Posted on 08/20/2005 4:25:48 PM PDT by neverdem
YOU have probably already heard about the pile of cash going to Alaska from the federal transportation bill. There's about a quarter of a billion dollars for a bridge to connect the airport on Gravina Island to Ketchikan (population 14,000). The bridge will rival the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridges in length and height.
Then there's $230 million or so for "Don Young's Way," a bridge between Anchorage and a swampy, undeveloped port, which is named for the man who got us the money, Alaska's lone congressman.
But it's the $15 million designated for a road between Juneau and Skagway that is dearest to me. Haines, the small town I live in, is close to Skagway - separated from it only by the waters of the upper Lynn Canal, which is not a canal at all, but the longest fjord in North America. The transportation money will go toward the first road ever to be built along the canal. Actually, the project will cost about $300 million to complete, but Gov. Frank Murkowski assures Alaskans that he'll get whatever he needs from the federal government.
The communities directly affected - Haines (population 2,400), Skagway (population 870) and Juneau (population 31,000) - have voiced opposition to the road for a host of good reasons: it is a waste of money; with at least two dozen avalanche chutes, it will be too dangerous to drive in winter, which is most of the year; we already have a fine ferry system that gets us just about everywhere we need to go in all kinds of weather; some places are too nice to be paved over.
Oh, and did I mention that the road won't fulfill its ostensible mission? The whole purpose of the new road was to connect Juneau to the Klondike Highway...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Male Bovine Excrement.
You have no idea how the OIL patch works do you?
You are on BAD drugs.
Even the hippies in ALASKA are "right wingers".
I don't know who you are calling a "heather" - not even sure what that backwoods vernacular means, but I don't like it!
Look... AK ain't ANY different then the lower 48 - We OWN you just as much as we own Arkansas. Get over it mountain-man.
Heather is the author of the article, BTW.
Yeah my town of 20k in Wisconsin would love a nice big juicy bridge project with 250 mil of federal pork. We could run it across lake Winnebago.
I'm disgusted that alledged conservatives here think a hog fest is OK as long as they get the slops. This is why despite our control of congress the spending just gets worse.
No one needs your "I'm An Alaskan" holier than thou crappola.
You're part of the Union buddy, and if you don't like it, the rest of us will kick your azz into compliance like we did in 1861-1865
Is your area ready to cough up the remain 3/4 of the project's cost? That is what we will be doing for the Knik Arm.
Hey Moron, all we are asking for is to be treated as one of 50 UNITED STATES.
If you are too stupid to understand the geographical uniqueness and realities of ALASKA that's your problem, not mine.
You really do make my point.
Turns out talk is cheap in the summer. You wouldn't last a month of winter.
PS; No thanks bubba, you don't pass the physical.
You read one article written by one person, and you're ready to give Alaska back to Russia? I do believe I'll throw a cyber-snowball at you and rub your face in the snow. LOL
"Sewer Service"? BWWAAAAHAAAAAAAAA Sorry, that just cracked me up. If you choose to live in Juneau, Anchorage or Fairbanks you can prolly get sewer service. But the rest of Alaskans either put in a crib or some other septic system. Have to drill your own well too unless you live in the city.
Last time I checked, Alaskans pay federal income tax along with the rest of the Lower 48. (sarcasm) Do you realize how many of the fancy, "just gotta have", projects us Alaskans are paying for that are demanded by those in the Lower 48? We do not have that many folks living up here but you all down there sure love to come on up here and use our roads by the hundreds and hundreds of thousands. We have to fix up the wear and tear on the roads caused by the tourists. I'm not complaining, just pointing out that your comment is rather self-righteous and ignorant.
Your have accused Alaska of being a "leech", which would also imply that Alaskans are leeches. That's not only stupid, it's an ignorant insult. Hey, you want to open up ANWAR? Want some oil? Want to come up here as a tourist or for a hunt? I welcome everyone, except YOU. Alaskans have got to be the most self-sufficient people in the U.S.
Way to go!! :)
Guess I'm not the only one that has noticed that. I have yet to meet a Democrat or one of those idiotic looney Liberals. Only ones I know all live Outside. I'm sure we have some of them though, because some of the sick and demented have decided to come on up to Alaska. But they are woosies....most of them move to the city. They wouldn't last two minutes anywhere else in Alaska because they would have enough federal programs. Our definition of "subsistence" isn't their definition of "subsistence". They get theirs from the Gubment. We get ours from the land. (ps: they really do hate that)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.