A Time for Careful Thought

(I've tried very hard to take an even-handed approach, and not to let any personal bias show through in this article. I hope I've been moderately successful. I also know this is NOT a comprehensive listing, but just some of the issues that would be faced.)
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Many words are being said in the ongoing discussion of state sovereignty, states' rights, and the actions of Congress, some 4,000 miles from here. I find this discussion fascinating; it's a chapter of American history playing out right before our eyes.

To give you an idea of how passionate this debate is becoming, here are the words of an Anchorage resident*:

"The United States has broken every treaty they have ever signed including the Alaska Statehood Act of 1959 that theoretically gave Alaskans the right to control their own destiny as free citizens of an independent state. Instead of granting us freedom from the tyranny of an occupying force, Washington turned Alaska from a Territory into the National Park of Alaska and stripped Alaskans from any control over basic rights such as hunting and fishing, berry picking or where we can drill for oil that Alaskan's own in our own State. The U.S. Government has more federal employees per capita in Alaska than anywhere else in the country because they own and control Alaska."

* Part of a review on Amazon by one J.G. of Anchorage, regarding "Snowflake Rebellion", a fictional work about an independent Alaska.

Some argue that there's no way that anyone, however homespun or elitist, can understand Alaskan issues unless they live here. In many ways, this may be true.

Some argue that we should become a separate and independent nation.

Some say that Alaska already has too many people, and even look forward to some unspecified event that might cause "transplants" to move back to the Lower 48. It's true that some would be unnerved or made uncomfortable by any move toward secession, and might voluntarily relocate.

Others argue that the federal government has imposed too many restrictions on us, and are choking the life out of this state with its abundant natural resources. Why, they ask, can't we drill for & pump the oil and gas that we have? This would not only generate and maintain jobs, and create wealth, but also reduce the country's need to import foreign oil. (This argument often precedes a discussion of how to peacefully secede from the Union. That's assuming the feds would consider a peaceful secession, which is not at all certain.)


I think we all need to take a deep breath and think about this; there are many, many factors to consider.

• One of the most obvious points is that Alaska has been a recipient of many Federal dollars over the years. An argument can be made that it was necessary; a state with 600,000 square miles and far fewer people needed a lot of help to establish a decent infrastructure. Can we maintain that infrastructure on the money we generate on our own? Perhaps not, although freedom to explore & drill for new oil and natural gas would generate a lot of new money.
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• Nearly one-third of the local economy is Federal dollars, including salaries. The sudden withdrawal of that money would make an awfully large hole.
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• There are a lot of military bases here; what about them? What about the payroll dollars, many of which are spent in the local economies of the communities near the bases?
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• We have more miles of coastline, counting our islands, than the entire Lower 48. Our population isn't large enough to adequately provide a defense force.
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• Some have proposed that we offer the U.S. government free rent & long-term leases on those bases, in exchange for a protection treaty.
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• Nearly one-third of Alaska is federal land; some say that is an unlawful seizure of state property. Others point out that it's a done deal. Either way, would the federal government willingly give up its claim on that land?
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• Alaskans have good ideas about federal tracts like ANWR, and I assure you it is not what the greenies would have you believe. Drill, baby, drill!
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• Alaskans could be asked to continue paying the same level of income tax they currently send to the federal government, but would then send the monies to Juneau, instead. This would be a big step for a state with no current income tax.
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• What would the relationship between Alaska and the other states look like? Don't answer that question too quickly. Much would depend on the federal government's response, and many states might have to recognize Alaska as a "foreign" trading partner, requiring new treaties and arrangements.
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• The U.S. government might, again depending on the nature of Alaska's withdrawal, put embargoes in place. This would force Alaska to increase its trans-Pacific trade, and also to seek more active trading arrangements with Canada and Mexico.
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• What about travel? Would Alaskans be able to visit families in the Lower 48? Would the U.S. recognize an Alaskan passport? There's no provision for a State outside of the Union in the current federal system.
  

There are many other points which would require much thought, and careful deliberation, before any serious secession proposal (say that three times, fast!) is put forward. I only hope that calm, deliberative thought is applied to the matter, and that many voices are considered, before such a precipitous step is taken.