Comments on: This is the way the oil tax debate ends: not with a bang but a whimper http://amandacoyne.com/energy/this-is-the-way-the-oil-tax-debate-ends-not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper/ Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:40:28 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Shawn O'Donnell http://amandacoyne.com/energy/this-is-the-way-the-oil-tax-debate-ends-not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper/#comment-90 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:40:28 +0000 http://amandacoyne.com/?p=745#comment-90 Of course the end came quietly, the voices of descent, the balance is gone. Every single person in this state no matter their political views knows this is a text book gerrymandered body. The Dems and the adult R’s like Gary Stevens who asked questions and had facts knew they had been out gunned. They knew as they touched down on the tarmac looking up Mendehnall valley what the outcome would be.
I have never in my life seen a body so inept and devoid of critical thinking as this legiature. They are a disgrace to their esteemed predacessors, the statesmen and women who clutched this state from corporations; now only to see it “sold back”. It smacks of Guatemala in 54 when United Fruit smacked down the uppity people of that nation for rightfully exercising owner ship of their nation and its resources. Not so dramatic as a violent coup but certainly a covert one made of money.
Yes production is in decline it has been for years even under ELF rememeber, the big three were raking it in and guess what, prodcution or exploration did not explode.
Make no mistake ACES was a success, there are more palayers than ever before.

]]> By: TLS http://amandacoyne.com/energy/this-is-the-way-the-oil-tax-debate-ends-not-with-a-bang-but-a-whimper/#comment-87 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:43:42 +0000 http://amandacoyne.com/?p=745#comment-87 A couple of corrections. I’ll buy the chinese torture thing but it wasn’t the ‘citizens” that said enough. It was bought and sold politicians that benefited from voter apathy at the ballot box. Polling other than Dittman’s last republican public relation statement consitantly showed that Alaskans did not approve of lowering oil taxes. It is likely that voters will weigh in again during the 2014 election and save Alaska by voter initative and make a needed correction.

It is a broad brush that paints our schools as so poor. Here in the MatSu we have very good public schools that return almost 80% of funding direct to the classroom. NCLB set unrealistic goals that show many schools across the state failing that actually do quite well. The combined 4 to 5 year graduation rate in Mat Su is 98%. Demonizing public schools and public workers may be a successful strategy for some legislators but they shouldnt get too comfortable in their seats or enjoying the benefits that came to them on behalf of the unions.

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