http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4053015Oh my.
The primitives find reasons to Hate just about anybody or anything.
BeFree (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 05:40 PM
Original message
Alaska: A Welfare State?
Seems Alaska gets $22,000 per person from the federal govt. And Alaska will pay you $1G just to move there, and gives each resident 1000's a year.
And all that money comes from the other 49 states.
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:13 PM
Response to Original message
1. An explanation of the Alaska Permanent Fund for the uninformed.
after which a long copy-and-paste job about the APF; unlike the primitives on Skins's island, most of us here know what this is, so no reason to bring it here
BeFree (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:22 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. $35 billion!
We oughtta grab that and give it to the people down here. If it wasn't for us yall would be Russians.
People don't pay $9 for gas. They pay extra for the transportation. And whatever you say about the 22G, it is still federal welfare. And Palin will just increase those earmarks outta my pocket!
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:40 PM
Response to Reply #2
6. Hey, talk to your own legislature and see if they'll set up a permanent fund for you. Surely your state has some resources that it's making money on.
BeFree (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:45 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. I will
And try to get them to take your 35B and end your 22K per. After all, all we got from you is Palin.
Hmmm. One wonders what the primitive would be paying for gasoline, without all that Alaska oil.
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:47 PM
Response to Reply #7
11. Don't blame me for Palin.
That's all John McCain's doing. We'll be more than happy to take her back so we can teach her a few lessons on humility.
Sorry, but you have no legitimate claim to our 35 Billion, just like I don't have a claim to your IRA. If you missed it, this is INVESTMENT income, and the Fund took a big hit last week, just like everybody else.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:25 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. Does it also say why other oil-producing states don't get the same sweet deal?
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:38 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. You'll have to ask the other oil-producing states why they didn't set one up.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:45 PM
Response to Reply #5
9. But why aren't the other states getting a special deal?
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:50 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. I don't know.
Believe me, I think it would be GREAT if other states had a permanent fund. I don't know why they didn't think of it themselves. Maybe your state governments have been too greedy. We just happened to have some really smart guys in government at the time that the oil started flowing through the Pipeline -- Jay Hammond, Hugh Malone, Dave Rose, among others -- who said, hey, rather than frittering all this money away on a bunch of capital projects or whatever, why don't we invest it and pay dividends to the people of the state. I don't think that's such a bad idea.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. "Maybe your state governments have been too greedy." Excuse me?
Maybe you aren't aware, but you can check other people's profiles by clicking on the icon.
Or maybe you did click on the icon, read my profile and don't understand what the word "California" means.
Or, maybe you don't know what being part of the United States means?
Again, I ask, why don't the other states get Alaska's special deal?
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:04 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Haven't you read anything I've written here?
The Alaska Permanent Fund was set up by our legislature and then-Governor Hammond pursuant to the Alaska state constitution in order to provide to the people of Alaska some benefit from the oil wealth that is extracted from our state. It's a STATE matter, not a federal thing. If you have a problem with California and how its wealth is distributed then take it up with your legislature.
Would you rather that Exxon, BP, and Conoco-Phillips take all the profits? They pay royalties to the State of Alaska, the State of Alaska invests that money, and we are paid dividends from the INTEREST on those investments.
Again, I'm sorry that you guys don't have a similar arrangement, but you don't have to get mad at us about it.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:10 PM
Response to Reply #16
18. Maybe I'm not making myself clear: why does Alaska get special treatment?
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:24 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Maybe I'm not making MYSELF clear.
Alaska has a Constitution. Our constitution says that the resources of the state are to be conserved, managed and developed for the benefit of its residents. After oil started being produced on the North Slope and being transported through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the late '70s and early '80s, Alaska's governor and the legislature came up with a plan, pursuant to our constitution, whereby the PEOPLE OF ALASKA (since that's who our state constitution covers) would share in the royalties that the oil companies were paying to Alaska for the privilege of taking our resource and doing whatever they do with it. The royalties are deposited into the Alaska Permanent Fund, and the dividends are paid from the interest.
Once again, this has nothing to do with the federal government. This is Alaska law. We are a resource-rich state. Alaska's state government has chosen to share the wealth with the real people of the state. Other states put their revenues into other things, general funds, capital projects, whatever. This is just what Alaska has chosen to do.
If you're so disturbed about it, of course you are welcome to move up here, spend a couple of winters and collect your dividend, too. Might I suggest Shemya or Anuktuvuk Pass or possibly Akiachak? I hear they're lovely in January.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:28 PM
Response to Reply #19
20. No, you made yourself clear. Ends justify the means.
Alaska wrote themselves a chunk of welfare, which is in no way being manipulated by the oil companies.
Everyone knows this; oil companies never exploit anyone.
Hey, don't forget Gramm-Leach-Bliley's written down too.
Wake up!
Blue_In_AK Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Whatever.
As I said, you're welcome to come up and get your share, too. You sound bitter.
ColbertWatcher Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sun Sep-21-08 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. "Whatever" !? You still can't explain why Alaska gets special treatment.
Look I'm done with this.
Hmmmm. The primitive acts as if he's actually contributed anything to this bonfire, other than jealousy.
