Newsweek Asks: Should Alaska Secede?

August is slow around Washington, so we figured it’d be high time to toss around the idea of kicking Alaska out of the union - or the state leaving on its own accord.

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... there's an implicit question of how much Alaska needs Uncle Sam, and how much Uncle Sam needs Alaska.

If the 49th state were to leave the union, the impact would be, at first, economically devastating, according to Gov. Sean Parnell. But over time, could Alaska, by taking control of its own regulation over oil and gas, open the state for new business, perhaps allowing it to boom in a way that, until now, Washington has apparently stifled?

They seem to think we should go. Just remember, we didn't bring it up - this time.

Most of the comments are anti-Alaska, but some are telling:

"Alaska was the centre of a referendum in 1958 in which the choices were to be a state within the United States of America, become a Commonwealth, remain a Territory, or become an Independent Nation. Then D.C. allowed the military personnel to vote [to ensure passage of Statehood, even though the military personnel were not residents and had no stake in the outcome - Ed.]. Alaska has not been allowed to develop its tremendous resources, such as the huge deposits of oil on Gull Island. So what are they gaining?"

"What most of the U.S. seems to forget is that Alaska is home to a large population of Native Alaskans, many of whom still live in what we call the "bush", far from any roads or major ports, small planes and boats, dog sleds and snowmobiles/4 wheelers being the only ways in and out of those villages. The cost of living in those place and having "modern amenities" is outrageously expensive. White people brought new technology and foods to the indigenous people and now it costs them everything they have to maintain that lifestyle. Would you deny them fuel oil to heat their homes? What do you purpose, that everyone should abandon their heritage and home in favor of moving to the big city, just to make some overinflated American happy? Careful, that could come across as racism or intolerance!
"If it really bothers the rest of America, why not start to look at ways to help develop the resources Alaska DOES have to make us more self sustaining and not "dependent" on the rest of you, as it is seen. Write your Senator and encourage drilling to be expanded, oil jobs to be insourced to Alaskans and the natrual gas pipeline to become a national priority."

"Ok, let's kick Alaska out of the Union, and they can sell their oil to someone else and become RICH since they no longer have to pay federal taxes, on anything!"

"I can hear them in Alaska now using my favorite Dirty Harry line: 'Go ahead - make my day.'"