Editorials

"An Informed Voter Is The Best Defense Against Bad Government"

"Alaska State Education Only for the Wealthy?"

By Arlene Buxton.  March 17, 2005

I just happened across this recent press release for Senate Bill 112: 

and I am appalled at what I read.  

How can you take from those who don't "have" in the first place?  

I find the thinking of those Alaskan Legislatures who have more than likely
a lot more than others, totally irrational and unrealistic!  First of all,
rural areas are generally poor and the cash flow is either nonexistent or
barely there.  If there were money to spare, there would be tax structures
in place already to assist in financing pertinent services, most
importantly, a service such as education of the future of Alaska, our
Alaskan children.  But get real!  There isn't any extra money so there
aren't tax-based revenues generated within rural areas!  Wouldn't one think
that is why they have no local tax base to help pay the capital and
operating expenses for local schools now?  That it is because the residents
of rural communities have no money to support taxes?

I can not believe that they think they can just take from someone's paycheck
automatically to pay this tax and there won't be any ramifications or
consequences.  Many rural people are struggling to survive and most often
there are several families living together just to make ends meet.  For
instance, there are many multi-family households who have one or two
breadwinners who support the entire household.  These same breadwinners more
than likely do not earn big dollars nor is their employment permanent or
year-around, most is seasonal and minimum wage and more than likely
supplemented by subsistence lifestyles.  Have any of these Alaskan
Legislature lawmakers ever lived on unemployment these days?  The amount one
receives on unemployment is barely enough to cover basic needs and also has
a time-frame and often benefits are exhausted and further struggle to
survive begins.  And Mr. Bunde thinks those who are on unemployment and who
already don't have enough to make ends meet will take some that unemployment
benefit money to pay the tax bill directly to the state rather than feed or
provide for their families?  I think not!  

He says the Alaska Department of Revenue estimates earned income of $505
million last year in the unorganized boroughs.  How much of that money was
earned by those who are not permanent residents of those rural communities?
How many are people who are contracted to work or brought in by a company
from outside those same communities for a project and then are gone when the
work or project is completed?  These are temporary residents.  I am sure
their earnings are calculated into that total the Department of Revenue has
"estimated".

Quite frankly, I am sick and tired of this "we-they" mentality.  The "we"'s
are those who have never been without and the "they"'s are those who are
without.  The arrogance of the "we"'s is quite evident, they just don't get
it!  Life in rural Alaska is harsh.  They don't have an economy. The "we"'s
live a cushioned life and are ignorant of the lives of the "they"'s that are
constantly struggling.  Most of the "we"'s live in either the largest city
in Alaska (Anchorage), or the other larger more populated cities.  I think
the "outside" mentality is creeping into our legislature.  They say they
moved to Alaska to get away from the "city" life, but unfortunately, they
bring along with them that same mentality that they supposedly moved away
from.  Too bad they don't live in one of our rural communities, maybe then
they could comprehend the added hardship an imposed tax would create for the
poor.

On the other hand, don't they realize how important rural people value
education of their children?  Most rural areas hold their schools, education
in general for that matter, with the highest esteem and take much pride in
them.  To these rural people, education of their children is the future and
it is their hope the future will bring prosperity to the rural communities
through the education of their youth who will someday become their leaders.
They want their children to have more in their adulthood than what they have
now.  Their schools are the main focal point of their communities.  They do
not have movie theaters, or bowling alleys, or concert halls or art centers,
they have only their schools.  School activities are a community-wide
concern.  Any time there is an after-school activity or school program
presentation, you will find nearly the entire rural community in attendance.
Schools, education and facilities, are the heart of villages. They
appreciate the fact that the State of Alaska provides the financial backing
for those schools because they know they can't pay for them without that
assistance.  If they can't pay for them, then there wouldn't be any schools
in their communities, right?

Please, please, rethink this legislation that Con Bunde has introduced.  It
is not in the best interest of rural Alaska.  We want our children to
receive a good education in good schools, but we need the state to continue
their funding as it has with the formerly (known as) State-Operated Schools,
formerly Unorganized Borough School Districts, and now REAA's.

 

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