You are hereIt's time to end the Permanent Fund dividend check in Alaska
It's time to end the Permanent Fund dividend check in Alaska
By Dan Fagan
Publisher
The Alaska Standard
The idea of paying every man, woman, and child a dividend check each year from the average earnings of the Alaska Permanent Fund is the possibly one of the worst public policies since the inception of this country’s great republic.
(And yes smart-ass, I do deposit my check every year. If you can’t get past the idea of me arguing against a policy while at the same time benefitting from it then you better stop reading now.)
Now ultra left wing pandering Democrats Hollis French and Harry Crawford want to enshrine this wealth redistribution program in the Alaska constitution.
You say Dan, you believe the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend program is wealth redistribution? If French and Crawford have their way it will be.
The reality of the situation in Alaska is our current governor and members of the Alaska legislature lack the political courage to open our state up for business again. Our current high taxes will prematurely end the life of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline meaning we will have to find a new way to fund state government.
The 34 billion dollar permanent fund comes to mind. This is of course what the founders of the fund envisioned. When oil revenue dropped off, the fund would help pick up the slack.
French and Crawford have a different idea. They say drawing money from the dividend should be dead last on the list for how to balance the budget. Even if that list includes an income tax.
Here comes the wealth redistribution part. If French and Crawford have their way, we will see a day in Alaska when the government will demand a portion of your salary in the form of an income tax so it can then give free checks to every man woman and child in the state.
Keep in mind only half of Americans pay income tax and the same would be true with a state income tax. So while the Alaska government comes in and takes a portion of our income from half of us, it then uses that same money to redistribute (there’s that word) to every man woman and child. Karl Marx, and Barack Obama would be proud.
Mr. Crawford seems to have no problem with this idea seeing he’s a socialist. He says if we don’t enshrine the dividend check poor people will suffer.
"That's the most regressive tax we could come up with, to take money from the PFD. Because it hits people at the bottom so much harder than it hits the people at the top. ... There are thousands of Alaskans that are going to be cold and hungry if we were to take away the PFD." Crawford said.
Cold and hungry? Yeah there are no programs in place other than the dividend check to help the cold and hungry in Alaska? Crawford’s statement is so silly, absurd, and outrageous he insults the intelligence of the general public.
Some will argue the money from the permanent fund belongs to us because it’s our oil and we should receive the benefits from the oil, not state government. I agree. So let’s use some of the fund to rebate taxpayers in the state.
For example, if you pay property taxes, let’s take a portion of the fund to rebate the money you paid in property taxes. After all you earned the money you paid in property taxes and if the government can afford it, it should refund the money you earned.
The problem with the French, Crawford plan is it ignores the value of earning. It promotes wealth redistribution.
When Sarah Palin handed out almost one billion dollars in free cash to Alaskans a couple of years ago I knew then and there she had no concept of the value of earning and the destructive nature of free money. Her fundamental understanding of conservative thought was weak and misguided.
Tax rebate? Yes, all day, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Free money? Only if it is used to help the truly helpless.
It’s time we end the notion in Alaska there is a free lunch. There isn’t. Or least there shouldn’t be. Every dime you receive, someone at some point earned it. If you didn’t earn it, then someone else did. And that means the money you get that you didn’t earn doesn’t belong to you unless it was given to you directly and voluntarily by the person who earned it.
If the government forcefully took it from someone and gave it to you, it doesn't belong to you.
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When Dan appeared as a guest on the Dennis Miller show, this topic of hypocrisy came up. Dennis ripped him apart after Dan admitted that he applies for the check every year.
If Dan truly believes that the PFD is "possibly one of the worst public policies since the inception of this country’s great republic" then he should not participate in the program.
Poor Dan Fagan. He lives in a socialist country and now he hates it here.
We socialized public roads, yet he still drives the Seward Highway.
We socialized sewer and water, yet he still uses flush toilets.
We socialized medical care for seniors, yet he still lets Medicare and Medicaid care for his mom.
We socialized fire protection, yet he still calls the fire department when the house he rents catches fire.
We socialized food safety inspections, yet he still eats steaks and eats in restaurants.
We socialized ownership of our natural resources, yet he still cashes his PFD checks.
Poor guy. Everywhere he turns, there's socialism, and he hates it. I feel sorry for him having to live in the United States.
Maybe he'll move to somewhere with fewer social services, where he can enjoy an Every Man For Himself life.
I bet he'd do really well in Somalia or Yemen, I really do.
Ever wonder how influential Dan Fagan is? Try this.
Watch how many politicians (with more than an Obermeyer's chance in hell of winning) support Dan's idea.
Not one such politician will take up Dan's idea and advocate abolishing the PFD program.
Because, despite all his Limbaugh-esque bluster, Dan's less influential on Alaska politics than whatever Miley Cyrus song is crushing him in the ratings every day on a half dozen FM stations in town.
does not get your point across. You are one disgusting human being. Hate is what drives you.
Oooh!
I called Dan Fagan uninfluential!
Oooh!
I'm soooo mean!
It seems advocating the diminishment / elimination of the PFD would be political suicide for practically anyone who might try. I could easily argue both sides of the issues but, sadly, our representatives will not do the same.
it seems that getting elected/reelected or approval ratings is all politicians care about these days.
I'm losing faith. Can you tell?
...for an additional reason: We have raised an entire generation of Alaskans with their hands out. PFDs, Native corporation dividends, federal grants for pretty much anything and everything we wanted. Time to wean us from saying "gimmee" every time we open our mouths, and remind us how to work for a living.
The Canadian Province of Alberta started a program years ago similar to the permanent fund but instead of dividends to the citizens it has been used to fund infrastructure development that has attracted industry other than oil, funded R&D channeled more or less thru their university system which has help foster a pharmaceutical industry and make venture capital more available for worthy ventures (professionally managed and thriving). This has resulted in a diverse economic base.
From a political prospective entitlement are like giving cookies to a bear...all's well till you run out of cookies.
Ever wonder way we in Alaska are seeing so many immigrants? Is it because of the PFD? Why is Alaska a dumping ground for immigrants? When will it stop? Alaskans have no say? Who deciedes how many immigrants are to be allowed to enter? Is this a challenge at the ballot box? I do not want to see our great state fall to poverity where the only jobs are government jobs. It is time to end the PFD.
more brown people!
and they're probably democrats!!
I wonder how mrhole determines that the person he "sees" in Alaska is an immigrant?
Actually, I don't wonder, he told us how he does it.
He views the color of the person's skin and decides whether he or she is an immigrant.
To quote the subject: "Ever wonder way we in Alaska are seeing so many immigrants?"
Yep, he determines immigration status by sight.
Whaddya know, a conservative AND a racist. Who coulda guessed?
but I am a shareholder. Yes I see cultural dress, seen a kilt or two. I also can hear language. I am aware of the people around me. Why...to respect my neighbor. The reason your are such a disgusting person is because you choose to avoid the questions about immigrants. Instead you decided to reveal your views on humanity by reading between the lines. The USA is the world, that is our strength. To become a citizen one MUST become a team member, no cheating, follow the law. To do otherwise weakens the nation. I say cash out the PFD its time for change. We are not a welfare state.
traffic. Adults here are tired of you and never have taken you seriously. The only one who you are possibly fooling is yourself with your feeble attempts to twist others comments. Go play your race cards and word games on those who may care what you think. By the way, good luck with that.
you were a racist. Immigrants are only brown?
all of the people streaming over the canadian border, then, i assume?
IF THE STATE HAD ITS OWN PFD THEY WOULDNT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT TOUCHING OURS.
IF HOLLIS FRENCH IS SAYING MAKE THE PFD UNTOUCHABLE I AM ALL FOR HIM.
THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE PFD TO GO AWAY UNLESS WE VOTE FOR IT.
IF THE STATE OR LAWSUIT CAN TAKE IT AWAY WE ARE SCREWED AGAIN.
Who would want to take money away from the individual and give it back to government? I think I've heard that somewhere before!
Because of the agreements made when the oil pipeline was created, Alaska has had the very unique advantage of having a state government that can operate and dare I say, spend money like drunken sailors with no out of pocket expense to the Alaskan voter for many years. On top of that we have created a permanent fund that pays each Alaskan a annual payment that was to represent their share of this great wealth that was generated by their collective assets.
Over time, the Permanent fund had made very astute financial moves and is now largely independent of the royalties paid by the oil companies and should be able to continue to provide a generous dividend to each Alaskan for many years to come.
Our state government however has not made the same astute financial moves and our legislators are now seeking any new source of funds that that they can get their hands on as the oil money starts to dwindle.
If more funds are now needed to support our state government then perhaps we should first see some very significant cuts in expenditures in order to balance our budget based on our available income. After that and only after that the question of a tax should be raised and each tax needs to be specifically tied to a specific expense so that where this money is being spent is very clear to the voter. Following this method our overall cost to operate the state government will most likely drop significantly.
The permanent fund does not belong to the government it belongs to the people and was created in that manner on purpose. Any attempt to tap into the funds there is a attempt to steal directly from the voters.
I'v'e been saying for years that the PFD needs to go away. Use it for dedicated needs like Education and Infrastructure, things that will yield permanent prosperity.
Dan's right. Time to end the PFD while we still can. Hammond never intended for the PFD to be permanent. The comments by others of the unintended consequences of the PFD are accurate. We have attracted and are continuing to attract those who come here intending to collect rather than contribute.
The reality is that it will be years before we recover from Murkowski's failures regarding a pipeline, Palin/Parnell's continuence of that dead end in AGIA, and the failure of the Legislature and the governors in allowing the gas and oil industry to leave Alaska. Their priority should have been maintaining a strong oil and gas presence to allow development of our hydrocarbon resources in order to fuel the development and utilization of our timber and mineral resources. Cheap energy is a requirement for both where value added resource development is concerned.
We have to end the PFD before population growth creates a problem that no legislature will dare resolve by ending the program. Better now, than allowing this to endanger the economic growth of Alaska. The money can be better spent on roads and other transportation infrastructure.
Crawford and French's idea for puting the PFD in our constitution is so silly that it borders on being intellectually challenged, or said another way, retarded. Furthermore, what is really scary is that they really think they have a good idea. Even scarier is that the voters have elected these gentlemen time and time again. That said, I have to disagree with you on eliminating the PFD, and here's why. First, I think the PFD should be allowed to continue as long as the Permanent Fund generates enough money to pay the dividend down to say $100.00 per person. When it gets that low it should be discontinued. Too many people are starting to think that the PFD is an entitlement, which it is not. It would be healthy for Alaskans to watch the PFD decline relative to the TAPS volume. If there was no PFD the money now dedicated to pay the PFD would disappear into the State of Alaska's bank account to be spent as our legislators choose. At least this way all Alaskans can share in the profits generated by the labor of the oil companies. The PFD is a good thing, but it was never intended to be a permanent source of money to Alaskans. Remember it is called the Permanent Fund Dividend, not the Permanent Dividend. The hopelessly naive, and misguided ideas of Crawford and French notwithstanding, it will remain only as long as the oil and/or gas are able to generate the funds to support the Dividend payments.
Let's quote Robert Hale, aka 'Papa Pilgram':
'Alaska Provides'
As Pilgrim explains it, the reason his family moved north is because "Alaska provides." He was referring to good fishing and hunting, but also to the permanent fund dividend, an annual payment to all state residents. It comes from taxes on North Slope oil and last year was worth $1,541 to each state resident. For a big family, the money adds up. Since they moved to Alaska in 1998, the dividend has provided the Pilgrims with nearly $30,000 a year in tax-free income. "That is more money than we ever had in our entire life," Pilgrim said. "And we went around looking for a place to spend it."
How much has this one family cost our state? They probably wouldn't have come here if not for the PFD.
There weren’t gangs inAnchorage
THE PFD IS JUST ANOTHER INCENTIVE FOR THEM
TO MAKE BABIES FOR FREE TAX PAYER MONEY!
'cause you'd well know, you're not going to come out ahead on that deal.
http://photos.newsminer.com/news/2009/oct/14/pfd-socialism/#comments
Above is my brief argument that the PFD, as it stands not, is not socialism. I think it is kind of like a libertarian idea applied to a socialist system. It should also be noted that PFD stands for Permanent Fund Dividend. That is taxing oil companies to extract our natural resources and giving that money to Alaskans as opposed to entirely to the state government. If we have to tax someone a dime to give it to another, that is socialist re-distribution. If anything, we should be amending the Constitution to make sure that no person has to work for the purpose of another - modern day slavery.
Geez, Dan, if you think a lot of people were drawed out by the topic of abortion .... (might be a good thing you're in Louisiana for a while ).
Don't have an opinion, either way, but I look forward to the debate.
is deductible from federal income tax.
so the 'redistribution' isn't really happening.