Food for thought: A provocative new video from the folks over at Americans for Limited Government promoting a new project focused on economic liberty and free market policies. Watch:
Warren Meyer | FORBES
Likely you have heard the sound bite that “97% of climate scientists” accept the global warming “consensus”. Which is what gives global warming advocates the confidence to call climate skeptics “deniers,” hoping to evoke a parallel with “Holocaust Deniers,” a case where most of us would agree that a small group are denying a well-accepted reality. So why do these “deniers” stand athwart of the 97%? Is it just politics? Oil money? Perversity? Ignorance?
We are going to cover a lot of ground, but let me start with a hint…
By Andrew Halcro
One of the bedrock arguments proffered by critics who oppose reforming oil taxes is that compared to other oil producing regions, Alaska is right in the middle. This is false.
By Michelle Theriault Boots | ADN
In a state that expects to see more than 400 cruise-ship sailings with nearly a million passengers this summer, it’s difficult to look at the images of the Costa Concordia and not wonder: Could it happen in Alaska?
“It kind of gives us a little wake-up call,” said Rick Janelle, a civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee based in Juneau who acts as an adviser on cruise ship safety.
By Andrew Halcro
JUNEAU–According to the Alaska Department of Revenue, the state will depend on oil & gas revenues to fund 92% of state spending this coming fiscal year. With increasing government costs and decreasing oil production, Alaska’s economic engine needs an overhaul.
In 2007, just weeks after successfully pushing through the largest tax increase on the oil & gas industry in the state’s history (ACES), the Palin administration proudly predicted that oil production would be 675,000 barrels per day in 2011. The actual production number turned out to be 603,000 barrels per day.
In fact, according to the optimistic projections after the tax increase was adopted, the Palin administration didn’t forecast Alaska’s daily oil production would drop to current day levels until 2022.
Looks like we arrived at their projected decline destination ten years early.
OPINION by Cliff Groh | ALASKA POLITICAL CORRUPTION BLOG
The trial judge in the Ted Stevens case has issued an order summarizing a report by special counsel investigating whether prosecutors involved in that case should be prosecuted for criminal contempt of court. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan states that special counsel “concluded that the investigation and prosecution of Senator Stevens ‘were permeated by the systematic concealment of significant exculpatory evidence which would have independently corroborated his defense and his testimony, and seriously damaged the testimony and credibility of the government’s key witness…’”
By Walter E. Williams | TOWNHALL.COM
The Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are demanding “people before profits” — as if profit motivation were the source of mankind’s troubles — when it’s often the absence of profit motivation that’s the true villain.
By Andrew Halcro
October 19, 2011: After the ballots had been counted Monday evening, and it appeared voters of the Lake and Peninsula Borough had narrowly approved a controversial anti-mining initiative, the look on Bob Gillam’s lawyers face said it all; they had their lunch eaten.
Even though the measure passed, and even though Gillam appeared to be rewarded for his half million dollar campaign investment, the narrow 34 vote win represented a huge loss for Gillam and his anti-mining crusade and a huge win for the Pebble Partnership.
John Stossel | TOWNHALL.COM
What’s there to say about Occupy Wall Street? The answer isn’t so simple. Some complain about taxpayer bailouts of businesses. Good for them. In a true free market, failing firms would go out of business. They couldn’t turn to Washington for help.
But many protesters say they’re against capitalism. Now things get confusing.
By Gary Lidholm
DENVER, CO–Some days certain “themes” keep showing up in your daily life: On Wednesday as I was returning to my urban Denver home, I passed the United Airlines training facility in the Stapleton area of East Denver. The large buildings of the United complex house simulators and training rooms used by all pilots of United Airlines as well as other carriers. Recently, it was announced that United had purchased 11,000 iPads to give to their pilots. There will now be an iPad in the cockpit to reduce the paper clutter and the amount of aeronautical charts needed on board. Read more->
The voters have spoken, and all of the borough assembly races have been decided. This race was marked by a certain symmetry–a conservative and a liberal candidate running for each seat. For voters on either side of the fence, the choice was clear.
Our hats are off to the political strategists on the left. With the mayor and all assembly seats but one on the ballot for either election or recall, they nearly achieved a clean sweep. Read more->
The whole community is a mess and there is no single member or entity to blame. The far left has made the debate plenty personal in recent years and the far right, now engaged, is calling them out by name. Ugly, yes. Necessary, I don’t know, but it sure makes the vast majority of those in the middle mighty uncomfortable and embarrassed. And to those outside of Haines, we are seen as either entertaining or just plain NUTS. Read more->
We’ve said it before: “We need more business-oriented people on the assembly.”
Where non-business folks tend to look at the budget or the economy as a fixed pool of money that needs to be divided up fairly, an experienced private sector business manager realizes that the economy is something that can expand or contract, depending on sound management decisions. Decisions by a governmental body affect not only the government’s budget, but the health of the underlying private economy that the government depends on for income.
This was best illustrated at the Chamber of Commerce candidates forum last Friday, when one question separated the wheat from the chaff. Read more->
HAINES–The desperate opposition of activists Deborah Vogt and Gershon Cohen to the recall of two assembly members only serves to confirm the public’s perception that they have been working behind the scenes to control the Haines Borough Assembly; the public is fed up, and now that this small group might lose control they are starting to panic. Read more->
by Thomas Sowell | TOWNHALL
The grand myth that has been taught to whole generations is that the government is “forced” to intervene in the economy when there is a downturn that leaves millions of people suffering. The classic example is the Great Depression of the 1930s.
What most people are unaware of is that there was no Great Depression until AFTER politicians started intervening in the economy.
HAINES–We owe a big “thank you” to candidates who chose to run for office — to those serving, as well as those running in the current election. Serving on the assembly requires a huge commitment of time and energy, and sometimes there is little thanks for the effort. Read more->
By James Sherk | THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Private-sector job creation initially recovered from the recession at a normal rate, leading to predictions last year of a “Recovery Summer.” Since April 2010, however, net private-sector job creation has stalled. Within two months of the passage of Obamacare, the job market stopped improving. This suggests that businesses are not exaggerating when they tell pollsters that the new health care law is holding back hiring. The law significantly raises business costs and creates considerable uncertainty about the future. To encourage hiring, Congress should repeal Obamacare.
HAINES–One month ago the Haines Borough Assembly violated state statutes and borough ordinances when they decided to leave Assembly Seat E vacant for the rest of the year until election time in October. Those present at the meeting were alarmed by the actions of the assembly, and by their disrespect toward the public, and we wrote about it here in the Haines Alaska News.
For obvious reasons, it would make sense to appoint Karen Hess to the vacant seat until the October election, however three assembly members are politically opposed to seating Hess, offering to seat nearly any other member of the public instead. Members Rossman and Lapp stood steadfastly behind Hess.
When the Assembly decided they were deadlocked and there was no way forward, they “compromised” by agreeing not to fill that seat until the October election. In reality, this was no compromise at all — just an agreement to shirk their duty to Haines voters by not doing the job required by law. Read more->
by Frank Murkowski
Today, poll after poll shows Americans supporting the opening of ANWR. Yet, at a time when our national energy security is at risk, the cost of imported oil is around $100 a barrel, and TAPS is running at only one-third capacity, the national environmental groups have managed to prevent even the minor amount of development in ANWR proposed by Sen. Murkowski.
As a result of national environmental group pressure the current administration has failed to take the actions necessary to develop oil resources in Alaska and has the wrong attitude regarding oil development in ANWR.
Thomas Sowell | TOWNHALL
Not only did July 4, 1776 mark American independence from England, it marked a radically different kind of government from the governments that prevailed around the world at the time — and the kinds of governments that had prevailed for thousands of years before.
by Joe Poor
HAINES–Develop our old school complex into a downtown information center with a multipurpose community use complex, beautiful park, community information kiosks, large outdoor music/performance gazebo and it becomes a community “asset rather than liability”. Read more->
Anyone who has driven the Alaska Highway through Canada has probably noticed the increasing signs of economic activity. Every town in the Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta shows signs of business activity including oil and gas development, mining, timber mills in full operation and new construction.
The mineral exploration business in the Yukon is booming; restaurants and truck stops in northern BC are serving a larger share of oil and gas workers; timber mills in Terrace and Campbell River have full log yards, and new construction is common. Western Canada is benefiting from development of its natural resources. Read more->
Opinion: Rep. Mike Hawker (R), Anchorage
JUNEAU–”A third of the way through this special session, we aren’t much closer to final budgets. That’s because the Senate refuses to pass the capital budget to the House until the House guarantees to not change contingency language that our Attorney General and the Department of Law say is unconstitutional — and that many House members believe compromises our sovereign responsibilities.”
Opinion | FAIRBANKS DAILY NEWS MINER
From what womb are Alaska’s high gas prices birthed? The answer, for some, seems always to be “corruption.”
These skeptics are like those who question the authenticity of President Obama’s citizenship; the plain explanation never seems to be enough. So we have three Alaska legislators appealing to the nation’s attorney general for yet another investigation.
HAINES–Nothing is as contentious as a court dispute over a dog. One person’s affectionate pet can be another person’s nightmare – if left uncontrolled. And most dog owners are reluctant to admit the truth when it becomes apparent that Fido has crossed the line and become a vicious animal. Read more->
The Haines Alaska News is a public information service of the Alaska Alliance for Commerce, Inc., a grassroots movement organized to advocate for small business and a free market economy in Alaska.
The AAFC is organized under section 501(C)(4) of the U.S. Tax Code; contributions are not tax deductible.
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By James Sherk | THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
