The People's Paper October 2014

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The People’s Paper

OCTOBER 2014

MATANUSKA VALLEY, ALASKA

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Smokescreen.

Our First Article About Pot Legalization, Ever.

“Only as a political device does this topic find its way into these

community-written pages. Nearly 8 years in print, and until now, no one cared...Well, at least not enough to write about it.”

By Josh Fryfogle EMPTY RHETORIC In the September issue of this publication we printed the first article anyone has ever written about legalization. Forrest Dunbar, congressional candidate, wrote about the topic. I guess this lends to my point in writing this article. No one cares. Not really.

Only as a political device does this topic find its way into these community-written pages. Nearly 8 years in print, and until now, no one cared. Well, at least not enough to write about it.

Just let that sink in.

This publication is built completely by the community. It represents what people care about, enough to write about. As publisher, I’ve never turned away an article about legalization.

And until it became a political topic, in regards to their unalienable rights, it apparently meant nothing to the People in our community.

And don’t fool yourself, folks. The only reason this is on the ballot is because two PR firms were hired, and are being paid, to make it an issue.

I promised myself years ago that I would not partake in the empty rhetoric of cannabis prohibition. I've always felt it was an engineered dialogue that would prevent any serious discussion. I premise the rest of my article with that thought, hopefully avoiding the trap of programmed responses and predictable patterns perpetuated by propaganda.

Why should I waste my time rehashing what has already been said, both for and against cannabis cultivation, by the propagandists of the State and Corporation? If they want to sell new ideas that no one really cares about, they should pay for the privilege, and

thereby support the propagation of what the People do care about enough to actually write about.

But, as you can see, neither of these well-heeled, well-funded campaigns chose to give The People’s Paper any green, while they are certainly rolling in it. Maybe they’re paranoid that we will clear the smokescreen?

HISTORY The majority of the history of this country makes relatively little mention of cannabis, in the same way history makes little of hammers or ham sandwiches. Cannabis spent most of its time in human history constantly in the background. We don't speak often of air, and oxygen, but we breathe all the time. Some things are so fundamental to society, it goes without saying.

Cannabis is not new. It is ancient.

What’s new is that the topic was made to be some new threat - against the children! – rather than the fundamental crop that helped build the world.

In world history, and in reality, cannabis is a ubiquitous plant that has been used as clothing, food, medicine, and countless other applications for millennia. It is far more useful that any other plant we cultivate. It is also easy to grow, and quick.

RIGHT AND WRONG It's wrong to put human beings in a cage. Everyone can agree that if someone is being kept in a cage, that it is wrong.

If you are a person who wants to put other humans in cages, there is something morally deficient about you. We have laws against that sort of thing.

This is why America is great, it's why people have given their life in defense of it, for the perfect law of Liberty.

We are not caged for just anything in

the land of the free. We see Liberty as the ability to choose right and wrong for ourselves, and to live with the consequence. But this does not justify crimes against others. There are times when a civilized people must do things that are otherwise uncivilized.

For example, if you put someone else in a cage, that would be a crime against the Liberty of another. That would be a good reason to throw you in a cage. Not because you deserves it - but to protect everyone else’s Liberty. While you might deserve it, that's not why a moral society would put you in a cage.

JUSTICE? JUST IMAGINE… Imagine that a law was perfectly enforced, and that every time that law was broken, the lawbreaker would be immediately punished.

If every murderer were caught, that would be great. Of course, that's not likely, but in our imagined scenario it would be a world made better by a just and civilized law. Justice is served, less people murdered.

Now, imagine that every person who had ever smoked pot were arrested.

It's an absurd thought! It would shut down society.

George W. Bush, Jr., would go to jail. Bill Clinton, and Barrack Obama, too. But for all the wrong reasons!

Justice would not be served by the perfect implementation of our current cannabis laws. And if a law cannot be carried out completely without burdening or destroying the society it was meant to protect, then it is unjust. However, that is exactly the case with current Federal law, and state law in most states – and I believe it is the case with this proposed ballot measure, to a lesser degree.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 7

Want More Salmon?

Vote Roger Purcell (R) www.electrogerpurcell.com

PAID FOR BY ROGER PURCELL PO BOX 940231 HOUSTON, AK 99694

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The People’s Paper HEALTHCARE

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 2

Telemedicine - It’s about Our Health will be able to provide Telemedicine services to Alaskan residents. Many have asked, “Why do we need Telemedicine?” and first I would say ask the young mother that you just passed in Fred’s. Can she benefit from this advancement? If that’s not enough, then let’s talk numbers.

Contributed by Lynn Gattis Walk through Fred Meyer on any afternoon and chances are you’ll see one of your kid’s teachers, your best friend or maybe your state representative! You may also see more than one young mother with a cart full of groceries, a kid standing on the end of the basket and another racing around.

What many of us parents who have “been there done that” also see, is that same mother racing home to get dinner ready for her family, washing a Mat-Su Steelers uniform and getting a kid to do his homework. That mother

may not have the opportunity in her busy day, to fit in a doctors appoint for her kid or herself.

The solution is actually very simple and convenient. Enter Telemedicine.

Telemedicine is the ability to diagnose and treat patients using telecommunications technology.

Simply put, you can get the health care you need through your cell phone, computer, tablet or any other device that you use to communicate. Last session I sponsored House Bill #281 that makes this possible here in Alaska.

Effective November 28, 2014, doctors

In the Mat-Su Borough alone, over 6,100 people live more than 30 minutes or more away from any form of primary health care. Besides an hour plus of driving, your wait time in the doctor’s office can vary dramatically. If we can improve access to health care for 6,100 people in the Mat-Su then we have done our job.

By the year 2030, the Mat-Su Borough population age 65 to 74 will more than double while the age group between 75 to 84 will more than triple. The projected rate of senior growth in the Mat-Su is roughly 5 times more than the national average. As we age, whether or not we drive, we seem to need the doctor more often. Rather than spending our time in the doctor’s office, we could be doing the things we find are important.

Fifty-seven percent of Alaska’s babies born in 2012 were born to mothers

aged 20 to 29. These are mothers in a generation that thrive on technology.

These are moms using the new health apps that come out in the hundreds.

These are the moms you pass in Fred Meyer pushing a shopping cart, washing Mat Su Steelers uniforms, racing to soccer practice, working from home, putting on a church function, working and commuting to Anchorage or the Slope. These are over 6,000 mothers that will now have that option of expanded health care.

The truth of the matter is Telemedicine can make life easier, less expensive and certainly saves time. It is not limited to the young mother, elderly or people who live far away from health care. It is for the 732,298 people that live, work and play in the great state of Alaska.

With the rising cost of health care, not to mention gas, telemedicine should conceivably help in making us all healthier.

When we can check into health care, from our office during the lunch hour or on our smart phone from anywhere, we are more apt to get the care when and where we need it. Telemedicine is for all Alaskans.

ObamaCare Covers Restaurant Workers, Sub-Teachers, Others With Income

By K.T. McKee Restaurant workers, substitute teachers, home health workers, self-employed people, and any other Valley residents who are without health insurance and have some sort of income, you may very well qualify for large tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies that would help pay for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) for coverage in 2015.

The next ACA Open Enrollment runs from November 15 to February 15 and the fees for not having insurance are tripling this next go-around. Plus, you never want to be without health coverage, anyway, because you never know what the future holds. You could get into an accident, come down with a serious illness, have a heart attack, or any number of other unfortunate events that could land you in the hospital.

And because of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can’t deny you coverage or even charge you more for a pre-existing condition. There also are strict limits on how much you would have to pay for services each year (maximum out-of-pocket costs),

there is no charge for contraceptives (even tubal ligation), and certain preventative services are now free or carry a minimal cost.

Getting enrolled is fairly painless if you have the help of a certified assister like me or a couple of my coworkers at MatSu Health Services on Spruce Avenue in Wasilla. We don’t charge for our services and the process usually takes only about an hour.

There are income guidelines to qualify for the tax credits and cost-sharing reductions, however.

For example, if you are single, you would have to have an adjusted gross income for 2015 of at least $14,580 and cannot make more than $58,320. For a married couple with no dependents, they would have to have a combined income of at least $19,660 and couldn’t bring in more than $78,640. A tax household of four would need at least $29,820 and couldn’t make more than $119,280. A tax household of eight would need a combined income of at least $50,140 and no more than $200,560 to qualify for help paying for ACA coverage.

The lower your income (at or above the Federal Poverty Level), the more help you would get. Many folks whose incomes are at the poverty level or even $10K above it will qualify for health plans with a $0 monthly premium and a deductible of only $250. There’s really no reason to pass that up if you don’t have other viable health care options.

Unfortunately, if your income drops below the Federal Poverty Levels listed above, you won’t be able to get the tax credits that make ACA coverage affordable and you probably won’t qualify for Medicaid unless you have children and meet other guidelines. Those who fall into that category are left without many options since Gov. Sean Parnell did not accept the Medicaid Expansion under the ACA for our state.

Those who already are covered through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans benefits would not qualify for ACA coverage and would not have to worry about the fee.

Alaska Natives and American Indians are discovering that although they have Indian Health Services, they can supplement that with an ACA policy

and actually qualify for much more in tax credits and cost-sharing reductions than non-Natives.

Those who enrolled in an ACA plan with Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield or Moda Health this past year will be getting renewal notices in the mail or through their email accounts both from the Health Insurance Marketplace (healthcare.gov) and their insurance carrier. It is recommended that you don’t “auto-renew” your current plan and, instead, look at what’s being offered from Premera and Moda for 2015 to make sure you can’t get a better deal this time around.

You definitely will need to submit a new ACA application for next year if your income is changing or you’ve had other life events (marriage, baby, divorce, a change in tax dependents) occur that would affect your tax credits and other assistance you can receive for 2015.

If you have any questions or need assistance with either a new ACA policy or an existing one, please call Kate, Tonya, or Joni at Mat-Su Health Services at 376-2411 - www.healthcare.gov

POLITICS The People’s Paper

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 3

Two Party or not Two Party, That is the Question.

By Barbara Andersen Why is it a question?

The reason is that too many of us are seeing that it does not work. The two party system has failed us. Along with its failure is the misconception that we should not voice our opinions anymore.

Not to create waves...just go along with things and don’t cause a rift. Why? Is the answer because nobody has the intestinal fortitude anymore to discuss things with conviction?

Perhaps the reason is that people are ignorant and uneducated on issues of true importance. Perhaps honest people, wanting to be a part of the solution, administer to themselves the “integrity test” that we grew up with and step up to the plate because we were taught, “If it is to be it’s up to me” I would like to start with our own state founder, William Seward, as an example...

In 1860 he was the most popular politician and frontrunner for President, but internal struggles within his political party denied him the nomination. So often at every level we see this same scenario, thus the “saga” of the two party political system. Seeing an avenue for furthering their own agenda, major parties take advantage of this common disagreement of conflicting opinions, and develop “platforms” within dissected factions of the stated party thereby creating the “us against them” mentality. We need, as people to develop a tougher skin, effectively

debate and resolve our opinions and advance principles in a more robust manner.

We need to awaken and realize that we have become trained by this corrupt system to believe these lies. As long as they can manipulate us to believe their propaganda, we are slaves to their system relinquishing our liberty and freedom. No longer are we exercising our freedom, which we naturally have by mere birthright.

What will it take for people to finally understand this concept? The concept of natural born freedom and liberty.

Using an analogy for example, do we, as parents, protect our children from the evils of others? Do we learn that we need to be protective? Or are we just protective by nature?

When somebody approaches you with a raised hand or a clenched fist.... do you just stand there or is your natural reaction to defend yourself by putting your arms out in front of you to stop them? Let me ask, did you have to be taught to do this or does it just come naturally?

So, why, when it comes to an organization which approaches you with a raised hand as in legislating that you can no longer have the right to speak or give your opinion do you not raise your hand in question as defense and stop them from doing that to you?

I would like to suggest, that this has

been the pattern which has developed over the generations and the result is that now, today, we are taught to believe that standing up or speaking out for our natural birthright is shady, fringe, scary, weird.

We have been trained to believe in and listen to a set of tenets which are false.

This has been a gradual change and it has been instituted through the finest of mediums... television, internet, newspapers, advertisements, school curriculum, food modification, legislation, music, social media....all dishing out the same message to the mass population.

Here is another analogy with much hypocrisy.

We, as a society, promote the idea that we only want to eat healthy natural whole foods. We read labels to recognize the dangerous ingredients. We even buy certain types of water bottles to make sure that the chemicals inert in the plastics do not leach into our water and poison us.

Where did that thought come from?

Advertising of big business who were looking to capitalize and profit on our ignorance and line their pockets twice as everybody ran to the store to buy a second, more safe, metal lined water bottle. Think about it...

We look for dangers everywhere and guard against them at all costs. We strap children into carseats to keep them safe. We ourselves wear seatbelts and even have air bags which deploy

on impact insuring our safety from any fatal car crash. Think of all of the technology which has been created to keep you safe from harm... now go one step further and think... just think.

Legislation is passed daily concerning safety...million dollar lawsuits against hot coffee and the like. We cannot carry a set of clippers onto an airplane for fear of the “sudden derangement of ourselves to enact bodily harm to an airplane full of people”....we are trained to believe we are naughty people with these awful vices and it slowly sinks in....psychologically stripping away our birthright to stand up for ourselves.

Why do we allow this society with “covers” of safety yet live in bondage?

We are not allowed to think freely for ourselves and are trained to believe that this “committee of they” should think for us, that we should think it’s thoughts. We need to awaken ourselves from a lulled state and realize how much we have lost. We need to hold onto these truths and teach them to our children and show them how to stand and not give up their liberties.

No man is a slave...even the scriptures tell us not to let any “man” deceive you. We are created to live and sustain ourselves by God, to communicate with him, to learn from him. He is the manifestation and encapsulation of all of our liberties and freedoms.

If we aren’t careful, we will no longer even be allowed to voice this truth.

Farewell and Godspeed – Maybe “As I write this, I am merely a short time away from no longer being the Mayor of the City of Wasilla.”

Contributed by Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright As I write this, I am merely a short time away from no longer being the Mayor of the City of Wasilla. By the 20th of October, I am replaced by my Deputy Administrator Bert Cottle who won the recent city election and will move into the Mayor/Mangers chair. Good luck Bert!

But as curtains descend in our lives, we all become reflective.

I remember well my departure to Vietnam and military service, the going away of my oldest daughter who entered the Army, closing my law office after becoming Mayor, and the list goes on and on. As I look back, Wasilla has accomplished many things in the past six years. Growth and development, new people and business coming into the city, and adjacent area, roads and other projects started and completed.

Cutting the City budget 19%, without any reduction in service and no lay-offs.

Improvements to parks and the gaining of new ones.

Long term city debt reduction and a healthy reserve built up for the rainy days. A library project forward funded without debt. Again, the list goes on and on. I am very proud of what has happened, and can look at what was possible and then became a reality, and more planned for the future; but, I won’t be at the wheel to see through.

I could stay at this “path finding” for

Wasilla for 20 years and never get tired; a little cranky perhaps, but never tired.

I am very proud of the staff of the City for their determination and keeping up my fast pace, and commend each of them and thank them, and you, the public, who supported them! However, there is always more to do. I look at the unexplainable problems of the State of Alaska and chaff at the lack of attention of those problems.

The people of Alaska whose dreams are never full-filled, projects started and never finished, promises made and never ever kept. What happened to the Alaska of my youth; the Alaska full of possibilities, and confident of a lasting and bright future?

I am reminded of my father, who was a union carpenter in Anchorage, and my mom who worked for old Wien Alaska Airlines years ago. My father stated, in the affirmative: “They’re going to build a bridge out there and that will open this area up - think what will happen!”

He was referring to the Knik Arm Bridge Project. Well, dad, not in your lifetime (he and mom have since left us all), and maybe not in mine. I was in my early 20’s when he said that, and at this time I am 63 years old. Sure, the governor signed a bill this year and gave the project to the state DOT; so, don’t expect it to happen people.

On and on the list goes: the hydro dam project, a gas pipeline, road projects planned out to meet the growing demand before it becomes a crisis, the list

is endless. We do, in fact, study everything to death and don’t take positive steps in a forward direction. The state budget and the declining revenues . . . who didn’t see that freight train coming a long time ago?

Seven million dollars a day deficit spending, and those elected to state government wink an eye, vote for it and then come back home from Juneau and expect it to go away and you and I shouldn’t care. (After all there is the Permanent Fund to raid). Coalitions are built in the legislature, run by a very few; and, if you don’t go along with them, out you go and your opinion doesn’t matter. Or, situations when elected officials are asking for your vote to keep them in office, yet don’t show up for debates, or do show up at forums to answer your questions, but cut out early to go to a “political party” sponsored picnic in Wasilla.

That, in fact, happened recently at the Mat-Su College forum. I stayed at the forum and answered questions as a candidate for State House Representive District 7 and no I never went to the picnic, I didn’t feel welcomed. What was so special about a political party’s picnic . . . the food? I doubt it. That is no way to run the people’s business, their government.

What ever happened to the priorities, such as you the citizen and voter are, and always must be, first on the priority list. Sad. Very, very sad. In the six years as Mayor, the great City of Wasilla has

changed for the better. It didn’t come without negotiations, arguments and struggles with bureaucrats, elected officials, agencies, out-of state people asserting some alleged legal “rights” in the court tying up development and movement, public utilities pushing not-so-good projects, and political nay-sayers.

Pundits and politicians serving up “Common Core” in the schools to our kids and trying to call it something that it is not. Bucking those permitting a complete federal take-over of education, which has never been an Alaskan or American idea.

Yes, I am a candidate for District 7, which is Wasilla and the Lakes Area.

No, I am not tired; there is too much to do to make it better for the next generation. I am running undeclared, although I am a republican, a true republican.

My name will show on the ballot on November 4th, but without the benefit of being listed in the voter’s pamphlet published by this state’s government.

I guess the Division of Elections also thinks that we don’t count and that’s sad. Very sad. It’s time that we all stand up and state that we are not going to take any more of the polarizing and stifling choke of partisan politics, and move together as a people in our best interest.

Verne Rupright Mayor-City of Wasilla

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 4

POLITICS The People’s Paper Attorney General’s Exit Leaves Mixed Feelings

By Vic Kohring The recent announcement by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder that he’s resigning I’m sure came with shouts of delight from many Republicans.

The Barack Obama appointee has been a favorite target over such debacles as Operation Fast and Furious, spying on Americans and censoring the press during his tenure. Not to mention being held in Contempt of Congress for protecting his long-time friend Obama and others in the administration from potential indictment over issues worse than Watergate such as Benghazi, where the assassination of our ambassador was covered up so the president’s 2012 reelection wouldn’t be jeopardized. There’s a reason Obama’s referred to as “Benghazi Barry.”

One outspoken administration critic, radio talk host and Sarah Palin buddy Mark Levine who appears daily on local station KBYR, declared on his show on September 26th that “Holder should be dragged in front of a grand jury and prosecuted.” Levine opined that Holder has been “the most lawless attorney general” in his lifetime. Author Alexander Cohen calls Holder a “sebverter of justice” for having prosecutors under his employ who routinely bully innocent people to plead out (like me) instead of risking decades in prison at a trial where the government often blows small issues far out of context.

Regardless of what my fellow Righties might say about Eric Holder, I as one Republican refuse to scorn the man. That’s because it was Holder who called for my release from prison in 2009 when the criminal activities of “Justice” Department prosecutors was first discovered.

I simply can’t in good conscience oppose Holder. Who would if they were wrongly accused and Holder, as the nation’s top law enforcement official, called for his release after learning that evidence was deliberately concealed?

Thanks to prosecutor crooks who bamboozled the jury during my trial, I sat behind bars for a full year.

Incredibly, these thugs were only slapped on the wrist instead of thrown in jail after the same group attacked Ted Stevens and I with lies, deceit and a cover-up.

Stevens was lucky as he was about to be sentenced on multiple felony convictions and would have likely been sent to the same facility where I was incarcerated - Taft Correctional Institution near Death Valley, California. While anticipating his arrival, I tried to arrange through my attorney to have the former U.S. senator assigned to my cell - “Cell # 26, Building A.” I planned to do my best to encourage the 86-year old who no doubt would have been seriously traumatized by the experience. But Stevens never arrived as Holder called for his indictment to be thrown out, which the judge acquiesced.

My attorney at the time, Seattle’s John Henry Browne, commented to the press that Holder’s action was “enough excitement to turn Vic into a Democrat.”

Not a smart thing to say while in the middle of litigation, but it was ironic that a liberal administration acted favorably toward a conservative Republican.

Was Holder’s decision for political reasons or because it was the right thing to do? Maybe he felt his back was against the wall and had no choice since the criminal acts by prosecutors against Stevens and I were so obvious and couldn’t be brushed off.

I’d like to think his motives were pure and his decision was based on what was right and not political. But it makes you wonder why his people were never charged with crimes or at least terminated instead of being treated with kid gloves if politics played no role.

I wasn’t complaining as I was a free man. The first thing I did upon my arrival back in Wasilla days later on June 11, 2009 was to fire off a letter to Holder expressing my thanks.

While not a converted Democrat, it was still important to acknowledge that he at least for once seemed to place principal above politics.

A Letter from Dan Sullivan Contributed by Dan Sullivan Candidate for U.S. Senate I am an optimist, and I believe we live in the greatest state in the greatest nation in the world. I was first introduced to Alaska over two decades ago by my wife, Julie. I fell in love with her and with our state. We have raised our three daughters with the same values that Alaskans have passed down for generations: hard work, service, love of country, an independent spirit, and strength in the face of big challenges.

I got into this race because Julie and I believe that part of the American Dream is leaving our kids with a brighter future than the one we inherited, and right now, for the first time in our history, that’s not happening. But we can turn this around, and I want to do my part to get our country back on track.

Really, my whole life has been about service. I’ve spent two decades as a U.S. Marine, and I’ve had the honor of serving in the Reserve alongside my fellow Alaskans. I also got the opportunity to serve at the White House and in the State Department, working under Condoleezza Rice to take down terrorist networks, before serving our state as Alaska’s Attorney General and DNR Commissioner.

What I’ve seen over and over again as Attorney General, at DNR, and in the Reserve, is that Alaska has so much to offer—incredible resources and a can-do spirit that can match any challenge. Alaskans are always willing to come together, roll up their sleeves, and pitch in to get the job done.

I think Washington could use some of that Alaskan spirit. It’s time to do the hard work to unlock Alaska’s potential and restore the American Dream. There is nothing that’s wrong with America that can’t be fixed by what’s right with Alaska.

I wish Mr. Holder the best in his future endeavors.

I hope you’ll join me in bringing Alaska’s values to Washington, D.C. I would honored for your vote for U.S. Senate,

- Vic Kohring

-- Dan Sullivan

One Room School Education

By Elverda Lincoln When I attended school in the 1920s and 1930s we did not have the modern frills available as they are today. Today kids ride the school bus or drive their own cars.

They have indoor toilets, hot-lunch programs, a school nurse, a coach, a different teacher for each grade and a special teacher for things like art and music.

Our schoolteacher had to teach every subject in all eight grades, and do janitorial worK besides. Students respected their teachers but sad to say there was an occasional rowdy one. The school day began when the bell rang at 9 a.m. We walked a mile to school carrying our lunch pails, the road was uphill both ways with snow at least a foot deep!!

I know you all have heard this story.

On really cold days the teacher would arrive at the school about

an hour early to have a good fire going, but the room was still cold until near noon. Our classroom had a globe, maps of the world and the United States and pictures of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on the walls.

As for supplies, we had a yellow tablet, pencil, eraser and a box of crayons. Students in the upp-er grades also had a notebook in which they wrote using a pen dipped in the ink well on our desks. They also had scissors, a compass and protractor.

A fresh bucket of well water and a single dipper was available. Everyone drank out of the dipper. It is a wonder we didn’t all come down with childhood diseases, but we didn’t.

Our dinner pails---lard cans or syrup buckets---usually contained a jelly sandwich or one from homemade lunchmeat, maybe a cookie or a

piece of cake, if we were lucky. The rich kids brought store bought bologna and bread sandwiches and a banana or orange in a pretty dinner pail.

Our teacher kept us busy. She encouraged us to use the encyclopedias and to read all the classics.

We started the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we got busy with our assignments. During the last two hours of the day on Friday we did artwork like making decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day and Easter.

We didn’t have computers, calculators, ballpoint pens, field trips or other special events. We never felt deprived by our one room school education.

Sometimes I feel students would do better if they learned reading, writing and arithmetic in a one room school.

“When I attended school in the 1920s and 1930s we did not have the modern frills available as they are today.

Today kids ride the school bus or drive their own cars.

They have indoor toilets, hot-lunch programs, a school nurse, a coach, a different teacher for each grade”

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 5

COMMUNITY

A Letter from Cathy Tilton Contrbuted by Cathy Tilton Candidate for State House District 12 (Butte, Chugiak, Eklutna, Fairview Loop, Peters Creek) Crime, Corrections & Public Safety: Private gun ownership is a founding principle of our federal and state constitutions. Furthermore, a number of studies, including those from Harvard University and the Cato Institute [1], clearly show that as private gun ownership increases, rates of murder and suicide decrease.

I fully support existing Alaska gun ownership laws including the “Castle” and “Stand your ground” doctrines.

Before writing new laws, lengthening sentences and adopting harsher penalties, we must consistently enforce the ones we have. In addition, we must provide law enforcement the tools to do the difficult job we’ve tasked them with.

The recent tragedy in Tanana that left two of our State Troopers dead, highlighted the need for changes in Alaska Statute like allowing Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs) to carry firearms. Fortunately, that bill was signed by the Governor, but we must be more vigilant and proactive to prevent these tragedies in the future.

One of the most effective ways to reduce the money we spend on corrections is to adopt strategies to reduce individuals from re-offending (recidivism). As a member of the House Finance Committee staff, I had the opportunity to work closely with Sen. John Coghill’s office on his omnibus crime bill (SB 64) and include provisions designed to reduce recidivism by helping non-violent offenders re-enter the workforce. As your legislator, I will work to imple-

ment programs aimed at recidivism reduction.

Fish, Game and Public Land Access: I support the mission and work of the Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Federal Areas (CACFA) and will look for ways to increase their role in helping Alaska manage its land and work with the federal government in developing policies that impact Alaskan’s access to those lands.

We must protect access to Alaska’s fisheries resources for ALL stakeholder groups. The Department of Fish and Game in concert with the University of Alaska are currently studying the disturbing trend of the dramatic reduction in the abundance of our King salmon stocks. I will support Chinook abundance research efforts so Alaskans will continue to have dependable access to this valuable and iconic resource.

Similar to the issues that necessitated the creation of CACFA is the relationship between the state and federal government for the management of our fisheries resources. While many fish species are largely or entirely managed by the state, halibut is managed by the federal government under the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The recent reduction in bag limits for Alaska recreational fishermen illustrate the need for greater state involvement in, if not direct control of, halibut management. I will work with stakeholder groups and our congressional delegation to advance state control of halibut management.

Endorsed by: The Conservative Patriots Group, The National Rifle Association and the Sportsman’s Conservation Alliance

By the Law Tyranny by God Liberty Contributed by Bernadette Rupright As the final missive I will be able to address to you in this paper before the election I want to focus on three things: Political posturing, the imminent downfall of this State and the most likely means by which it will occur, and the form of proper government as executed by the chief executive.

I do not have time to fully develop the story of how I have come to this knowledge, but I will just let the words come. What is most important for a populace to understand is the consequence of continuing to be deceived by political posturing. It is all emotional and both sides (right or left) contain elements of the truth.

This is the lie, that only one side represents the road to liberty which is the ability to choose. While in fact both sides lead to tyranny and when I spoke of the shrinking table – you should remember this - that all business is backed with a gun when the events of man lead us down the same old road. This is how tyranny comes about. Tyranny is always the result of reactions against what the public perceives of as dangerous and immoral or perceives to be confining and wants no common defining maxims in the pursuit of “pure liberty”.

So Fascism arrives to the right, where everyday life is in place by law, or Anarchy to the left when the lack of common denominators and collective moral acknowledgements leads to chaos, but within that chaos a religion is born, a legislation of “morality” is called for, and that religion is full born- the one mandated by the government. For what a society chooses as its law and regulation reflects the morality of that society, it’s “religion”.

There is no such thing as ever existed that you could say of a society it had “no concept of morality”.

I fear either side equally and am incredulous sometimes that every good American can’t see our liberty

slipping away with each polarized issue. But I am speaking to you, my Alaskan neighbors; we are closer to the natural state of liberty I believe since we still are a frontier society in many ways. Also we have the advantage of having money in the bank (for now).

We are not in such a deplorable state as many other states in financial collapse. But our time is drawing near.

Real near. Five years near. These are the facts: SB21 was no choice at all on either side. But you can be sure your fingerprint was inked on how you voted. You were labeled my friend.

Now I thought ACES was very poor and did not support it all those years ago, but thanks to ACES we have some money in the bank to dig us of out of the hole we’re going into now.

And a deep hole it is from which there will be no recovery when the money is gone and no infrastructure, no development of cheaper energy (in fact an incredible increase of cost) and no industry development.

Why would an administration that knew it was trying to pass tax legislation that would reduce revenues not address reducing their budget for six years is beyond my comprehension.

If the pipeline were to suddenly be “full” as promised, that would be one thing and we would all coast along a while longer, but that promise is a lie. This is what is going to take place.

Prudhoe Bay is dying – that is the legacy fields.

There is about ten feet (as opposed to 100 feet) of level pool remaining. To get that oil, there needs to be more wells pumping, more gas injected, more workers working on all those rigs. But the output is not going to change significantly.

So there will be more jobs, approximately about three-thousand to Alaskans, but they will be short lived, and the State coffers will see no significant revival. As the legacy field dries up the next target will be deeper viscous oil from a few new

CONTINUES ON PAGE 9

POLITICS

The People’s Paper

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 6

Walker’s 30 Year Record on LNG Gasline Project vs. Parnell’s Recent Epiphany Contributed by Bill Walker I have been advocating for an Alaska LNG project since the late 1970s. My involvement intensified after several Alaska municipalities formed the Alaska Gasline Port Authority (Port Authority) in the late 1990s, and I was asked to be general counsel and project manager.

Over the years I became disappointed with the ExxonMobil, BP and ConocoPhillips ( leaseholders) refusal to respond to offers by large international LNG companies to purchase gas for, and even construct, a project, and the State’s willingness to ignore those offers in its dealings with the leaseholders.

My experience led me to place gas pipeline development at the forefront of my 2010 gubernatorial campaign. I knew, as did Gov. Hickel and the late Sen. Ted Stevens, that our future would be LNG and not a pipeline through Canada, which Parnell defended even after the shale gas revolution meant North America did not need Alaska gas.

At a loss as to how to convince the administration to switch gears, I decided in 2011 to connect directly with the Asian market. Since the Port Authority’s private funding was running low, I donated my time and was reimbursed only for expenses. Following numerous trips and meetings with companies in Asia, I helped six of the world’s larg-

est LNG buyers submit a response to the Solicitation of Interest Exxon and TransCanada were required to hold under AGIA. Their aggregated volume, plus anticipated instate use, was over 100% of the capacity needed for a large volume LNG project.

A separate Japanese consortium, Resource Energy Inc. (REI), also responded seeking to acquire a similar volume of gas. To be clear, that meant that a 200% written volume response from the Asian market had been submitted under the AGIA process for an LNG project to tidewater.

We received no response, either from the State or the AGIA partners, Exxon and TransCanada. When we asked TransCanada, they directed us to Exxon.

Exxon gave us the impression the deal would never happen.

Meanwhile, Parnell and the legislature pushed through HB4 authorizing another expensive study for the “bullet line,” despite the fact that it would not provide significant revenue into state coffers or provide low cost energy and there was market demand for large volumes.

In a pre-election epiphany, Gov. Parnell is now supporting a large volume LNG project. For unclear reasons, Parnell abandoned AGIA but our financial obligations to TransCanada remained.

Never mind that AGIA had an LNG leg to it that had just received a 200% response from the Asian market at its open season to tidewater. The newly financed bullet line study took a backseat and Parnell decided to start over.

This spring the legislature passed Senate Bill 138, which created a brand new framework to progress a gas pipeline.

It is a workable platform, but it started over and provided a broad grant of authority to the Governor to keep contractual agreements between the State and project partners confidential.

My biggest concern is not with SB138, but the terms Gov. Parnell is brewing in secret. From what is public it is apparent he has structured an arrangement where the leaseholders – not Alaska – are in the driver’s seat.

After 30-plus years of these same companies blocking the development of North Slope gas while they advance their own competing projects around the world, this arrangement is unacceptable and will not succeed.

I am leery of a process whereby: 1) the State is not in control of the timeline; 2) oil tax concessions are tied to a gas pipeline study; 3) TransCanada owns our share of the pipeline without competitive bidding; 4) our Prudhoe Bay leases are altered; and 5) Alaska receives its tax payments in gas rather than money and so much of the process/

Real Questions for Candidates

details are kept from Alaskans.

History demonstrates the State fares poorly when it foregoes standard lease terms and regulatory processes to cut leaseholder-specific deals. Such deals typically reflect an inappropriate exercise of political influence and market power -- the antithesis of competition and free markets.

When elected, I intend to review and continue the early permitting and engineering work for a project to Cook Inlet. We have started over often and we cannot afford to do so again.

I will also insist the State take control of the project through a Final Investment Decision (FID), the point at which all parties are committed to construction.

Such an approach will prevent any one company from halting progress or refusing further work until the State makes further concessions.

In short, I intend to finish the current LNG project plan, but with Alaska working with the both the leaseholders and Asian buyers and in control of a transparent and competitive process.

Bill Walker was a carpenter, laborer and teamster on the oil pipeline construction.

He is an oil and gas attorney and independent candidate for governor. He has a long history or working with Gov. Wally Hickel and the Port Authority to develop an Alaska LNG export project.

 

Contributed by Stuart Thompson

I’ve heard enough political bullying— masquerading as political advertising—by our national public office candidates to make me want to puke.

I don’t need someone to “fight for me”.

I don’t need someone to sling mud at his opponents—thinking I’ll believe the half truths stated and implied. I want to know how oaths of office will be honored, and how the proven wisdom from our political heritage will be utilized to truly solve our country’s problems.

environmental disaster that could ever be. The US War on Terror is a poster child for a government substituting bullying, ignorance, greed and prejudice for publicly verifiable reality research, true justice, and historically successful methods of curbing human irrationality.

Truth is appearing as the US government’s worst enemy — while it is actually the American people’s best friend.

So I ask this. Why are the current Alaska candidates for national public office not speaking to questions that face reality?

What follows are three such questions.

The consistent economic, administrative, and judicial failures of our federal government on a national and international basis shows blatant ignorance, greed and prejudice enabling corruption These are worse threats than any terrorist or contagious disease or

1) Americans have failed at maintaining a true national republic characterized by decentralization of power made possible by adherence to our constitution. We are now, at best, a benevolent elected monarchy, aided and abetted by benevolent elected congressional

nobility, and guided by an aristocracy of experts and moneyed special interests.

As an aspiring national public official for Alaska, how are you going to protect yourself and your family from the vicious blackmail and entrapment that creates the political schizophrenia DC is so well known for?

denial of vital intelligence to Congress by elements of the US Executive Branch—who have the power to declare that individual congressman don’t have the security clearance to know what’s necessary for accurate congressional decisions?

 3) It’s rank philosophical treason to our political heritage for constituents to be 2) Harry S. Truman (in his Dec 1962  treated as if they are no more than clueWashington Post essay) remarked that  his founding vision for the CIA was for less barking dogs that need benevolent  an independent, impartial intelligence leaders to make all decisions to care for  organization to serve the President --- them best. How are you going to use  saying that the quality of presidential the minds and the learning initiative   decisions was wholly dependent on the of your constituents to counteract the  quality of intelligence used. He never intellectual slavery (to special interest  anticipated the modern CIA focus on empowered experts) that’s now rampant in the US Congress? clandestine interference with foreign nations, as planned by a bureaucracy’s Stuart Thompson selfish vision of what is national seculookitover@att.net rity. How are you going to deal with the 

     

   

      

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POLITICS The People’s Paper

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 7

Smokescreen Continued From Cover Story

“I won't tell you how to vote on this issue. Frankly, I don't know how I'm going to vote. I think I will decide when I get to the voting booth. Regardless, it will be voted on, and the outcome is real.”

Alaska has unique laws regarding cannabis. Simply having inhaled the smoke of the flowers of a cannabis plant is not reason for caging a human, in Alaska. However, transporting or purchasing is illegal, and you will probably be caged if caught doing so.

Justice is not served by our current law.

Does that mean that we should vote Yes to Legalize and Regulate? Not if you are looking for Justice. This new law still allows for penalties regarding mankind’s relationship with this cash crop, this industrial dynamo, this fundamental food and pharmaceutical called cannabis.

EVERYONE’S A CRIMINAL Lots of things have been made illegal.

But… Unjust laws make criminals of the innocent. Both the lawbreaker and the lawmaker are guilty; the former of man's law, and the latter of God's law.

Everyone’s a criminal.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these ... " “That among these…” These three words say so much. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These are only three among more unalienable rights, given to mankind by a Creator...

Wow. As if life, liberty and trying to be happy weren't enough, we are told that there are even more.

LIMITING LOSS OF LIBERTY Right now, State law is less intrusive than the proposed ballot measure. Fed-

eral law will not be changed. However, the proposed change in the State of Alaska’s law would lessen the penalty from caging to taxation and regulation, while allowing the State to gain revenue on what is currently happening without any gov't intrusion. All this does is allow the sellers and the buyers to pay a tax.

This current scenario should serve as a window into the inner workings of cannabis prohibition. It is telling that potential pot revenue is such an effective point of argument with politicos – because prohibition was always about money. And so is this proposed ballot measure.

The laws in Alaska are conflicting, and therefore confusing. Selective enforcement is the result. You can grow it, but you can't transport it or sell it. Leaving the obvious question, how do you get it, so as to grow it in the first place.

And what about those People whom the State of Alaska has previously caged? Will the state pay reparations to those who have been persecuted under previous state law? I doubt it.

Because this change in the law does not acknowlege that the State’s current law that cages humans for agriculture as being unjust. It simply lessens the penalty.

See where I’m going with this?

Now, I could argue that you should vote yes, because it lessens the penalty on the people, and that’s better than what is currently happening. Or, I could argue that making all cannabis consumers suffer a little through unfair taxation and regulation, and creating revenue from what was previously

Ballot Language Ballot Meaure 2 Ballot Measure No. 2 An Act to Tax and Regulate the Production, Sale, and Use of Marijuana.

This bill would tax and regulate the production, sale, and use of marijuana in Alaska.

The bill would make the use of marijuana legal for persons 21 years of age or older. The bill would allow a person to possess, use, show, buy, transport, or grow set amounts of marijuana, with the growing subject to certain restrictions. The bill would ban the public use of marijuana. The bill would prohibit a person under 21 years of age from using false identification to buy or try to buy marijuana or marijuana accessories.

The bill would allow validly registered marijuana-related entities and persons 21 years of age or older who own or are employed by these entities to make, possess, buy, distribute, sell, show, store, transport, deliver, transfer, receive, harvest, process, or package marijuana and marijuana products, subject to certain restrictions. Alaska Statute 17.30.020 (Controlled Substances) would not apply to these entities.

The bill would require the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board to implement parts of the bill. But the bill would also let the legislature create a Marijuana Control Board to assume these duties. The bill would require the ABC Board to adopt regulations governing marijuana-related entities. The regulations would need to cover certain topics and be subject to certain restrictions. The bill would also create procedures for registering a marijuana-related entity. The procedures would be managed by the ABC board and local governments.

The bill would allow a local government to prohibit the operation of marijuana-related entities. A local

government could do that by enacting an ordinance or through voter initiative. The ordinances could cover the time, place, manner, and registration of a marijuana entity’s operations.

The bill would allow a person 21 years of age or older to possess, use, show, buy, or transport marijuana accessories. Marijuana accessories are products individuals use to grow or consume marijuana. The bill would also allow persons 21 years of age or older to make marijuana accessories and to distribute or sell them to persons who are 21 years of age or older.

The bill states that it is not intended to require an employer to allow marijuana use, transportation, possession, sale, growth, or transfer, or prevent an employer from prohibiting these activities.

The bill does not intend to supersede laws prohibiting driving under the influence of marijuana. The bill does not intend to prohibit schools, correction facilities, hospitals, or private persons or entities from restricting marijuana on their property. The bill does not intend to limit the state’s existing medical marijuana laws.

The bill would impose a $50 per ounce (or proportionate) excise tax on the sale or transfer of marijuana from a cultivation facility to a retail store or marijuana product manufacturing facility. The marijuana cultivation facility would pay the tax and send monthly tax statements to the Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue could exempt certain parts of the marijuana plant from the tax. It could also establish a lower tax rate for certain parts of the plant.

The bill defines numerous terms. The bill contains a statement of purpose and findings. The bill would impose civil fines and penalties for violations.

argued to be a danger to children, makes the State of Alaska complicit in exploiting the People.

It is a complex conundrum, for the informed voter.

Philosophically, complete decriminalization is the Liberty-based solution.

Taxation is the opposite of Liberty.

However, practically speaking, all government is an infringement on Liberty.

The question then is: “What is an acceptable level of infringement?”

To remain philosophically pure is not evil, but it may not be practical.

Freedoms are not granted or allowed by government. Government can only infringe on Liberty. Again, what is acceptable to us, the People?

You can buy hemp-seeds at local retailers.

HYPOCRISY EVERYWHERE States rights - It's ironic to me that the liberal argument is pro-legalization, yet they plan to vote at a State level to override the effect of Federal law.

Philosophically, this aligns the modern liberal with the Southern Confederacy.

Interesting.

HOW SHOULD YOU VOTE? I won't tell you how to vote on this issue. Frankly, I don't know how I'm going to vote. I think I will decide when I get to the voting booth.

And it is also ironic that the modern libertarian is advocating for more law, and more taxation! All these libertarians voting for more law - the irony is thick.

Less Law = More Liberty.

Regardless, it will be voted on, and the outcome is real. So, I will vote on the issue. But I do so with the knowledge that PR firms created the argument, not the People.

Meanwhile, the conservative who touts free market and industry denies the People the economic opportunity of not just pharmaceutical applications, but more importantly, cannabis cultivation for food and industry!

It is a head trip.

Neither side of this argument is real.

It is manufactured... But it is also on the ballot.

BOTTOM LINE Vote Yes or Vote No, but do so from an informed perspective.

The People’s Paper POLITICS American Decline Part II:

An Administration of Smoke and Mirrors

By R. E. Lyons Jr. In Part I of this series the manner in which a small nation, barely stretching from the Atlantic Coast to the Appalachian Range grew to become the preeminent economic and military power on earth was surveyed.

Yet the struggle between socialism and capitalism, which had smoldered since the Red Army’s “liberation” of Central Europe and the Balkans in 1944, erupted as the ink dried on the surrender documents that ended World War II. From the Greek insurgency to the Berlin Airlift, to the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the contest between Russian expansionism and Western concepts of containment burgeoned. And with it, the histrionics of the Radical Left.

Through out the 1960s, change swept across America from her university campuses. A groundswell of young people renounced perennial standards of ethical behavior, duty, and personal responsibility. The counterculture epitomized by the slogan, “sex, drugs and rock and roll” ripped through American Society; dividing generations, families and communities.

As a result, buildings were bombed, American cities were engulfed in riots, and the nation was plunged into a fundamental sickness of the spirit; the symptoms of which were a shift from the sense of commitment and sacrifice that had taken Man from his home planet to a different celestial body; into a culture of mediocrity and entitlement which are integral tenets of socialism. American society had become susceptible to the ideological dry rot of political correctness.

The shift was not unforeseen. Eric Arthur Blair described the coming sterile, dystopian world order of conformity and underachievement in 1984. Winston Churchill warned of the equal distribution of misery that was socialism’s inherent virtue.1 As early as the close of the First World War, William Butler Yeats forecast the creation of a new pitiless human epoch when he penned The Second Coming.

“The Second Coming”

By William Butler Yeats Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mound Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand; A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all around it Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again, but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?

Despite the frenzy of the Left in Europe and America, by the end of the decade of the 1980’s, Russian hegemony of the Baltic States, Central Europe, and the Ukraine collapsed as the Soviet Union imploded.

Yet, notwithstanding the reality that the World was no safer, the Left clamored for reallocation of defense funds to social programs.

Denigration of the hazards of the Post Cold War World became a mantra of the Far Left in Europe and America. Enshrouded in complacency, no dose of reality was strong enough to prevent venal politicians from purchasing votes by targeting one special interest group after another in an endless quest for power.

Neither the bombing of the US Embassy in Kenya, nor the attack on the USS Cole could rouse the citizenry to the perils. The graphic display of UN impotence as it studiously avoided labeling a genocide the murder of 800,000 Tutsis by Hutu Militias (thereby avoiding the necessity to intervene in Rwanda as required by its Charter); failed to dispel the inertia. Even the first bombing of the World Trade Center could not focus the consciousness of a segment of the citizenry that bought into the one world government - global village prattle; for they were convinced only neo-fascist extremists could possibly doubt the World was now a more peaceful and stable place.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, By 2009, the torch had firmly passed from the Greatest Generation to a new Millennial Generation, enthralled by an unknown community organizer whose rise in the political milieu had been meteoric. With grandiose promises to gratify every whim of every special interest group in America, his impact was mesmerizing. Marx had characterized religion as the opiate of the masses, but in the 21st Century, hope had supplanted religion as the anodyne coalescing America’s youth.

As the new President promised to obliterate poverty, clean up the air, and like King Canute, command the seas to stop rising; the new generation was ecstatic as they dreamed of the brave new world they were creating. Unfortunately, while King Canute learned a measure of humility regarding the limits of regal power versus the realities of the physical world2, the new President did not. Despite the actualities of a failed economic stimulus package, failures of pretty please and leading from behind as foreign policy guidelines, and a quasi-socialist economic policy that engendered a 17 trillion dollar national debt — the new generation failed to recognize the risks of creating a global perception of America as a bumbling, directionless giant.

The blood dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Repeatedly, the new President glossed over his Justice Department’s failure to prosecute blatant voter intimidation at Philadelphia voting booths. His administration stonewalled Congressional Investigations into Fast and Furious, NSA, IRS and Benghazi, which of course, he knew nothing about until informed by the Press.

When he lied to the American People about the effects of the Affordable Care Act, his minions redoubled their efforts to assure the public that a few cancer patients loosing their doctor and their insurance was really no big deal. And when the discrepancies between the promises he made and the realities of cancelled policies and dropped physicians could no longer be ignored; denizens of the faculty lounges of Ivy League Universities fell all over themselves to explain how plain falsehoods were not really Presidential lies.

It was not the President who was in the wrong; it was misconceptions of the American People who were just too ignorant to realize he had meant they could keep their insurance and physician if they were will-

ing to pay higher premiums and deductibles for the privilege.3 The net effect of all the apologetics was to enshroud the Presidency in a cloud of rhetoric, slogans, and distractions, which few wished to penetrate. And those few were prevented from doing so.

By the end of his first term in office, the stonewall around the Executive Branch was more opaque then that of the Emerald City. Liberal Press, Hollywood Elites and Wall Street Financiers goose-stepped along the yellow brick road, ceaselessly exerting themselves to shield the public from the “delusional cynics” that claimed something was dysfunctional behind the foggy ramparts. Large segments of the populace abdicated their own deductive abilities. Reality somehow lost its ties to the physical world, becoming instead the consensus of friends on social media; “friends” that steadily disgorged assurances that all who questioned the policies of the president were pitiable mental defectives; intellectually unequipped to appreciate the brilliance of his policies.

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;

When the Green movement rose against the Ayatollahs in Iran, the Imperial President did nothing. Nor did he respond when the Muslim Brotherhood replaced Mubarak in Egypt. He led from behind when Muslim militias overthrew Qaddafi in Libya. Indeed, his magi in Hollywood and the Press lauded the “Arab Spring” and denigrated those who expressed concern about the spread of Islamic extremists and Al Qaeda into those countries. The problem was not the Administration’s foreign policy, they maintained, but the failure of the American People to understand the President’s brilliance and the nuances of his diplomacy.

A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all around it Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.

In due course came Benghazi. Despite a previous bombing episode, an incident involving the British Ambassador, and pleas for more security; this administration’s decisions cost the lives of four Americans.

The political lessons of this however, were simple enough: peddle a false narrative about an anti-Islamist video and whine about finding it offensive when anyone questions the legality or competence of your administration’s actions; and the voting public will be distracted long enough for you to win a second term.

And there was, sadly enough, no Toto to pull aside the curtain and reveal the collection of grifters manipulating the public by means of smoke and mirrors.

The darkness drops again, but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?

And then, arose ISIS. TO BE CONTINUED 1_Winston Churchill. www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/winstonchu164131.html, accessed October 2, 2014.

2_King Canute: www.aculty.history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/Canute%20Waves.htm 3_ Emmanuel, Ezekial; Harvard Professor, on an interview on Fox News.

Alaska Bar Assocation

Contributed by Theresa Nangle Obermeyer

Alaska is the only state in the U.S. that does not have a law school or an elected officeholder who is required to be a member, Alaska Bar Association. Therefore, there are no communications links or “checks and balances” among Alaska Bench and Bar members.

Tom paid $2,100 for the BARBRI Alaska Bar Exam Review (now Uniform Bar Exam) and $600 to Alaska Bar Association and took Uniform Bar Exam July 29-30. Results will be released October 30 by Board of Governors https://www. alaskabar.org/servlet/content/listing_ of_board_members_and_officers.html. I admire Tom very much. He is very balanced about this entire matter.

My husband, Thomas S. Obermeyer, Attorney, awaits the results of his umpteenth Alaska Bar Exam, a test of minimal competency, that he has been taking for 30 ½ years since February, 1984 in order to be licensed to practice law in Alaska..

“YES:Alaska should adopt the UBE” in Alaska Bar Rag March, 2013, stated:”Between 2008 and 2013, Alaska Bar Association has admitted 37% of Alaska Bar licensees by reciprocity most of whom have likely never landed on Alaska soil.”

Tom has been licensed since 1990 by similar Missouri Bar Exam, a state that is supposed to have reciprocity with Alaska but really does not as Tom has been denied reciprocity here. Tom continues to be a Category I attorney in Missouri requiring that he take 15 hours of CLE yearly at substantial expense. Alaska Bar Association only requires three clock hours of MCLE in Ethics currently.

Board of Governors finally proposed a new Alaska Bar Rule limiting admission by reciprocity published in Alaska Bar Rag March, 2014 Page 11 and voted on May 6, 2014 to be forwarded to Alaska Supreme Court: “Section 2: (c) for the purpose of this section, the ‘active practice of law’ shall mean no fewer that 1,000 hours per year

in one or more of the following activities: (1) engaged in representing one or more clients in the private practice of law.’”

Alaska Bar Rule change took six long years with literally hundreds or possibly over a thousand lawyers getting reciprocity here as Tom has continued to be required to take Alaska Bar Exam and should have been licensed here by reciprocity in the mid 1990s. In 1994 Alaska Bar Rule 2.2(b)(3) was implemented because of Tom’s circumstances when he was getting ready to apply for reciprocity from Missouri. Of course, Bar Rule 2(c) also relates to Tom’s circumstances.

Please analyze the 37% who have gotten reciprocity here 2008-2013 from 37 states and D.C. https://www.alaskabar. org/servlet/content/reciprocal_jurisdictions.html.

The numbers of licensees are much larger in all other jurisdictions as well as the fact that the passage rates are higher in all other states so there is really not an accurate comparison between

passing Alaska Bar Exam and the 37% who were granted reciprocity here 20082013. We think Alaskans should as least be on equal footing with those who have never landed on Alaska soil.

The number of Alaska Government attorneys is no longer published in the Todd Communications Alaska Directory of Attorneys but the last time I noticed it was published was in Spring 2008 when the number was 30%, probably the highest of any state in the U.S. All the other states have options for law licensure. Wisconsin has the “Diploma Privilege” by which if anyone graduates from one of their in state law schools, he/she gets a diploma in one hand and a Wisconsin law license in the other.

What Alaska Bar Association has done to my husband cannot be what American attorneys do, i.e., attempt to destroy and bankrupt one of their own.

POLITICS

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 9

By the Law Tyranny by God Liberty continued from page 5 wells which will receive the 20 percent off. “Twenty” barrels free of every 100 for three years. Then we have the uncertain price of oil and with all the competition from the lower forty-eight and the world market to consider – well it sends shivers down my spine.

And whenever are we going to set our budget to actually come on target with the oil market value.

I would not want to be the person whose responsibility that is, but I do know an accountant who has to play a budget on sales tax alone, with a lot more variables, and the budget comes in just under the actuals. It can be done. I have to laugh here, as a wellknown person of business in the Valley told me if I wanted a State In come tax then vote for Walker. Well it is clear to me that the current administration has helped lead us down that road. We now hear on all the conservative talk show radio how a state income tax is now “inevitable”, as we all get led down the rose briar path to a self-fulfilling prophesy. As this scenario con tinues we deplete our savings, destroy the permanent fund and have nothing to show for it in a (not so) slow death.

What we need to be doing aggressively is building infrastructure, reducing debt load and developing cheaper energy resources to bring new industry on line. And to think that we can’t still rely heavily upon the resources of oil and gas that we have is ridiculous. We

have other industries too, like fishing industry, which is now being torn apart with polarized “issues”. Remember we are a rich state, but I can’t see that anything has been prepared in six years to address the revenue challenge. There is nothing to be done about the past but there is plenty we can do right now.

Let’s look at what a good chief administrator can do. The Chief Administrator of this State can: change regulations and operational procedures within it’s purview without a legislation vote (This is more significant than you know). An effective Administrator engages with the legislature to pass or revoke laws.

A Chief Administrator does not work in a vacuum. A conscientious Administrator goes through his department budgets with a fine tooth comb (Mandatory Administration 101). A Chief Administrator does everything possible to reduce the budget before reducing services. And as for the legislature, you will know them by their fruit.

Do they back all of “their” party legislation no matter what? I have witnessed the juggling game of Juneau in person.

It is not the best policy, perhaps, to “bargain” your legislation for or against other legislation to get “your” vote which happens from time to time.

This seems to be acceptable to some, with a wink and a nod to those less “worldly”. Hardly a whisper is heard

about the merits of the bill and if argument does ensue, it is polarized with “issues” as popular “sound bite” words liter the floor of the house faster than popcorn popping! There are many decent and educated persons in our legislature, and also by the majority I feel, well meaning.

Some may think I am too generous, but we have all been affected by the polar swirl.

Isn’t it time to just stop and treat each other with respect to our differences and review legislation based on its merits and how it rates set up against the constitution to see if it is indeed not restrictive, beneficial and holds to constitutional rights.

Wouldn’t life be great if we passed maybe zero laws one year? Well you may think I’m in LaLa Land with that one, but beware your own bubble world. You cannot legislate morality.

There is no panacea. Utopia is not on the horizon - to the left or the right.

There is one element in this world that controls us – ourselves. We must admit that we are not perfect with that, nor those we put in charge over us (and they need to admit their mistakes).

We as Alaskans must decide what to do – go down in financial ruin as our current deficit spending continues – or take a chance on something which holds out hope for a much brighter future for all. I will tell you why I am putting myself out like this, I observe the woman at the thrift store with four

children struggling over change. I see the mostly empty carts at the checkout lines in grocery stores which is not surprising as many items cost an hours wage or more. I notice the condition of the clothes adults and children wear.

I hear the conversation of young adults and their struggle to independence is way harder than mine was.

I see the expression on old men’s faces when no-one is looking. But I am. I refuse to go down the road to ruin; I will take the bold step and believe change for the better is possible. I want Unity, not division. I will make that step and take up with the duty I have to follow it through.

When we vote, our job is not done. We must be ever vigilant or all is in vain.

We in Alaska have an opportunity to make history, to declare that partisan politics is dead and liberty is alive.

Above all we must insist that we live in truth and spirit, with maturity and by example, according to our God given rights guaranteed us by our constitution.

- Bernadette Rupright

An Important Point on the Governor Race Contributed by Lance Roberts The governor race in Alaska has taken an interesting turn with Independent Republican Bill Walker jumping out of his party and platform to team with Byron Mallott, the Democrat’s candidate aligned with Begich and Obama.

If this alliance wins, then it will have a major impact on the ongoing gasline projects. Some say that this race is now reminiscent of the Palin or Hickel races, but there are major differences.

Sarah Palin ran against proven corruption in the legislature and won with the conservative populist vote, never abandoning party or principles. Hickel ran a conservative campaign against a liberal Republican opponent. Walker is running a liberal populist campaign based on an appeal to perceived evils in our successful oil and gas industry.

He often talks of state taking back control of paid-for leases, and taking ownership of gas pipeline and liquefaction facilities as other countries have done. He’s running against an incumbent governor whose optimism and focus on increasing oil production and a gasline have created an economic boom with jobs increasing every year.

We currently have a gasline deal moving forward with buy-in from the producers and approval of the legislature.

From an energy perspective, the most important issue that the next governor will address is a gasline project. Bill Walker has for many years been a driving force behind the Alaska Gasline Port Authority (AGPA), established in 1999 by the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the North Slope Borough and the City of Valdez. It was created to support a gasline effort to Valdez, the one that the voters statewide also chose to support in 2002. That project never garnered the support that was necessary to see it to fruition.

Other gas projects were later proposed and gained political backing. Walker’s Port Authority chose a scorched earth policy, working to defeat all other gas line proposals that weren’t their own.

They advertised with public dollars and personally lobbied the legislature and administration to kill all other gas line projects, instead of modifying their plan to fit the new situation.

Note, they did attempt at one point a gas trucking project for Fairbanks, but that was defeated, mainly based on the high price the public and assembly

thought they were paying to buy the local gas utility. Personally, I’ve always been a supporter of the line to Valdez, and voted for Walker in 2010 because I thought that the specific gasline was the defining issue. What I don’t understand is refusing to adapt when the situation changed, delaying the chance for a gasline, due to a desire for a particular plan. Sometimes perfect is the enemy of good.

Consider the following questions: How is Walker going to advance the gasline project that is already in motion?

The Alaska LNG project, a project to construct a gasline and the facilities to export gas and provide for Alaska’s energy needs, has achieved cooperation with the oil companies and they been doing field work for it all summer.

The planned route goes to Nikiski, on the Kenai Peninsula, not Walker’s hometown of Valdez and the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) work is underway. There are more negotiations still to be done.

How will a man who has consistently worked for the last fifteen years for a specific project to Valdez and against all others handle those negotiations?

How will he make the win-win deal that is needed in our free enterprise

system to advance a gasline, when he has taken an adversarial position with the oil companies, going so far as to sue the state after the Point Thomson settlement took place?

This settlement would supply the gas for a line, has caused the oil companies to invest billions in infrastructure and had 700 people working this summer. If Walker mandates a change from what was previously approved and intended by the legislature, how will he be able to get legislative approval?

For most of Alaska, a gasline is just an important source of future revenue, but for us in Fairbanks it is life or death, as many of our long-time citizens are leaving for places with cheaper utility bills. Sean Parnell helped the Interior by proposing and supporting the Interior Energy project to truck gas to Fairbanks. This is a bridge project that will prove helpful, but does not diminish the need for a long-term solution such as a gasline.

If you examine the record of the candidates then it’s pretty easy to see that the choice you’ll make in November is Walker or a natural gas pipeline.

Can City of Palmer Remain ‘Smoke Free’?

How Ballot Measure #2 Will Effect the City of Palmer Contributed by Edna Devries Palmer City Council One of the most pressing questions behind November Ballot measure #2 is: Can the local voters in a municipality say whether their community remains ‘Smoke Free’ from cannabis smoke as well as from cigarettes and e-cigarettes smoke?

The voters in the City of Palmer voted via a referendum vote in October 2012 to go Smoke Free from cigarettes and e-cigarettes. .

Recently a long-term business woman from Palmer, who supports Smoke Free Palmer but opposes Ballot Measure #2, attended a wedding at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. She decided to take a side trip to Denver where she had in the past visited several antique stores on Broadway. As they entered the area, she said the air was very thick with cannabis smoke.

Recently at a Palmer city council meeting, a local citizen provided the council with testimony in support of the City of Palmer remaining Smoke Free.

In Denver, when a cannabis retail store moves in next door in a strict mall, the ‘hang arounds’ are very damaging to the existing business and that business is unable to cancel their lease and move to another location.

Where and how does cannabis smoking come into play if Ballot Issue #2 passes in the upcoming November election?

Three are many unanswered questions and we don’t want to ‘pass it so we can find out what is in it’. As a member of the Palmer City Council,

I will be asking for legal advice from our city attorney at our next council meeting. So, not knowing the full effect on the citizens of Palmer, I am encouraging everyone to Vote No on Two. One other thing I know that I will be voting and recommend that you also vote for Rep. Stotlze for state Senate and Rep. Hughes for state House. They are seasoned and experienced elected officials and will protect the City of Palmer residents.

Both Bill & Shelley have proven their leadership and care for the City of Palmer and its residents. They will be able to ‘hit the ground running’ in January and are capable of dealing with the many challenges that the State of Alaska faces in the months and years ahead. .

Here’s a Public Interest Lawsuit to

Keep an Eye On

“Palmer farmer Ray DeVilbiss of Lazy Mountain takes his public interest lawsuit against the Mat-Su Borough before the bench of the Alaska Supreme Court...”

Contributed by Tom Payton On November 24th, Palmer farmer Ray DeVilbiss of Lazy Mountain takes his public interest lawsuit against the Mat-Su Borough before the bench of the Alaska Supreme court for oral arguments.

Mr. DeVilbiss is the first citizen of the Mat-Su attempting to take advantage of the 2007 remedial statute, AS 29.35.450 (4), which says that a parcel of land that does not receive it’s access from an RSA maintained road can be excluded from an RSA area with just an assembly vote.

His 2011 request to the Mat-Su Borough to exclude his property using the 2007 law from the Lazing Mountain RSA 19 tax area was turned down by

the Borough assembly on May 3rd, 2011, and that’s when DeVilbiss began his court battle with the Borough.

DeVilbiss does not receive any RSA services, but does pay a sizable tax each year to the RSA. He claims that tax is a violation of his Due Process, and Equal Protection guaranteed under our Constitution and that the remedial law AS 29.35.450 (4) passed by Alaska’s Legislature to remedy this problem is a mandatory law that the Borough must comply with.

He figures the Borough is now unlawfully collecting millions of dollars from citizens. So, if DeVilbiss prevails in Supreme Court, you too may want to be excluded from the tax if you are not accessing from those RSA roads.

My Opinions on the House 9

District Candidates

Contributed by William Deaton

I have interviewed all 3 people running for House 9, Jim Colver, Mabel Wimmer, and Pam Goode. They are all good people but some don’t meet the criteria that I believe every candidate should have.

Jim Colver is a man that has answered all of my questions honestly, but the questions didn’t seem important to him. My first question was about abortion, he said he was Pro-Life and would fight for that in the State House. Next is Gay Marriage, he also said that he would fight for traditional marriage and the current state constitution.

The third question I asked him is if he was for out loud prayer in public schools. He said that he was going to let the school board take care of that. The final question I asked him was if he was a Christian and he replied that he had been for all of his life, since he was born.

Mabel Wimmer is Pro-Choice and is for gay marriage, which goes against the

current state constitution. She is not for prayer in public schools and when I asked her if she was a Christian she said that she was the youth leader in her church and that she goes to Victory Bible Camp every year, but she says that the faith is a private faith. She is against common core, she is also against boroughs.

Pam Goode is Pro-Life and is for traditional marriage. She is for prayer in public schools and is fighting against common core. I asked her if she was a Christian and she said that she was and she said that she had accepted Christ several years ago.

Out of this information, I have decided and hope that you will as well, to support Pam Goode!

I am glad to say that these people are all against the Federal Government and are willing to fight against their over reach, from what they said.

Article Four: Voices of the Children of Incarcerated Parents “Children of incarcerated parents have a six times higher chance of going to prison themselves.”

Contributed By Susan Magestro, Criminologist & Interventionist When we read the gruesome details associated with Serial Killer Israel Keye’s crime, we do so with disgust. For many, there is a morbid curiosity and fascination to know the details of the crime and for some people, there is a desire to “get inside the minds of infamous criminals”.

Media provides that for us.

We read every detail about the kidnapping of Samantha Koenig on a busy street during rush hour traffic, to the disposing of her body parts several weeks after she was murdered. We read about the shed where Samantha was taken, murdered, and left for several weeks before her body was disposed of. The shed set right next to a house. The house where Keyes lived with his girlfriend and elementary school aged daughter.

Neither of them realized what was happening or that Keyes led a double life.

We read with disgust and fascination about Travis Felder’s revolving crime sprees. Incarcerated at a young age for murder. After serving out his first sentence of a decade plus, he was released on parole. Travis shared with audiences that he was grabbling with years of mental health and other issues. In his latest crime episode, media provided the reader with the morbid details of a triple crime spree, which occurred over a period of just a few hours. Again, the reader is given morbid details of the sexual crimes and assaults, as well as detailed descriptions of the “odd” clothing Travis wore while he was committing these crimes, a black bra and Capri’s.

Imagine the impact of all of this on Felder’s family as well.

Our hearts go out to the victims of both of these crimes as well as to their families. We have compassion and accept their struggle to move forward from both of these unconscionable crimes.

But there is another group of victims, we seldom think about. Those who can’t move forward as easily, who keep their struggles a secret, so those in their lives are unable to offer the compassion they so desperately need. Those are the children of the people who perpetrated these crimes, ”the children of incarcerated parents”. This is an invisible population. Who are they? Where are they?

What agency is responsible for working with them? The answer is no one knows.

These children are the collateral damage of these crimes and their parent’s incarceration.

Erroneously, many believe child protective services monitors and has a handle on working with these children. And

that would be correct for a very small portion of these children. My early “guesstimations,” from the statistics I am collection as a criminologist, is they are involved with less than 20% of the children of incarcerated parents. So who is raising these youth?

The two predominant groups raising children of incarcerated parents are “other” custodial parents or the grandparents. This is a disfranchised group struggling alone to make ends meet and to deal with the anger the children are feeling as a result of their parents incarceration. They are the ones whom deal with the child’s emotions after a visit or telephone call with the incarcerated parent. These are the “caregivers,” whom deal with the children on birthdays and holidays, when the feeling of the missing incarcerated parents is barely cope able.

They deal with the child’s school and behavioral challenges all by themselves.

Children of incarcerated parents have a six times higher chance of going to prison themselves. This is referred to as intergenerational incarceration. It is my “guesstimation”, from working with these children, that approximately one third of them are “overachievers”. Their goal is to make very sure they do not follow in their parent’s footsteps. The other two-thirds? They struggle. They struggle to “reconcile their parent’s crime in some way”. They struggle to understand and forgive impact having an incarcerated parent has had on their family. They struggle to go to school, to behave, to do their homework. They are at higher risk to drop out of school. They have a lower chance of graduating from high school. Who are these children who keep this secret?

Some of these children have no idea where their parent is or that their parent is even incarcerated. They are told daddy is away at work for a few years, mommy is away at college. Then one day they find out the truth by overhearing it from other family members, neighborhood children, or upon their own searching on the Internet.

So how do these children feel after they find out the truth? How do they feel after they have spent seven hours driving to see their parents for a onehour visit? How do they feel seeing the details about their parents, crimes, trials, and appeals in the news? The answer is angry! They are either explosive or implosive. Who helps them navigate this journey? It’s difficult for grandparents, as they themselves struggle with seeing their own child incarcerated So grandparents and children of incarcerated parents do a delicate dance to sidestep

the real issues, each side not wanting to cause further heartache to the other.

These children suffer in silence, wondering if they will follow in their parent’s footsteps, if the parents of new friends will let there children play with them.

are released back into the community gives all involved a better chance of success to reduce recidivism rates and most importantly, prevents their own children from being a statistic of intergenerational incarceration.

What does “Re-Integration into the community” and “Re-Entry into the lives of their children” mean? Approximately ninety-seven percent of incarcerated inmates will be released back into the community. How do these newly released parents feel? Scared, awkward, yet excited. These are the same emotions these children are going through as they grapple with their parent’s re-entry. The feel happy that daddy is coming home, but very stressed that daddy may start using drugs again and this process will start again. Oftentimes it does, at least 65% (+/-) of the time. Recidivism is high.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number of incarcerated men has increased 77% just between 1997-2007 and the number of incarcerated mothers has increased 131% during that same time period. More current statistics are hard to come by.

While we are still in the infancy stage of collecting data about the parents and their children, we already know that in Alaska the average incarcerated parent, parent on parole, or parent on probation has 2.9 children. We are seeing success stories. Fathers and sons, whom have been estranged for many years, are reconnecting. It is joyful to hear what is discussed between parent and child; the parent is parenting from behind bars.

The children are given the unique opportunity to begin their healing through the guidance of the incarcerated parents. Together, they are both exploring the world they both kept secret for so long. It is a joy to watch.

The Department of Corrections for the State of Alaska has approved and is implementing a groundbreaking program, which is in its infancy, but holds great promise. The program is called Progressive Prison Parenting, Reintegration, and Re-Entry for Incarcerated Parents. This four and a half month program is in its first phase of implementation, involving five of Alaska’s Prisons. Incarcerated fathers and mothers volunteer to participate and commit to exploring some very difficult issues; how their crimes and incarceration has affected their children.

They focus on topics such as “Seeing Life Through Their Child’s Eyes”, “Understanding Their Child’s Anger”,” How and Where They Will Fit Into Their Child’s Life Upon Release?” How They Can Help Their Child Build Resiliency to Overcome Adversity.”, and How To Handle the Inevitable Disappointment” that comes with being a parent and reintegrating back to their families and community”. They are learning how to communicate with their children and family.

They are learning about the unique characteristics their children and families have faced as a result of their incarceration. And lastly, they create a detailed Re-Entry Case Plan BEFORE they are released. These self -created case plans address many issues crucial to reduce recidivism, to bridge the relationship between incarcerated parent and their children, their parents, their family, and friends. And for many, this will be a long road. Starting this process before they

Grown men cry and are ready to now do what it takes. They are learning skills to re-connect with the families. This is not something they would have envisioned before. They never considered this a possibility before. Mothers are now able to explain their addictions to their children in a responsible, matter of fact way, without making broken promises.

Incarcerated parents are taking responsibly for being real with their children, of all ages, own up to their crimes, and help their children move forward so they can have a better life, and not follow in the footsteps of their parents. Re-Entry and Reintegration of incarcerated parents is about accountability, responsibility, not just to themselves, but also to their children.

So the next time, we read about a gruesome crime or watch the details on the nightly news, ask is there another invisible victim, the child of the incarcerated parent. And applaud Alaska’s Department of Corrections for reaching out to reduce intergenerational incarceration and bridge relationships between incarcerated parents and their children, in hopes of reducing recidivism in Alaska. I applaud their dedication, commitment and participation in this ground breaking program. I applaud the parent’s working hard to face their own demons, recognize and make amends for the heartache they have caused to both their victims of crime and their families.

They are taking a positive step to make a difference in the lives of their children so they do not follow in their footsteps.

There is a one and a half day new conference, for all professionals, being presented November 7 & 8, 2104. www.susanmagestro.com

POLITICS The People’s Paper A Conservative Perspective on the See No Evil 2014 US Senate Race in Alaska

The People’s Paper COMMUNITY PAGE 11

By David Eastman Judging by the last several political events I’ve attended, the question for conservatives this year seems to be whether to greet the current US Senate race with a sigh or with a moan. It’s all rather like the feeling one gets after deciding to get a hurt tooth pulled. When Tom Sawyer let slip that his tooth hurt, he soon found his tooth tied to the bedpost and his Aunt Polly charging at him with a flaming stick in her hand; a frightful picture to say the least.

We’re told that Begich is the tooth that has hurt for six long years. And if that’s the case, then I suppose Karl Rove has assumed the role of dear Aunt Polly.

One thing is for certain, whether we retreat from the fire, or grit our teeth and bear it, Election Day currently promises little in the way of actual relief for conservatives.

Some are currently trying with great effort to baptize Dan Sullivan as the conservative answer to Mark Begich.

And as much as Hillary Clinton was the “conservative” alternative to Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic Primary, I suppose they are correct. But at that point, what does “conservative” even mean anymore? In Dan Sullivan we have a candidate who traveled the world promoting global warming and led the talks promoting US entry into the North American Union, a European superstate modeled after the European Union—hardly conservative stuff. Since

winning the primary, Sullivan ads have even dropped repealing Obamacare, opting instead to “replace” it. Replace it with what I wonder? …if you find yourself left of Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, or Rand Paul—you might still be too far right for Karl Rove.

This is the kind of “conservatism” that Karl Rove promotes, and has promoted for decades. Remember, Karl Rove fought to keep Ted Cruz from getting elected in Texas, to keep Pat Toomey from beating Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania, and propped up Charlie Crist against Marco Rubio in Florida. In 2010, Rove took to the Wall Street Journal to list the good Republican candidates across the nation and singled out Rand Paul as not having made the cut. His support for Sullivan this year has come through organizations like his “Conservative Victory Project”. Lest conservatives get the wrong idea, Karl explained quite candidly that he founded the group to “protect” the Republican Party from far-right conservatives.

So if you find yourself left of Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, or Rand Paul, don’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet—you might still be too far right for the likes of Rove. Given such a sponsor, I suppose we shouldn’t be too hard on Sullivan for a few missteps in his recent effort to “expand his base” to include conservatives. Just realize from the outside, you’re in the backseat and you are simply along for the ride.

Will the True Conservative Contributed by Pam Goode House District 9 is the only district in the state to have a 3-way race between a Democrat (Wimmer), Republican (Colver), and Constitutionist (Goode) for a legislative office.

This is the first of its kind in our state and many eyes are on this race. Why? Because the only conservative in the race is not the Republican, it’s the Constitutionist Pam Goode! The state is watching to see if the voters will go to the poles and actually vote for the traditionally conservative candidate or vote party lines.

After reading up on my opponents, I’ve determined that I’m running against 2 Democrats. I’ve met both and Mabel actually seems more genuine while Jim is definitely a politician. I call him a “genie in a bottle.” He will promise the moon if he knew someone in his district wanted it.

Your wish is my command (promise)!

I have not yet been to one of our precincts where he has not promised everybody everything including more salmon and better hunting. Really?

Now this reality is quite unpleasant for many conservatives in Alaska, so let me first offer my condolences. No matter who wins on Election Day, it will be very difficult to call it a conservative victory.

That is the bad news. But are we left to choose between merely a sigh or a moan as we wait for November? No not at all. If there is a conservative response to this race, it must surely be to pause and to take a step back. So as hard as it might be to tear your eyes away from the gladiators in this particular race, let’s take a step back, and then another, to look for a moment at a bigger picture.

By all astronomical indications, even in Barrow the sun is expected to rise on November 5th. No matter the outcome on November 4th, life will not end, and you can be sure that those elected will wake up on the 5th and begin making decisions with the next election in mind.

The victors, the losers, and the pundits will immerse themselves in the election results in the days and weeks to follow, and analysts will endeavor to glean every bit of insight that can be parsed from the numbers. Your vote will likely be among them. What message will it send?

Will your vote reward bad behavior? If so, you should expect to get more of it in the future. As they say, in this life you tend to see less of what is taxed and punished, and more of what is

subsidized and rewarded. Every vote counts to an analyst. But to a candidate, the focus is rightly and properly limited to those voters who might change their vote. A voter who will always cast a ballot, and will always vote for their designated party, doesn’t matter.

To an analyst and a candidate both, they are not a player. If a candidate gives them any attention at all, it will either be for fundraising reasons or because the candidate is simply ignorant of their voting history. If winning an election is the goal, limited time and attention should always go to those voters who are most likely to vote for your candidate, but whose votes are also not yet assured. And if those votes could be picked out from the others after being counted, those are also the votes of greatest interest to those who crunch the numbers and will be investing time and money during the next election cycle.

These are the simple rules that drive elections and campaigns. And while any of us might wax eloquently about what we care about, or want in a politician, the truest measure of what we would be willing to vote for in the future, is what we were willing to vote for in the last election. So what are conservatives willing to vote for? We will have that answer less than a month from now.

So vote like Karl Rove is watching— because he is.

Please Stand Up?

How can he say that with a straight face?

Jim also has Democrat written all over him and I don’t care what he calls himself. He donated to Begich and several other democrats and his wife donated to Obama. You can check his campaign records and see that many of his donors are democrats also. Jim actually was a Democrat. He became affiliated with the Republican Party in 2012 and started campaigning in 2013 for this race.

In the Republican primary, 60% of the voters did not want Jim in the three way race. They wanted someone more conservative and/or honest. Do not worry about splitting the vote by voting for me because 70% of the people in District 9 are conservative. Vote your conscience! Jim actually stands a very good chance of taking votes away from Mabel.

The one thing that makes Jim dangerous is he has no clue about the importance of the state’s savings, and if he does, then he’s more dangerous than I thought. He stated in the Official Elec-

tions Pamphlet that he wanted to “use savings to pay for essential services like roads, schools, and public safety.” Does that mean he doesn’t care if we have a statewide income/sales tax and lose a big chunk of the PFD in the next 5 to 10 years? The last legislature spent $6 billion of the $17 billion of savings. Alaska can not afford one more legislature like this. Spend the savings and an income/ sales tax will happen.

The state’s current budget and trajectory is unsustainable. The state needs to adhere to a sustainable budget and a vital component of that equation is the savings and the investment income could produce. Over time, the savings and the investment income need to grow gradually to replace the declining oil revenue.

If Alaska can maintain a sustainable budget then Alaskans can avoid a statewide income/sales tax and keep the politicians away from their PFD indefinitely. This is according to the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Financial liberty is a dutiful inheritance to leave future Alaskans.

District 9 is not stuck having to choose a politician with the same old playbook of promises and more promises we can’t afford and they can’t provide. Pam Goode will look out for your Constitutional liberty and your privacy. She will stand against federal and state overreach as in the latest court ruling which declared Alaska’s definition of marriage unconstitutional. Nullify Now! Our district will get its fair share of the pie but I’ll not jeopardize any generation’s freedom for another generation’s pork.

Pamela Goode is a Constitutionist and an officer in the Alaska Constitution Party. In 2012 she was very active in the Republican Party and represented Alaska as an Alternate-Delegate at the National Republican Convention.

Her natural leadership ability provides a constitutional conservative voice to her district and the state. She is the only conservative choice on the ballot for House District 9.

Endorsed by: - Alaska Right to Life / Conservative Patriot’s Group (CPG) / U.S. Senate Candidate Joe Miller. Vote Goode! www.pamgoode.com

POLITICS /EDUCATION The People’s Paper The People’s Paper politics PAGE 12

MYHouse Youth Asks for Welfare Reform Contributed by MYHouse

I am 22 years old. I am a single mother of a handsome little boy and we have been struggling a lot in the last four years. While we have had to overcome sexual and physical abuse, homelessness and academic struggles, nothing has been harder than trying to get off welfare and attain financial independence.

I am currently stuck on welfare. My monthly bill expenditures total 1,035.00. This includes rent, electricity, phone, car insurance. My monthly maximum payment from ATAP is 821.00 which automatically puts me in the negative financially every month.

This causes late fees to be paid on any bills I have to move into the following

months. ATAP does not count car insurance or phone as part of the diagram to figure assistance rates. I believe this is a serious detriment to myself and any other individuals on ATAP. In Alaska one needs reliable transportation as well as a phone in order to increase their viability as a potential employee.

If I don’t have a phone, potential employers can’t contact me nor can I make follow up calls. But the most egregious problem of all is when I find employment my ATAP benefits get cut or terminated immediately. I have worked very hard to get a job, I want to work and support myself and my child.

With my limited skillset I always have to start at an entry level position making minimum wage. At my current job I am

working around fifteen hours a week and make 8.00 an hour. I have been informed by my ATAP Case Manager that my assistance will be reduced and possibly ended due to my employment.

I haven’t even been on the job two weeks and am uncertain if the employer will retain me past the probationary period. If my ATAP is terminated, the message sent to me is that I should have not even tried to work this job as I will be losing money and again I am right back where I started.

the employment probationary period, when employment was secure, welfare would end. This strategy would do two things, one it would allow for ATAP recipients to overcome the need for welfare by working without fear of losing money; it would be a bigger incentive to work. Two, it would increase the success rates of people moving off of welfare into the workforce as they would have the additional support of ATAP payments to smooth the transition.

A solution to this would be a transition type period for people on welfare.

When a person on ATAP gains employment they can enter into a transition phase. During this phase they still receive full ATAP benefits as well as their employment salary. At the end of

In conclusion, if the goal is to help people get off of welfare permanently, then a program of transition would make the process much more efficient and effective. Thank you for your time and consideration. I am hoping to see a better change in the near future.

2014 Mat-Su Schools Foundation Teacher Grant Call for Proposals Contributed by Linda Conover The Matanuska Susitna Schools Foundation (MSSF) supports excellence in the Matanuska Susitna Borough School District.

Our mission is to enrich and expand educational opportunities for children beyond what is provided by the school district.

We are looking for creative ways teachers can excite and motivate their students. Toward this goal, the MSSF has increased its teacher grant support from $500 to $1,000.

Who may apply for funds?

Administrators, certified staff, and students sponsored by certified staff may

Alaska Deserves Better Contributed by Pete LaFrance As we crested the ridge, the wreckage appeared, strewn across the far side of the small glacier below us. I had taken a brief break from campaigning and returned to a place I had been years before, a special placed marked by both tragedy and heroism, and, like so many places in Alaska, framed by glorious and impossibly rugged peaks.

We descended to the glacier, using a rope left by previous visitors to steady ourselves as rocks crumbled around us. As we crossed the glacier my mind ventured back over the mountains to Palmer, the town of my birth and my home, to the all-encompassing venture that I came to the mountains to gain a brief respite from – my campaign for State House.

I have always been fascinated with the political process – not the nonsensical bickering that seems to now define American politics, but the simple idea that together, through democracy, we can get things done and make the world a better place. This revolutionary notion that challenges us to push aside our differences and get together to focus on what’s important. To build bridges and schools and pipelines and roads. To forge a judicial system in which every person gets a fair shake.

To ensure that a good idea and hard work are forever a path to success.

To hold as sacred those God-given, innate human rights enshrined in our country’s founding documents. This is the genius and wellspring of the power of our republic, and unfortunately, through powerful special interests and caustic politics, this essential pillar of our democracy seems to be wobbling.

Alaska is now facing an unprecedented budget deficit crisis. Our majority party has traded away fiscal responsibility for political games and

our representatives return to us from Juneau with the largest deficit in the state’s history. I believe the heart of this crisis lies in a political caucus that demands its members give away the most powerful vote that they have and approve a budget before it is even drafted. Our Republican lawmakers join a caucus and in an instant the voice of the people is muted. This is not how it should be – we deserve better.

And as a result pet projects multiply and the state throws $500 million to refineries (regardless of if they are turning a profit). They loan $270 million to foreign companies for risky endeavors. They spend $7.5 million remodeling an Anchorage office building that the state does not even own. It would be laughable if the consequences weren’t so devastating.

And so I trod across this glacier high in Hatcher Pass, to the site of the wreckage from the horrible crash of a B-29 in 1957. The site where six brave souls passed away in a terrible instant. The site where a lone hero dragged three of his brothers to safety and shielded them from a storm. A hallowed site that reminds me that humans will overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to do the right thing.

We must begin to do the right thing in Juneau. To find common ground to build the best schools in the world.

To start breaking ground on projects that strengthen and diversify our economy. To build sustainability into our budgets. Let’s do what’s necessary to leave Alaska a little bit better than we found it.

Let’s turn our back on the hyperpartisan politics of today and focus together to do something truly great.

Alaska is indeed a Great Land and our politics must begin to reflect this.

submit grant applications to serve the needs of Matanuska Susitna Borough School District students. Grants are not awarded to benefit an individual student.

What are the funding limits for grants?

Five grants up to $1,000 each. You may submit only one application per year.

What is the application process?

Complete and submit the online grant application. Concise, clear responses are best. www.matsuschoolsfoundation.org

All applicants should receive confirmation Nov. 29th.

Funds will be dispersed to the school to be used during the 2014-2015 school year.

Guidelines: Projects should include sustainability if start-up funds are requested.

Projects should impact multiple students. Projects should be ideally completed within a year.

Projects should exclude transportation costs.

The fall application deadline for the 2014-15 school year is Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014.

A Letter from Warren Keogh Candidate for State Senate Dist. E I am Warren Keogh, and I believe the key to the future of Alaska is for us to work together and find sensible, creative solutions to the problems we face. That is why, as a life-long non-partisan, I am running as an Independent candidate for State Senate District E. My first priority as your Senator will be to address the misguided priorities of the legislative and executive branches that have resulted in reckless spending and a $2 Billion dollar budget deficit, with more deficits forecast into the future. This, coupled with no plan for restoring rational fiscal policy, paints a dismal picture for our future.

My opponent has contributed to the problem rather than working toward a solution. This is not acceptable, and I will make every effort to restore sound fiscal management to our state finances.

I also see both the legislature (my opponent included) and the Parnell administration going overboard in meeting the demands of industry while neglecting the interests of Alaskans. This is accompanied by an alarming effort to curtail public notice and participation in land and resource management and development decisions. Such practices are not acceptable and, in the long run, do not serve Alaskans or businesses well. I will work hard to restore a balance, so that Alaskans have a voice and are not shortchanged.

Public money should go only to public schools. My opponent claims to support education. However, the first bill he introduced upon his arrival in Juneau (SJR9) was a misguided attempt to change our Constitution to allow our public funds to be spent in ways that weaken our public schools.

Our Constitution says that the natural resources of our state belong to all of us, to be used for the maximum benefit of the people. I agree wholeheartedly. As your Senator, I would oppose bills like the infamous HB77

that would have taken away the voice of the people and remove the citizen’s ability to acquire water rights to ensure our streams have enough water for salmon. My opponent supported HB77. Again, this is not acceptable.

We can’t waste any more time. We face tough and immediate challenges.

We need to restore fiscal responsibility to the budget process. We need to diversify our economy and provide jobs for our work force. We need more affordable energy to more parts of the state. We need to bolster our education system. We need to protect the voice of you the people and your communities in public policy decisions.

We need to increase our home-grown food supply and expand agriculture.

The list goes on.

The last few years we seem to have lost our way as we become increasingly polarized and divided. Let’s recapture the Alaska spirit of independence, cooperation, self-reliance, respectfulness, and tolerance that was commonplace not very long ago.

We are in this together, so let’s work in common cause to make Alaska a better place for our children and grandchildren.

To tackle our current problems, we need people in the Senate who will be independent and creative thinkers and leaders. With your help on Election Day, I will work hard to find solutions to our common problems. As a life-long non-partisan, I have always tried to listen to people with differing views. All people, not just special interests, deserve a voice in determining our future.

With the recent emergence of the Unity Ticket for governor, Alaska showed once again its independence of spirit, taking an unusual step outside the norm of our current political climate.

Let’s continue along that path. This is Warren Keogh, lifelong independent and candidate for State Senate. I ask for your vote on November 4.

ALASKA

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Alaska’s Healing Hearts

Warrior Moose Hunt

Contributed by James Hastings As the Cessna 185 float plane lifted off of the surface of the remote Alaskan lake, we were alone and surrounded by silence. Six individuals that, prior to yesterday had never met. In the heart of the Alaska wild, 103 river miles from extraction and surrounded by mountains, swamps and bears, the team was on our own.

While this sounds like the plot of a new Alaska reality T.V. show, it was an Alaska’s Healing Hearts (AHH) once in a life time adventure. The 2014 AHH Warrior Moose Hunt. This year, AHH Pro Staffer Jeff Lisius was joined by Warrior Robert Colprit.

A U.S. Army veteran that served two combat tours in Iraq. Robert was selected to participate in the hunt by the AHH Board of Directors. This year’s hunt was also being filmed for T.V.. Country and western superstar, member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Host of All Access Outdoors, Craig Morgan signed up for the adventure.

He wanted to assist in getting the word out about the AHH and their mission to provide outdoor recreational therapy for the battle wounded and weary. Bandon and Steve, All Access Outdoors’ Filed Producer and cameraman accompanied Craig.

The sixth member of the team was John Pulley. John had accompanied Jeff on previous float trips and was a strong oarsman.

The eight day trip began on a small beaver pond in the mosquito flats area. The plan was to float the Mosquito Fork of the Forty Mile River while moose hunting. Warrior Robert was the primary hunter and Craig Morgan was to be the secondary. The team was faced with many challenges.

In a number of places large trees had fallen and blocked the river requiring the team to saw and hatchet through the obstacles.

The upper half of the river was very slow averaging only half a mile per hour. This required long periods for

“The eight day trip began on a small beaver pond in the mosquito flats area. The plan was to float the Mosquito Fork of the Forty Mile River while moose hunting.”

rowing. The lower half of the river presented long shallow stretches that required the team to drag fully loaded rafts over rocks and log jams. Every member of the team was tested both mentally and physically.

At one point Jeff asked cameraman Steve, “What is the most miserable hunt you have ever filmed?” Steve responded, “You mean besides this one?” Each team member agreed that this hunt was the toughest hunt they had ever been on.

At the end of the hunt Robert harvested a very nice 44 inch bull moose.

While this was Robert’s first ever moose hunt, it was not the harvest that proved to be the high point. A day after arriving back in Anchorage the team got back together for dinner.

Not much was said about the bull.

Instead each team member spoke of the challenges faced and the land that had been traversed. When Robert talked about his adventure he summed up the Alaska’s Healing

Hearts mission. Robert said he had been missing a sense of camaraderie and purpose since his discharge from the Army.

While on the hunt he felt like he was part of a team on a mission. He was reminded of how being in the outdoors and setting around a campfire had always helped him put his life in perspective.

Robert also made the decision to tell his wife how much she means to him a lot more often and not just assume she knows.

ABOUT AHH Alaska’s Healing Hearts is a national organization offering year-round outdoor recreational opportunities for America’s brave service members and their families.

Rehabilitation activities include fishing, hunting, skiing, rodeo, dog sledding tours and various other outdoor pursuits.

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The Alaskan Independence Party is NOT What You May Think It Is...

When most people hear about the AIP, their first reaction is often something like, “Oh, it’s that secession party.”

Contributed by Bob Bird When most people hear about the AIP, their first reaction is often something like, “Oh, it’s that secession party.”

If they know a little bit more, they might say, “Didn’t Sarah Palin once belong to them?”

If they know a little bit more, the reply might be, “No, she didn’t but her husband Todd did. The mainstream media in the Lower 48 tried to smear her with it.”

So, if you are looking into the AIP for the first time, let’s try to set the record straight on these and other matters.

The AIP has never advocated secession, but does believe, as Thomas Jefferson stated in the Declaration of Independence, in the natural law right to do so.

The AIP is the third largest political party in the state, and has been for years.

Sarah Palin never belonged to the AIP, but she did make an official Welcome Video to the AIP for its 2008 state convention, making favorable and encouraging comments.

Her husband Todd did belong, but when pressed by the mainstream media during the 2008 presidential campaign, was likely coached into saying what the AIP acknowledges brings many people into our party: politically independent-minded people in our state sometimes inadvertently check the AIP box in a voter-registration form.

We don’t for one minute believe that Todd Palin was ignorant of the AIP, for he was a member when the party was at its height of strength and popularity.

Now, here are some more interesting facts about the AIP that you may not have heard:

The AIP elected the governor in 1990, former Republican governor (1966-68) Walter J. Hickel.

Hickel was endorsed by AIP founder Joe Vogler, who stepped aside as a gubernatorial candidate himself to permit Hickel and running mate Jack Coghill on the ticket.

Hickel’s victory brought hope to Alaskans of all political stripes, and tens of thousands of people joined the AIP. They demanded, as did Hickel, that Alaska gain some of the delayed and betrayed promises of statehood.

As can be expected of any political office-holder, Hickel both succeeded and failed in many of the issues important to the AIP. Towards the end of his single term, Hickel publicly returned to the Republican Party, mysteriously failed to seek a 2nd term, and an open breach occurred with his Lt. Governor Jack Coghill, who made a strong run as the AIP’s candidate for governor in 1994.

So, what about all this secession talk and the AIP? The AIP merely endorses the 1945 U.N. Treaty that the federal government of the United States signed. Few people, in the days before the internet, were aware of it, and no doubt the federal government was happy to keep it that way. Unfortunately, they ran up against Joe Vogler, a brilliant and embittered Alaskan who kept annoying the Hidden Powers that most people sense is really behind the federal government.

What did this treaty state that would be of interest to Alaskans?

First, it designated the various colonies throughout the globe as “Non-SelfGoverning Territories” (NSGT).

Secondly, the signatories were to provide, within the span of a timetable

to be determined in the future, four (4) options for their NSGTs: Continue as a colony, or NSGT. Become an integral part of the Mother Country (statehood, in American parlance).

Choose political independence, but economic interdependence, i.e. “common-wealth” status (as in Puerto Rico).

Choose complete independence.

Now, let’s go to where the rubbermeets-the-road: Alaska, and its sister state Hawaii, were only offered options One and Two. Basically, STATEHOOD or CONTINUE AS A FEDERALLY-CONTROLLED TERRITORY. Naturally, in ignorance, most citizens believed that statehood would solve the problem of what former territorial governor Ernest Gruening called, in perhaps the most famous speech in the state’s history, “American colonialism”.

The federal government indeed met its treaty obligations with the Philippines, which voted for independence, and was granted it on July 4, 1946.

It ended American colonialism for them.

Puerto Rico opted for commonwealth status, and periodically decides for itself if it wants to continue that way, or explore other choices, as per the treaty.

It ended American colonialism for them.

Alaskans must honestly ask themselves, “Did statehood end American colonialism for our state, or merely re-package it under a different name?”

Now, let’s understand what it is the AIP is asking in its platform, and the very reason for the party’s existence: it merely wants the federal government of the United States to fulfill its treaty obligation, and provide Alaskans with the other two options.

The Alaskan Independence Party is NOT what you may think it is …Whether or not the people of Alaska would actually choose independence is not the issue.

The issue, which any member of any Indian tribe would tell you, is to expose the federal government’s miserable record in matching its word of honor with the treaties it has signed, but can never legally or morally repudiate, without the mutual consent of the two parties.

And, the AIP further maintains: just as no one believes that the Philippines seceded from the United States (because secession is a unilateral act), if and when the people of Alaska vote for Option #4 above, it would not be secession, but an exercise in selfgovernment and local control that the Mother Country freely granted in its treaty.

Amazing, isn’t it? The AIP does not advocate secession for Alaska at all. It doesn’t need to. The legal mechanism already exists to assist Alaskans the opportunity to control their own destiny.

Isn’t that what freedom is all about?

Or should we have people and politicians who have never visited our state, do not understand its people, climate, history, geography or economics, make the decision for us?

Many people tell the AIP that their heart is with the party, and applaud the strong stand it takes on the issues, yet do not join because to do so would mean they would become ineligible to vote in the Republican Primary elections.

To which the AIP replies … judging from what the two-party system has given us, isn’t it time that you discover, “Home is where your heart is” ?