That’s completely backwards. Managing a high density population is MUCH easier because of economies of scale.
This is just like manufacturing, higher run, lower cost per unit. Mass transit in Dallas or Houston is easy. Making it viable in a place like Lubbock or almost any place in Alaska is very difficult.
Whether you are talking about schools, hospitals, or infrastructure (elec, water, sewage, roads, trains, airports) the less density, the more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
ESL, speech therapy, classes for special needs, etc. are handled in urban areas by creating special schools or classes at key schools and transporting kids to the classes. How do you do that when the nearest school with a hearing impaired class is 70 miles away and only accessibly by plane?
Light plane transport is a big deal in Alaska precisely because many communities - particularly poorer minority areas - are so remote they have to fly in groceries and fly out patients for things as simple as a broken leg or a root canal.
Both states are great, but delivering government services in Alaska, where harsh climate makes travel all but impossible three months out of the year proves Alaska is MUCH more difficult to govern than Texas.
In fact, economies of scale means per capita government should cost less in Texas and property and sales taxes from high value properties means there should be more money in Texas. So, why is Texas so deeply in debt? Why the huge growth in state workers and agencies in Austin?
Rick’s alright as governor, but we can’t afford to hope he does what he’s never done before - cut the size of government.
Palin has done it, and she did it during a surplus!
Thirty years ago one of the charity hospitals in Houston, think it was called LBJ, was $25 million in the red. Who knows what the cost is to Parkland Hospital for unpaid health care.
I wonder what the total loss is for indigent health care in Alaska compared to TX..
Fed gov't unfunded mandated programs kill states with big populations.
How many illegals are on food stamps in AK?
I still think Houston population alone costs TX taxpayers more than total cost to taxpayers in Alaska.
As for electricity, gas, water, etc. is why most rural people have propane, water wells and have to pay to have electrical lines to their houses...those services are handled by municipalities, not states.
The debt is not like the US debt. It’s bonds that are voted on by the voters. Some of the debt is from student loans and are being paid off with the interest on the loans. The bulk is for roads.