AlterNet: Palin's Self-Reliant Image of Alaska Is Bogus

[marmar]

Palin's Self-Reliant Image of Alaska Is Bogus

By David Morris, AlterNet. Posted September 15, 2008.

Palin is trying to appeal to the self-reliant, anti-government voters while her state is the most dependent on government pork.



In her latest comment on the "Bridge to Nowhere" controversy, Sarah Palin appealed to the self-reliant, individualist, rugged, anti-government image most Americans have of Alaska. "If we wanted a bridge," she declared, "we would build it ourselves."

Actually, much of Alaska long ago lost the tradition of self-help. Palin might be campaigning on an anti-government, do-it-yourself platform, but her state is the most dependent on the federal government of all 50 states. Washington sends Alaska more money per capita than any other state. Alaskans receive back from the federal government almost $2 for every $1 they send to Washington. It's a sweet deal.

And when it comes to government pork, Alaska is king. As USA Today noted back in March, Palin's state ranks number one -- no other state is even close. In 2007 Alaska received some 2.5 times as much as runner-up Hawaii and 15 times more than the national average.

Alaska has by far the most state government employees per capita as any other state and about five times as many as Obama's Illinois.

The part of Alaska not dependent on federal government largesse is dependent on big oil. Almost 90 percent of Alaska's general budget comes from royalties and taxes on oil, which explains how the state can be number one in state government spending while ranking far down the list in taxes its residents pay. Alaska has no income tax or sales tax. Recently, its legislature suspended the gasoline tax. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/election08/98817/palin%27s_self-reliant_image_of_alaska_is_bogus/

[Lugnut]

1. K&R n/t

[MsLeopard]

2. Typical Thug BS

You can almost take what they say and then assume the opposite is true. If their lips are moving, they're lying - just as the Chimp administration has been doing since their first campaign. Non-stop lethal lies.

[Terre]

3. Welfare Queen

Andrew Sullivan calls it like he sees it:

Read the whole thing:

Closing comment:

And she has the gall to talk about Other People's Money. All she has done her entire life is take other people's money. Mainly yours.

[madmusic]

4. So much to K&r and so little time. nt