this year which is a 95% reduction from 2007. If we don't encourage our government to do something, we will see an exodus of people from our state looking for work and prosperity elsewhere which will trickle down to our schools and teaching jobs.
ReplyDeleteWe Are One
ReplyDeleteAs a public servant I think it is too bad so many of us take our situations for granted without reflecting on how they came to be.
Another forum if you value public services, show your support to remind elected officials that UNION RIGHTS are CIVIL RIGHTS.
Monday, April 4 at Loussac Library, 4:30-6:30
Lisa Pullen
Really? UNION RIGHTS ARE CIVIL RIGHTS? I disagree. I think they're a privilege, not a right. What if EVERY WORKER was in a union? Every worker would have collective bargaining "rights" which would start an avalanche of each group "out-bargaining" each other. Hey, they got a 3% raise, then we should too, and so on until finally they looked at the "public servant" balance sheet and realized there wasn't any money left. So they go to the "public servant" boss and complain because they deserve to be treated with respect. The boss, (Mr. BIG GOV.), agrees that all these servants need more money so they just create, (print), more money for Group A, then Group B, and so on. There's a word for this economical phenomenon, it's called INFLATION! Did you hear that? That was inflation knocking on your door!
ReplyDeleteTom The Tyrant