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This is about federal tax dollars not what the state should do internally. Federal tax dollars are everyone's business in the U.S. who pays taxes. The pork spending in Congress needs to stop.
What one state calls "pork", another state calls vital infrastructure. Just because the AP inaccurately coined the phrase "Bridge to Nowhere" doesn't make it true, or pork. How many BILLIONS of federal dollars were spent on Los Angeles' Metro-Rail Project, or Boston's "Big Dig"? Both Los Angeles and Boston considered their federally funded projects as critical to their infrastructure, but when it comes to Alaska it is suddenly "pork?" It is only "pork" to lower-48 outsiders who do not want to see ANY development in Alaska. In their ignorance they consider the entire state to be their National Park and we have some nerve to even live here.
What one state calls "pork", another state calls vital infrastructure. Just because they AP inaccurately coined the phrase "Bridge to Nowhere" doesn't make it true, or pork. How many BILLIONS of federal dollars were spent on Los Angeles' Metro-Rail Project, or Boston's "Big Dig"? Both Los Angeles and Boston considered their federally funded projects as critical to their infrastructure, but when it comes to Alaska it is suddenly "pork?" It is only "pork" to lower-48 outsiders who do not want to see ANY development in Alaska. In their ignorance they consider the entire state to be their National Park and we have some nerve to even live here.
Aside from the accurate portrayal of both the above Boston and LA examples, did you really need a bridge that connects 7,500 people to 50? Simply because there is an airport there? Further, did this bridge need to cost 400 million dollars? Was such a monumental structure necessary; taller than the Brooklyn and nearly as long as the Golden Gate? You know why I protest, but state pride is getting in the way...
I have zero tolerance for arrogant hypocrites who tell people in other states what they should or shouldn't do, or who should or shouldn't represent them, when they haven't even bothered cleaning up the mess in their own state. That takes an extraordinary amount of nerve and arrogance. Too make matters worse, they don't even have their facts straight.
I'm not necessarily advocating that one state should tell other states how to handle their own business; but when it comes to spending Federal tax dollars, then every tax payer in every state has a common interest in every other state... whether we like it or not. If you feel that someone doesn't have their facts straight or isn't aware of additional information, perhaps educating them would be better for everyone than simply blowing them off and judging them. Being judgmental takes an equally extraordinary amount of nerve and arrogance. Zero-tolerance is as much a problem as over-tolerance.
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Originally Posted by Glitch
We've had more than enough garbage from lower-48 morons who know nothing about Alaska telling us how to manage our state, from the environment to ANWR. If they want to have an opinion, let them move to Alaska first, otherwise they have nothing to say that is worth hearing.
And you've been an "Alaskan" for exactly how long? What entitles someone, in your opinion, to have an interest in Alaska (or any other state for that matter)? Do your have to physically be there right now? Do you have to be a legal resident? A full-time resident? Do you have to own the house and land you live on? Do you just have to own property there? Do people stationed there in the military or working there and living in apartments count? What about people who did live there, but now no longer do? None of those things necessarily imply any of the others.
Everyone in this country has "invasive" opinions about what goes on in other states... it's not just Alaska vs. the "lower-48 morons". I'm sure you'll find a lot of "Alaska morons" (or any state really) that have invasive things to say about other states. That's sort of the big drawback to being a member of the same nation. And whether we like it or not, a lot of what happens in one state can and does have an effect on others.
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Originally Posted by Glitch
... If you want to hold hands and sing Kumbaya, go for it, but you will not find the vast majority of Alaskans joining you. Alaskans did not move to Alaska to make it part of the lower-48, just the opposite.
I'm assuming that you believe I'm a big socialist lefty or something. I'm not a big hand-holding kumbaya singer... but I can't ignore that, as a common species on the same planet with other species, we're all interconnected and responsible for and accountable to each other to varying degrees. As for "Alaskans" not wanting to turn Alaska into a part of the Lower-48... I've seen a lot of posts on this forum that seem to imply that's exactly what a lot them are doing whether they realize it or not. I don't think the problem is interstate relations at all... but the inherent problems associated with the mindset of entitlement and exploitation commonly seen in Western Civilization as a whole.
What one state calls "pork", another state calls vital infrastructure. Just because the AP inaccurately coined the phrase "Bridge to Nowhere" doesn't make it true, or pork. How many BILLIONS of federal dollars were spent on Los Angeles' Metro-Rail Project, or Boston's "Big Dig"? Both Los Angeles and Boston considered their federally funded projects as critical to their infrastructure, but when it comes to Alaska it is suddenly "pork?" It is only "pork" to lower-48 outsiders who do not want to see ANY development in Alaska. In their ignorance they consider the entire state to be their National Park and we have some nerve to even live here.
It's all pork. See my other posts in this thread. I don't support any of it, no matter the state.
Aside from the accurate portrayal of both the above Boston and LA examples, did you really need a bridge that connects 7,500 people to 50? Simply because there is an airport there? Further, did this bridge need to cost 400 million dollars? Was such a monumental structure necessary; taller than the Brooklyn and nearly as long as the Golden Gate? You know why I protest, but state pride is getting in the way...
Again, you are misstating the facts. The $398 million was the federal contribution for TWO bridges. In your intellectual dishonesty you focus only on the Gravina bridge while ignoring the Knik Arm bridge that would service more than 30,000 daily commuters and provide a vital secondary access to both the Kenai Peninsula and the Matanuska Valley. The Knik Arm bridge alone will cost the state more than $1.2 BILLION. The feds aren't paying for all of it, just a piece of it. If you lived in Alaska then you would know that in order to build a bridge across Knik Arm it would have to be bigger than the Brooklyn bridge. But you aren't interested in reality, you lap up the media propaganda and regurgitate the bogus information because it suits your agenda.
Again, you are misstating the facts. The $398 million was the federal contribution for TWO bridges. In your intellectual dishonesty you focus only on the Gravina bridge while ignoring the Knik Arm bridge that would service more than 30,000 daily commuters and provide a vital secondary access to both the Kenai Peninsula and the Matanuska Valley. The Knik Arm bridge alone will cost the state more than $1.2 BILLION. The feds aren't paying for all of it, just a piece of it. If you lived in Alaska then you would know that in order to build a bridge across Knik Arm it would have to be bigger than the Brooklyn bridge. But you aren't interested in reality, you lap up the media propaganda and regurgitate the bogus information because it suits your agenda.
Please, allow me to apologize. I was genuinely unaware that a portion of your pork would actually benefit that large a number of people. However, would it not be more cost effective to simply provide ferry service for those that live in Matanuska/Sisitna? That is your business, especially if only state funds are used. I realize you probably want that bridge very bad considering the fact you live in Wasilla. Perhaps now that Gravina has been axed you can reappropriate the funds necessary to carry that out.
I'm not necessarily advocating that one state should tell other states how to handle their own business; but when it comes to spending Federal tax dollars, then every tax payer in every state has a common interest in every other state... whether we like it or not.
You are mistaken. If you don't like what a representative from another state is doing, you communicate that dislike to your own state representative in an effort to have them vote against the measure that displeases you. You don't go around insulting the representative of the other state, or the citizens of that state for supporting their representative.
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
If you feel that someone doesn't have their facts straight or isn't aware of additional information, perhaps educating them would be better for everyone than simply blowing them off and judging them. Being judgmental takes an equally extraordinary amount of nerve and arrogance. Zero-tolerance is as much a problem as over-tolerance.
When they are actually looking for information, you might be right, but that is not the case here. The OP began this thread by making completely bogus assertions and insulted not only Rep. Young but also every Alaskan who has ever voted for Rep. Young. He wasn't interested in learning, just making baseless accusations and insults.
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
And you've been an "Alaskan" for exactly how long? What entitles someone, in your opinion, to have an interest in Alaska (or any other state for that matter)? Do your have to physically be there right now? Do you have to be a legal resident? A full-time resident? Do you have to own the house and land you live on? Do you just have to own property there? Do people stationed there in the military or working there and living in apartments count? What about people who did live there, but now no longer do? None of those things necessarily imply any of the others.
I have lived in Alaska for over 17 years thus far. Before anyone can spout off about Alaska they need to live in Alaska for at least one year. That entitles them to Alaskan residency status. If they have never been an Alaskan resident, then their opinion about Alaska or its residents is both uninformed and meaningless.
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
Everyone in this country has "invasive" opinions about what goes on in other states... it's not just Alaska vs. the "lower-48 morons". I'm sure you'll find a lot of "Alaska morons" (or any state really) that have invasive things to say about other states. That's sort of the big drawback to being a member of the same nation. And whether we like it or not, a lot of what happens in one state can and does have an effect on others.
Speak for yourself. I, for one, do not go around to other state forums and trash their representatives or the people who live there. If you do that may explain your ardent support for this sort of despicable behavior.
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
I'm assuming that you believe I'm a big socialist lefty or something.
I assume nothing. I took your prior post for what it was, just another version of Rodney King saying "Can't we all just get along?"
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
...as a common species on the same planet with other species, we're all interconnected and responsible for and accountable to each other to varying degrees.
This more than anything else you have posted convinces me that you are indeed a "big socialist lefty or something." Only socialists and communists think this way.
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Originally Posted by MissingAll4Seasons
As for "Alaskans" not wanting to turn Alaska into a part of the Lower-48... I've seen a lot of posts on this forum that seem to imply that's exactly what a lot them are doing whether they realize it or not. I don't think the problem is interstate relations at all... but the inherent problems associated with the mindset of entitlement and exploitation commonly seen in Western Civilization as a whole.
I can't disagree with you there. There are indeed lots of posts on this forum that consider Alaska becoming more and more like the lower-48. I also don't disagree with those impressions. Which is all the more reason to put an end to the stupidity and lower-48 interference before we do become just as screwed up as the lower-48.
Disrespect was exactly what you intended, which is why you began this thread by insulting not only Rep. Young but anyone who supports him.
Indeed, let me say again, though Young is a hack, I mean no disresprect to Alaskans. This is the same argument neocons give when someone questions the administration, "You're obviously un-American."
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