Posted on 08/17/2013 12:17:47 PM PDT by Kaslin
JUNEAU, Alaska -- Up here, many folks don't much like President Obama's vision of a big government colossus dictating health care, doling out entitlements and generally meddling in the affairs of the citizenry. Alaska voted against Obama by 14 percentage points in 2012, and if another election were held today, the anti-Obama vote would most likely be higher.
This is a tough self-reliant state. The weather is harsh and expenses are high. But there is work. With a 6.1 percent unemployment rate, Alaska is doing much better than the nation as a whole (7.6 percent). The median household income in the 49th state is $69,000 -- $16,000 higher than the national average.
Historically, Alaska is a place that attracts those who are fed up with conventionality. On my trip here, I did not see one person dressed in a jacket and tie. The prevailing wisdom promotes individuality. Alaskans are basically "leave me alone" types who respect and embrace different strokes.
Maybe it's because nature is right on top of them that the folks don't seem to care much for trends. The weather changes dramatically and quickly, there are far more dirt than paved roads, and wild animals are everywhere. Nobody is really interested in the latest fashion when you can be snowed in for weeks at a time. I mean, who's gonna see you?
With a population of 731,000, Alaska is ranked 47th in size, only beating out North Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming. Of course, Alaska is the largest state in the union by far, so there is plenty of space to get away from the trappings of modern America. Most everybody has a gun -- there are big bears around -- and the majority of folks are happy not to be dealing with bureaucracies.
The Alaska mentality is directly opposite the federal intrusion that is being fostered by the Obama administration. Mention Obamacare, and you'll likely get icy stares, even in the summer. And while poor people do receive entitlements, and the oil industry kicks in some money for the folks, few Alaskans are asking for handouts. This is an old-fashioned place that still embraces the Klondike mentality: Take chances, and maybe you'll hit it big. But if you don't, don't whine about it.
Alaska has some of the best scenery in North America, but it is the spirit of rugged individualism that I found most interesting. Capitalism is firmly embraced, and hard work is the order of the day. I visited a tourist dog-sledding site on top of a glacier where the young employees stay for weeks at a time. No showers, no computers, no TV. They make some good money but pay the price. And they seem happy to be up there, far away from the BS that's floating around this nation.
There is something to be said for living life on your own terms. Many Americans simply don't want the pinheads in Washington or the various state capitals telling us how to live. But we are absolutely moving in that direction. Obama is hell-bent on imposing a bureaucracy that levels all playing fields at great expense to coin and freedom.
Visit Alaska if you get a chance. It's far away from everything but well worth the trip. This is America the way it used to be. And the way things are going in the Lower 48, the way it used to be is likely gone forever.
H311 would be too cool for Bammy AFAIC.
Most likely
If it weren’t for the cold I’d move to Alaska.
I stand with the spirit of Alaskans - I don’t want the government meddling in the affairs of the citizenry either. No wonder Sarah has such a can-do spirit of self-reliance and hard work. This country would do well under her leadership.
wonder how difficult it is to get in to the Alaska state bar association
O'Really would know better if he ever watched "Alaska State Troopers"............it gives me the impression that it's a state full of drunks and meth heads; and that's before we even get to the foibles of the eskimo population.
Oh give me a home
between Fairbanks and Nome
where the moose and the caribou play.
Where nothing will grow
‘cause it’s covered with snow
from June ‘till the following May.Home, home on the snow
where it’s nice when it’s 40 below.
The tundra for me
by the great Bering Sea
and the life of an old sourdough.
Alaska would be the paradise of hardy individualism, excepting for the inconvenient “socialist” fact that its residents are per capita the largest recipients of federal expenditures of any state.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/government/2012/08/03/states-that-get-most-federal-money/
“O’Really would know better if he ever watched “Alaska State Troopers”............it gives me the impression that it’s a state full of drunks and meth heads; and that’s before we even get to the foibles of the eskimo population.”
You are judging Alaskans on the basis of a reality show whose entire premise is to show some of the situations and people that our Alaska State Troopers have to deal with? As an Alaskan, I find that insulting.
If it weren’t for the cold I’d move to Alaska.”
For these folks though, the cold temps are of small consequence compared to what they would have to deal with if the temps were like California.
I remember when we were stationed at Fort Riley, KS during the 70s the weather report said it was warmer in Alaska that winter then it was in Kansas. Also I told my husband I wouldn’t mind living there, because I had heard from friends how beautiful it is. He didn’t want to hear about it
As a Kalifornian, we get used to it, and let our skins thicken up a bit.
I have never been to Alaska, but I also find it insulting, plus snobbish
I remember Fort Riley from when I was there in the ‘90’s. They are not fond memories either. I recall it being incredibly cold and the wind whipping with nothing to stop it. When I left I swore I would never set foot in Kansas again. To this day I haven’t!
The link says they count things like defense spending in their numbers. Probably park service and EPA, too. This isn’t really going to individuals.
They should probably restrict these kind of reports to welfare and safety net type programs that have to do with the government money supporting instead of personal income supporting
I wouldn’t include earned social security/Medicare, but I would include unearned+ssi+Medicaid, etc
Individuals work for federal parks, the EPA, and for the defense department. I don’t believe those Alaskan feds are the hardy individuals who live in cabins and harvest salmon or mine gold to make their living.
Those are real jobs, the military a constitutional one. The only charity taking place with our troops is when they give their blood for our freedom. And we can’t pay for that.
Pretty dark in the depths of the winter. That's more of an issue to me.
I was in Fairbanks in the Summer on a 100 deg. F day. It was HOT.
So how did this chilly political paradise end up voting for witless RINO Lisa Murkowski???
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