Alaskas Greek Problem The only pure democracy in history was in Ancient Greece and it descended into chaos. The reason pure democracy’s fail is because people tend vote themselves public largess until the country is bankrupt. Alaska’s ballot initiative process does not allow people to directly vote themselves funds due to a wise restriction on it. However, we have a culture of legislative largess where we expect legislators to bring home the bacon in return for sending them to Juneau. Every year we spend hundreds of millions of dollars on every pork project conceivable. Capital projects that should be funded by local taxpayers are funded by the state. Also, hundreds of millions of public dollars are directed toward non-profits. In addition, voter constituency groups are continually placated by buying extra fire trucks, police cars and senior center vans. Lastly, every year by mathematical formula we increase funding to our 24,000+ and growing state employee bureaucracy by 6-9% per year. This is bleeding us white. The last two legislative sessions have seen the largest two deficits in Alaska history- and that was before the oil price collapsed below $105 per barrel where over 90% of state revenue is generated. Now the state is in financial crisis mode of self-making Ancient Greece style. We largely re-elected the most financially profligate legislature in Alaska’s history (and on a per-capita basis, perhaps the most financially profligate in American history as well) who have continued the horrific caucus rule that forces every R to vote for the final budget regardless of what’s in it in exchange for a committee chair position. This must change. We the grassroots are watching.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 09:58:32 +0000