Alaska Independence Party Website LINK

[Lucinda]

http://www.akip.org/platform.html

Interesting reading...

FWIW - It's one of the 4 political parties the state officially recognizes
http://www.elections.alaska.gov/parties.php

[Lucinda]

1. bumping in case anyone wants to actually read what they say on their site

LOL

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

2. Not clear if they are advocating unilateral secession

The website's FAQ section is geared towards questions about becoming a separate nation, whether dual citizenship would result, whether the U.S would continue providing military protection, whether social security checks would keep arriving, etc.

http://www.akip.org/faqs.html

The wikipedia entry (however flawed these entires might be) says that the AIP has previously sought relief through the United Nations to obtain the right to decide if they want to be a part of the United States or an independent nation. There's also mention of the fact that some members previously sought to have Alaska join Canada.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Independence_Party

One of their four stated goals is the possible formation of an independent nation. It's not clear whether they seek this unilaterally. If so, they are advocating a violation of federal law. Unilateral secession from the United States is prohibited by law. Abraham Lincoln spoke about this in detail and the U.S. Supreme Court issued their decision prohibiting unilaterial secession in the case of Texas v. White in 1969. However, they left open the possibility that a constitutional amendment with mutually agreeable secession among the several states might be legal.

[Lucinda]

3. It looks like they just want to be able to vote on the four options...?

The Alaskan Independence Party can be summed up in just two words:
ALASKA FIRST!

Until we as Alaskans receive our Ultimate Goal, the AIP will continue to strive to make Alaska a better place to live with less government interference in our everyday lives.
The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four alternatives:
1) Remain a Territory.
2) Become a separate and Independent Nation.
3) Accept Commonwealth status.
4) Become a State.
The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government, fully responsive to the people, promoting a peaceful and lawful means of resolving differences.


From the home page of the link above...

[demobabe]

6. Well yeah, they're not STUPID

They want their vote so they can BECOME AN INDEPENDENT NATION, ie, SECEDE!

[Lucinda]

8. In my recent internet travels through Alaskan politics

I have developed the distinct impression that there are as many individual political perspectives as there are Alaskans.

Seems like a very diverse state, politically.

4 currently active political parties AIP - Dems - Reps - and Libertarians, with a few more that are in the works. More than half are Indy.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. Then they are voting to aquire illegal status

The Supreme Court case of Texas v. White established the fact that, once a state, always a state. A state can't even vote to be a state. They can't undo their statehood to become a territory. They can't undo their statehood to become a commonwealth. They can't become a separate and independent nation. They can't take any overt action themselves to unilaterally alter their statehood. The only thing they can do is get the other states to convene a constitutional convention and secede through a constitutional amendment upon mutual agreement with the other states.

I guess voting on one of those four points wouldn't be illegal. But taking any overt action to change Alaska's legal relationship to the United States as a consequence of that vote would be illegal.

[Lucinda]

4. info bump

[Arctic Dave]

5. What is funny about this is, that were she lives

this a completely mainstream viewpoint. The MatSu Valley is a major Ron Paul stronghold. The place is littered with survivalist end of the world types.
I'm surprised that #13 wasn't #1.

[Lucinda]

9. It's gotta be the most interesting place I've read about it a looooong time.

:)

[Arctic Dave]

11. It's like living in the suburbs but with a soundtrack of banjo music.

[Arrowhead2k1]

7. Regardless, they never put "Country First" and neither did Palin.