Editorial

"Changing Minds" by John Davis - KSRM, Radio Kenai - Think About It…. March 13, 2002

Have you ever wondered how so many of our legislators, and certainly our governor, seem to completely change their thinking just as soon as they get to Juneau. I mean…. when running for election they promise to bring our run-a-way government spending into line. They say they support a long term financial plan to hold the line on new spending and will begin cutting out bureaucrats and unconstitutional programs we can no longer afford. Then
soon after arrival in Juneau most all forget their promises and begin to become gurus of handing out all the dollars that has been sent to them, simply because "that’s the way we do it in Alaska".

And it is. As Alaskans aren’t we are all a part of the most un-American, socialist experiment ever set up and nurtured in the USA. First and foremost is the fact that the Federal Government made sure at Alaska statehood acceptance that all oil and mineral wealth is owned by the Government, rather than individual ownership of oil and mineral rights that, when developed, could and would be taxed by the government. So now in Alaska…. ALL the wealth generated by oil and mineral wealth flows directly to the Central Treasury of the State. Similar to the former U.S.S.R. So… It’s really no wonder that our governor and legislators consider themselves the great gurus and geniuses sent to Juneau to divvy up the booty, their money, as they see fit.

However, we need to remember that our Founding Fathers made it clear that "all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". In other words, Government exists to secure these rights, not to deliver happiness. People must have the right to choose how to live their own lives; it is wrong to take money from one person, by force, just because you’d like to give it to someone else.

The Permanent Fund and our natural resource royalties and taxes ARE NOT the government’s money. The money belongs to the people. Such a basic concept; So simple…. Yet the Democrats, other leftists and also many Republicans, seem to believe that we as Alaskans work FOR the government, that the government has first claim on the people’s money, and that we should be grateful for whatever scraps the government allows us to keep. The Permanent Fund, the Permanent Fund earnings and natural resource revenues are not a pot full of money begging to be spent by the legislative geniuses in government.

It belongs to us!… the people of Alaska!…. And we must remind our legislators and governor often…. that it does belongs to us! So….No new taxes, no new spending until all State funding of private businesses, individuals, and special interest groups have been completely eliminated. Use OUR money for constitutionally mandated services such as schools, roads and public safety…ONLY!! If you agree….contact your legislators
this week. If you disagree….return your Permanent Fund Dividend.

Think About It! JCD-3/13/02

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