Alaska moves to repair image

[Onlooker]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/02/12/alaska_moves_to_repair_image/

"It's known as The Last Frontier. But lately, Alaska is worried the rest of America sees it as the Freeloading Frontier. Governor Frank Murkowski says it is time for an image makeover. He wants the state to hire a public relations firm to change the perception of Alaska and its people as greedy for federal dollars and all too willing to plunder the environment for profit.

...

"Alaska suffered another setback a few months ago during the furor over $450 million Congress appropriated for two ''Bridges to Nowhere" that became symbols of wasteful spending. Late-night comics mocked Alaska, and a columnist at the Washington Post jokingly recommended the United States sell Alaska back to Russia.

"In reaction, Murkowski announced during his State of the State Address in January a plan to counter misperceptions about Alaska. 'Alaska does not just take. We give, and we have the capacity to give much, much more -- if permitted to do so,' he said.

"Alaska is one of the top recipients of federal largesse. In 2003, the latest year for which figures are available, Alaska received $1.89 in federal spending for every $1 the state paid in taxes to Washington, according to the Tax Foundation. At the same time, Alaska residents pay no state income tax, and only a few cities have a sales tax."

* * *

It's sure no surprise that a Republican stronghold would just take, take, take, and then hire a PR firm rather than look in the mirror. It affirms my belief that Republicans more than Democrats are self-serving opportunists.

[MichiganVote]

1. Who says you can't buy a bridge to nowhere?

[TankLV]

2. Riiiiight repukes - just do some intense PR, but don't change the BEHAVIOR

that justifiably sees you as corrupt opportunists stealing from the public trough!

Yeah, THAT'LL help - NOT!

HEY ANY LURKING REPUKES HERE - GET A CLUE!: CHANGE YOUR CORRUPT BEHAVIOR, THEN YOU'D HAVE NONE OF THESE "PERCEPTION" PROBLEMS!

But then you'd be - horror - like DEMOCRATS!

You know, honest, honerable, gentlemen and ladies, play by the rules - everything you abhore.

[DenaliDemocrat]

3. Alaska is NOT a Republican stronghold

independents up here outweight BOTH parties almost two to one. Alaska could be blue IF the democrats would simply start promoting pro gun candidates. Yep, pro gun. I know, I know, but you have to understnad that there are brown bears in my backyard....and I live in town!!! Hunting, fishing, and the like is a huge part of our ecnomomy.


As for being greedy, sadly, tha tis true. I always say the Great Alaskan motto is "I got hime, so screw you buddy!"

[High Plains]

4. Alaska is the only state where marijuana possession is legal

Up to a quarter-pound in the privacy of one's own home, thanks to the state constitution's privacy provisions, as interpreted by the state Supreme Court.

Murkowski can't stand it, and has expended considerable capital trying to push through a new marijuana law that would be unconstitutional on its face. But he managed to irritate legislators by trying a tricky manuever, tying the pot bill to a methamphetamine bill. But his "methijuana" bill is being rejected...I hope.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Alaska would look a whole lot cleaner without trash running it. n/t

[mitchtv]

6. aerial hunting of wolves

so there are more moose to shoot, some image.

[DenaliDemocrat]

9. Another misrepresentation

there is no "aerial hunting" of wolves, there is no hunting involved. It is aerial killing of wolves for a state sanctioned predator control study. There are strict guideliens, it is done by the state, it is not like you can just go say "I want to go hunt wolves from an airplane".

Just for the record..this is EACTLY the reason that the Democrats lose elections in Alaska. Most Alaskans are not keen on the aerial wolf program, but almost ALL Alaskans abhore people from New Jersey getting involved in our wildlife issues. Most of feel like, when you live in -40, when you have winter for seven months out of the year, and have two highways in your entire state, then come and tell us how to run things. Until then, keep your nose out of state business.

[mitchtv]

11. does that mean on federal lands too?

these beautiful creatures rights extend far beyond AK's provincial boundries.I will never shut up. Sounds a lot like the South objecting to us outsiders telling them about civil rights.
Sorry that description implies that they allow sport hunters., I didn't mean too, but then it is equally sad to hear you defending this commercially inspired wildlife cull. Don't blame Us for your greed inspired GOP gov't either.

[DenaliDemocrat]

14. NO!!!

No wolves are taken on federal lands...only state lands, and some Native Lands at THEIR request.

[aurbo]

13. agreed

until you actually live up here, with wolves attacking your neighbor's dogs, and rampant un- or underemployment in the bush communities, and paying $4.64 a gallon for gas, you don't have any idea what it's like. i never wanted to even touch a gun until i moved here. and moose is a main source of food for a lot of people.

northwest alaska resident

[mitchtv]

15. Sorry , don't buy it

unless you intend to turn the moose into a livestock animal.Preserved as a wildlife animal it is best served by living with predators. As for the dogs? that's new to me. I know the coyotes are a problem down here with small pets. Issue a number of licenses per year, I have nothing aginst hunting, of course science should have first shot at excess wolves for captive breeding and transplanting them.
I raised a wolf hybrid, and was the coolest dog I ever had; a super athlete, , magnificent.

[harpboy_ak]

16. But Alaskans have voted TWICE AGAINST wolf control

The problem is that urban Repugnican sport hunters and guides have constantly pushed for predator control, and have convinced some rural residents that that's the problem, not overhunting in rural areas by urban hunters. I have no problem with trapping or shooting wolves on the ground, or with hunting bears, but I and a majority of Alaskan voters have twice voted against aerial predator control with 2 initiatives.

The oil-financed right wingnuts that have been running the Alaska Legislature for the past 20 years, however, don't give a flying * about what the voters think. They had to wait two years after each of the initiatives, and then almost instantly passed an aerial wolf control bill.

It will be back on the ballot again; we are circulating yet another initiative.

I am an urban meat hunter. I grew up eating venison and moose, and prefer it for flavor, low fat, and the fact that it's organic --- no pesticide spraying here in Rain Country(tm). Remember, even in towns like Juneau, our meat prices are quite high, and venison is not only better for you, it's very low cost. I don't hunt where rural villagers hunt, and I believe that my Tlingit friends have a priority claim on all wild foods in our area. After all, their families have been here 20,000 years and mine has only been here for 94.

[brentspeak]

7. The article didn't even mention the Alaskan Permament Fund

which doles out around $1,000 yearly to each Alaskan household.

[scarletwoman]

8. The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend payments vary year to year.

In any case, the amount isn't per "household", it's per person -- kids, too.

I used to live in Alaska; myself AND my children EACH got the yearly check. Alaska can be a hard place to live -- especially in the boonies, which is where I lived -- and the extra money was certainly welcome, I must admit.

I would have liked to have been able to refuse it on principle -- the Permanent Fund is oil royalties paid to the state -- but it was literally a matter of survival to get that extra cash infusion every October. Made a huge difference in terms of making it through the long winters.

sw

[Vogon_Glory]

10. Rugged Individualism And The Federal Cookie Jar

I have been something of an amateur historian for many years. I find it to be no surprise that the loudest, most obnoxious chest-thumpers boasting of "rugged individualism" and railing against "welfare liberals" are the ones with their political fingers deepest into US taxpayers' pockets.

The cases of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, as well as various western electrification and power-generating schemes, not to mention the Interstate Highway program are prime examples.

[mitchtv]

12. Don't forget ranchers on leased land

miners on public lands, forest Co's on national forests and farmers with subsidies. Every one else is a welfare queen. But god, all those big city welfare cheats.

[northofdenali]

17. Tickles me.

The ones bitching about our "image" are the ones who fucked it up to begin with.

Fuck you Stevens A and Stevens B, Murkowski A and Murkowski B, Young, Con Bunde, Jim Holm, and all the rest of you repukes who took this great land and made it a laughingstock.

Did you know that we used to have one of the top-rated public school systems in the nation? This was pre-pipeline, pre-pfd and pre-influx of the bible beaters. Once the oil companies bought the state, we were pretty much screwed.