The Alaska Permanent Fund was created to protect the revenues from frivolous spending and set money aside for a future date when we will not have oil production revenue. Fund earnings can be spent by the Legislature with a 51% vote. The Alaska Permanent Fund dividend was created to provide a “third-rail” in Alaska politics to forestall spineless politicians from raiding the cookie jar.
In recent years, we have listened to teachers and public safety personnel crying out to raid that money. There is no conversation regarding the quality of the services. There is no competition allowed. Alaskans are not getting a fair opportunity to discuss or receive the services they actually need at a fair price. Instead, Alaskans are increasingly under the control of lobbyists who want more “free” money for their programs.
If the educational services provided are of such great quality, we should have the smartest students in the nation at the most effective cost. Our educational providers should be happy to allow their services to stand against competition and show off their excellence. They refuse.
Our police and fire services should also be happy to show how their services stand against private competition and show off their excellence. I believe at this time, all private fire services in the state have been annexed by public entities and the service to the customer has gone down while the price has increased. Our police have never allowed competitive services.
Now Alaskans are crying out for “our” dividend. We have a responsibility to tell our politicians to control spending. We have a responsibility to tell our politicians to get out of areas where the private marketplace can do a better job through competition. When we do our part to tell legislators to quit spending money, there will be plenty for a Permanent Fund dividend.
— Arthur Solvang
Willow
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