Posted on 08/20/2005 4:25:48 PM PDT by neverdem
You must really be a sucker when it comes to statistics. When I do the math, I see many factors that could determine this. Maybe the population of Alaska hasn't grown as much as other states between then and now. Maybe the income (on which the taxes are based) has lost ground on a real basis. Maybe the spending on things that benefit AK citizens directly has gone from nothing to $.57, where under Clinton it was entirely spent on administering Fed land. Maybe the vanishingly few people in the top 5 earning percentiles don't live in AK.
The problem is you are using the single-factor statistic that was wrung out by the Kerryites during the last election cycle to support the notion that the "inner city urban areas" were getting screwed. Which is bogus.
For example, the income taxes in Redmond, WA might not bring back $1 per capita in Fed money compared to every $1 that goes to DC. Yet, that might sheerly be due to the fact that Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer pay taxes there and everyone else gets more in Fed benefits than they paid, save those two.
Alaska has a very small population base (of which an abnormally large percent are exempt native reservation dwellers). A single multi-million dollar project that would be lost in the budgets of Los Angeles County in just cost overruns easily blows the curve on the stat you are depending on.
Maybe if they get ticked off enough at us, they'll disown us. Make Alaska another country drill for oil and keep our oil. Close OUR borders, and maybe we'll get some relief and peace from the treehuggers, PETA, etc. LOL!
Been to Alaska once, winter time. Flown over a good share of it. Did not care for all that white stuff.
Maybe the moon is made of green cheese, but Occam's Razor does apply. A billion dollars of public works projects in a state with about 600,000 people is going to tip the balance in a big way--that's about $2,000 per man, woman, and child, and the children aren't paying income taxes.
Why? Does it take some esoteric backwoods skill to throw another log on the fire?
New Englanders aren't exactly stangers to winter, swifty.
Gotcha. :)
And, unless you are among the top 10% of wage earners, it probably ain't coming from you, either. If you aren't in the top 50%, there isn't any coming from you. There are more tax leaches in Boston than the whole state of AK.
Ah yes, you DO need us don't you. Military presence in Alaska is rather crucial. And you know what? That military uses our roads and creates needs of their own.
Hey, I'm only "on step" with a couple of you FReepers because of your holier-than-though attitude. There are many factors relating to Alaska that you are ignoring.
As for my statement about Alaskans being self-sufficient. I'm not referring to the city folks who move up here from the lower 48. The ones trying to turn Alaska into a California. I'm talking about REAL Alaskans. You can twist that anyway you want. I could care less.
Careful you don't cut yourself on that razor, HT. Every one of those factors weighs more strongly in the per-capita figure than political influence does.
A billion dollars was a month worth of cost overruns in the Big Dig, but it doesn't effect the math as readily due to the teeming masses in Mass. Maybe the graft that the Unions spread so liberally in MA to boondoggle the Dig is the reason their income tax revenues are so high.
Let's see how well you'd get through a New England winter using native New England supplies of fuel oil.
Guess what, it is coming from me.
In the old days, progressive meant progress, connecting the nation with rails and then with roads.
A bridge OPENS up territory to development. Ironic how the author does not mention that the Golden Gate bridge opened up that whole area (now if only we could close it off).
Greece just did the same thing with one of the world's largest. (the ferry boat captains are very upset)
I hope someone revisits this short sighted pablum in 50 or 100 years.
We can hope
You really are funny!
Thanks so much for playing.
"Why? Does it take some esoteric backwoods skill to throw another log on the fire?
New Englanders aren't exactly stangers to winter, swifty."
Be careful, your ignorance is showing. ROFL!!! If you think all it takes to survive an Alaskan winter (Interior temps -30 to -70's) is to throw another log on the fire, then you wouldn't survive in this neck of the woods. Oh, that just cracks me up!!!!!!
woohoo, aren't you just standing up there high on some pedestal. Emphasis on the word, "high". Go back your smoking lounge.
Right after you crawl into your bottle.
I think frostbite has claimed your brain
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