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Moving to the Last Frontier

MolenLabe!

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MI has a massive amount of State intervention, which means it's not as dynamic or responsive to market forces. Check out his article that compares Detroit to Bangalore: http://www.reason.com/news/show/36680.html

If you want to live in the sticks and get a job, consider moving to NH (north of the notches or Grafton may suit you). You can find some good folks there, in part due to the pull of the Free State Project: http://www.freestateproject.org/files/101-Reasons-to-Move-to-NH.pdf And, unlike our friends in AK, they don't all depend on a check from the State to make up a substantial portion of their income.

martialcanine.45 wrote:
I can hide but was never much good at hide and go seek. You are about the 1,000th person to tell me that there is no work in Michigan. My mom said she's even open to selling the property and heading out West. I did see the 36s last time I was home but don't remember the Star. Those are nifty belly guns,and as you proved on the range, not bad with a little distance.
 

MolenLabe!

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

"Many Alaskans now think of it as a "permanent dividend fund,' much to the dismay of 'original intent' advocates. Perceived support of the dividend program is so universally strong that it ensures the dividend's continuity and the protection of the Fund's principal, since any measure characterized as negatively impacting dividend payouts represents a loss to the entire populace. That is, legislators willing to appropriate the Fund's annual earnings are constrained by the politically suicidal nature of any decrease in the public's dividend."

Sounds like a classic example of something that should have had a sunset date. Even better would have been for landowners to deal directly with the businesses that sought access to their resources rather than allowing the State to act as middleman, which distorts true market forces and as we have seen, sets up a pseduo-social welfare net and perceived "right" to a check from State coffers.
 

Baradium

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May 31, 2006
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MolonLabe! wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund

"Many Alaskans now think of it as a "permanent dividend fund,' much to the dismay of 'original intent' advocates. Perceived support of the dividend program is so universally strong that it ensures the dividend's continuity and the protection of the Fund's principal, since any measure characterized as negatively impacting dividend payouts represents a loss to the entire populace. That is, legislators willing to appropriate the Fund's annual earnings are constrained by the politically suicidal nature of any decrease in the public's dividend."

Sounds like a classic example of something that should have had a sunset date. Even better would have been for landowners to deal directly with the businesses that sought access to their resources rather than allowing the State to act as middleman, which distorts true market forces and as we have seen, sets up a pseduo-social welfare net and perceived "right" to a check from State coffers.

The payouts aren't a "substantial part of their income." As you put it.

Do you even understand how it works?
 

MolenLabe!

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I don't pretend to be an expert on the PFD at all but my point is that programs such as this get folks accompanied to depending on the State for income. The Wiki article notes:


The PFD payout-about October of each year--is acknowledged to have a substantial effect on Alaska's economy, both in total and especially in rural Alaska where unemployment can reach 60% and where cash is scarce"

While the program is not the worst example of State intervention it may set the stage for more egregious programs; programs that, for the "public good," take money from the pockets of some and place it in the pockets of others.
 

Baradium

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MolonLabe! wrote:
I don't pretend to be an expert on the PFD at all but my point is that programs such as this get folks accompanied to depending on the State for income. The Wiki article notes:


The PFD payout-about October of each year--is acknowledged to have a substantial effect on Alaska's economy, both in total and especially in rural Alaska where unemployment can reach 60% and where cash is scarce"

While the program is not the worst example of State intervention it may set the stage for more egregious programs; programs that, for the "public good," take money from the pockets of some and place it in the pockets of others.

I don't think you understand the concept of "ruralAlaska."

These are the villages, locations off of the road system. Ancestral homes etc. There isn't much in the way of tourism there or any other industry there, it's mainly subsistance living. They hunt and fish etc. It makes a big difference in the economy there becuase that's one of the only ways there is a cash flow there other than by arts/crafts type stuff.

The money comes from use fees for the land etc for the oil. It's state owned land that it's coming from. This isn't a tax redistribution scheme. The state takes in more money than it uses and instead of finding more uses for the money, it gives it back. In this case the state takes in enough money that it also doesn't need to levey taxes.

The state is in essence selling the oil to the oil companies and using that as the source of revenue. Advocating that the state spend all the money is advocating needless big government.
 

murphyslaw

State Researcher
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
358
Location
Anchorage, Alaska, USA
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MolonLabe! wrote:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund

Even better would have been for landowners to deal directly with the businesses that sought access to their resources rather than allowing the State to act as middleman,

the state owns all the land that is being drilled on in one way of form be it threw the dept of the interior ADF&G or the BLM. there is no "private" land up there that any of the company's are working from.

these checks don't just go to a small group of people. they go to anyone who has been a resident of the state for more then a yr. I have gotten this check since I was 18.

do I depend on it, NO

do I look forward to it every year, YES

I make between 50-67k a year, how much do you think 1200 bucks helps me, none. I use it to buy more Ammo.

do some people depend on it, YES, im sure some do. but the majority of the populous does not.

the dividend comes from the taxes the state receives on the oil that is shipped out of here. every year we get a chunk of the interest that is earned on that principal balance.

they have been talking about making a state sales tax, I would rather give up the PFD then have to pay sales tax.

there is another state that has a similar PFD program not sure what it is. its in the north east. egh....
 
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