What Created all the I’m moving, going to Alaska threads? (Metlakatla: to buy, income)

[Indy Pendance]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

Alaska is the most "big government" state in the US if you look at the number of government employees per capita. We also have the most state spending per capita as well.

Yet it's still very free here...one could almost conclude that "big government" and "liberty" aren't mutually exclusive

That's been my worry, I look at the vastness of AK, and think, freedom, but, then I look at the policies and think, is this the place I want to be? It's a dichotomy. Should I hope WI will embrace freedom and change this state's course? Will we be more free like Texas, or are we going the Illinois way? So far, it's all been good with our new Gov. We'll see.

But, I'll tell you, Americans are yearning for less government and more freedom. Just where is that going to be? I love the beauty of AK, but, abhor the policies. I've weighed it all. I believe most of us have. We're in a precarious period in our history.

[Indy Pendance]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

In what way? What is it that you think Alaska might have for you? How exactly do you want government off your back? I think that a to of people who are disillusioned with the lower 48 look to Alaska for answers that it may or may not have.

I've been looking at AK since the late 70's, early 80's. It's nothing new for me. At one time, I got the Anchorage paper delivered to my house before the internet. I'm looking to be left alone. Perhaps AK isn't that place anymore. Where ever that place is, or where ever that idea lies, we as Americans are just striving for more freedom and less government. Alaska appeared as 'the last frontier' and had a hope that dream was still alive, but, that might have been in a time 30 years ago. From reading posts here, you are nothing different than any other state. It used to be AK was different, but today, you could just as well be here in the lower 48. The only difference is the weather, and frankly, it's not much different than Wisconsin. It's nothing for us to get -20F or 15 inches of snow. It gets dark here at 4, the morning is dark until 8. Not much difference, give or take a couple hours.

Technology kind of sucks.

[Gungnir]

Originally Posted by ShipOfFools42

^ Can't rep you apparently. I need to go to some other forum and rep some people.

As for why people think Alaska is a neo-con haven... I honestly have no idea. Maybe they figure it's because it's BIG, like their new assault rifle. Which they have a RIGHT to have, by the way. God knows everyone and their uncle needs an AK-47 in order to live a fulfilling life.

Because there's no such rifle as an AK-49 which would be more apt.

[Gungnir]

Originally Posted by Indy Pendance

I've been looking at AK since the late 70's, early 80's. It's nothing new for me. At one time, I got the Anchorage paper delivered to my house before the internet. I'm looking to be left alone. Perhaps AK isn't that place anymore. Where ever that place is, or where ever that idea lies, we as Americans are just striving for more freedom and less government. Alaska appeared as 'the last frontier' and had a hope that dream was still alive, but, that might have been in a time 30 years ago. From reading posts here, you are nothing different than any other state. It used to be AK was different, but today, you could just as well be here in the lower 48. The only difference is the weather, and frankly, it's not much different than Wisconsin. It's nothing for us to get -20F or 15 inches of snow. It gets dark here at 4, the morning is dark until 8. Not much difference, give or take a couple hours.

Technology kind of sucks.

Don't confuse "big government" with intrusive government. AK might have per capita more government workers than the lower 48, I'm not sure if that's state, or all (since about 1/3 of the population is employed by the federal government). I find the government significantly less intrusive here than in the -48.

As far as winter Wisconsin... Do you get -20F at noon? For more than a month? With nightly lows around or below (sometimes much below) -40F? Do you have any areas of permafrost? Every thrown a pan of boiling water into the air and had it vaporize without hitting the ground, or a hot cup of coffee freeze solid in the time it takes you to fill your chainsaw with gas? No...? Didn't think so. Now not every area of AK is like this... But a large part of it is away from the coastlines.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Gungnir

Don't confuse "big government" with intrusive government. AK might have per capita more government workers than the lower 48, I'm not sure if that's state, or all (since about 1/3 of the population is employed by the federal government). I find the government significantly less intrusive here than in the -48.

As far as winter Wisconsin... Do you get -20F at noon? For more than a month? With nightly lows around or below (sometimes much below) -40F? Do you have any areas of permafrost? Every thrown a pan of boiling water into the air and had it vaporize without hitting the ground, or a hot cup of coffee freeze solid in the time it takes you to fill your chainsaw with gas? No...? Didn't think so. Now not every area of AK is like this... But a large part of it is away from the coastlines.

The moral of the story is to live somewhere close to the coastline in Alaska, unless you enjoy being a human Popsicle.

[Indy Pendance]

Originally Posted by Gungnir

Don't confuse "big government" with intrusive government. AK might have per capita more government workers than the lower 48, I'm not sure if that's state, or all (since about 1/3 of the population is employed by the federal government). I find the government significantly less intrusive here than in the -48.

As far as winter Wisconsin... Do you get -20F at noon? For more than a month? With nightly lows around or below (sometimes much below) -40F? Do you have any areas of permafrost? Every thrown a pan of boiling water into the air and had it vaporize without hitting the ground, or a hot cup of coffee freeze solid in the time it takes you to fill your chainsaw with gas? No...? Didn't think so. Now not every area of AK is like this... But a large part of it is away from the coastlines.

Actually, I've been here and the high temp was -20 at noon, but not for a month. Only for a couple weeks. I've been in -50 windchills, we all LOL at wind chill temps. But at that point, does it really matter? Cold is cold. I've seen it snow on a clear blue day because the air vapors are frozen. I've never tried throwing boiling water out in cold weather, but, it gets cold here. Why do you think back in the 30's and 40's they selected WI and MN residents to relocate to AK? Look it up. We're not much different than you. Our interior is similar to yours. We get the pounding most other states don't. We're in the center of a HUGE land mass, and all the crap comes our way. So, as much as Alaska hails it's weather, we get the same here.

[Gungnir]

Originally Posted by Indy Pendance

So, as much as Alaska hails it's weather, we get the same here.

Sure you do...

[Kaul]

The only reason why I would ever move to Alaska is the weather. I'm absolutely sick and tired of the 100+++ heat we get here in TX. I prefer summer mostly in the 60s and only Alaska can give that. If not the weather, I would never consider moving.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by Kaul

The only reason why I would ever move to Alaska is the weather. I'm absolutely sick and tired of the 100+++ heat we get here in TX. I prefer summer mostly in the 60s and only Alaska can give that. If not the weather, I would never consider moving.

How do you feel about long winters?

[Indy Pendance]

I'm glad you agree! Seriously, if you're into it, keep track of our weather patterns here in the mid of the continent. You'll be surprised how much our weather is like yours. We have no coasts, no oceans and the like to modify our weather. All our weather funnels down from a big swoosh from AK through Canada to our area. We even have terms like an 'Alberta clipper'. We might not have months of -20, but we have a lot of it. Enough that we've had enough. -20 or -10 or 0 (well 0 tends to be a heat wave, break out the bikinis) for months on end is normal.