Does Alaska receive more federal taxes than it pays, vs. Quebec and the east coast of Canada does? (Metlakatla: buy, live in)

[oneyear]

I live in Canada where there is special treatment for certain provinces. There are certain provinces that make up, and or support the rest of the provinces here. This sounds like both Canada and the U.S.

Too bad Canada didn't buy Alaska for 1 million dollars from the russians. I think we could have been more successful.

Your thoughts?

[Metlakatla]

Did Canada have the chance to do so? Didn't think so. They couldn't have gotten it for a mere million anyway; the United States paid more.

A good part of the reason that Alaska receives a large amount of federal funding is the substantial military presence, by the way.

[starlite9]

The Federal's gets a lot of money off Alaska's Oil that you don't hear them complain about either and all the way down to a gallon of gas at the pump. They don't do any of the work, but take a piece of the pie all the way down. Fishing is the same way...

If you looked at what goes out verses in, I would say it may be about a wash with the military presence, or maybe more out. That would be a hard one to really get the low down on. As far as road money from the Fed's, Alaska gets a lot more per person on road money than some other States, but not that much totally like Calif or other states with a larger population.

[oneyear]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Did Canada have the chance to do so? Didn't think so. They couldn't have gotten it for a mere million anyway; the United States paid more.

A good part of the reason that Alaska receives a large amount of federal funding is the substantial military presence, by the way.

The presence isn't needed tho. The cold war has been over for 20 years. The Berlin Wall came down not to long ago. There is no Soviet Union, there is no threat.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Did Canada have the chance to do so? Didn't think so. They couldn't have gotten it for a mere million anyway; the United States paid more.

A good part of the reason that Alaska receives a large amount of federal funding is the substantial military presence, by the way.

The Russians offered Russian America to the British before they offered it to the US, but were turned down.

As far as the military, that of course is something which benefits the Lower-48... and it is very hard to put a value on too! But, for the time period from 1941 through 1989 the term "priceless" is probably close enough, eh? :-)

Whatever, all of these silly conjectures about Alaska not paying its way are based on per capita dollars. That of course is entirely absurd when only the population of Alaska is figured in. The military expenditures, for example, benefit the entire country, not just Alaskans.

[Metlakatla]

It isn't only the rest of the United States that has benefited from the military presence in Alaska. A certain neighboring country has done so as well.

[warptman]

Oneyear, what is the purpose of the GST? Who is it helping?

[oneyear]

Yeah but Alaska is a negative tax draw to the rest of the U.S. Forget about the military. Just like the Yukon, and the North West Territories, all are a negative draw on the rest of the Canadian population. This isn' t to put down any Northern territories, but also, remember, there is people that care and don't put them down because they care to.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by oneyear

Yeah but Alaska is a negative tax draw to the rest of the U.S. Forget about the military. Just like the Yukon, and the North West Territories, all are a negative draw on the rest of the Canadian population. This isn' t to put down any Northern territories, but also, remember, there is people that care and don't put them down because they care to.

Sorry, but we can't just "forget about the military". It's been pointed out to you that the military is a big part of the reason for the so called "negative tax draw". It benefits the entire United States as well as neighboring countries that hide behind our skirts.

[Grannysroost]

I believe a large part of Alaska is also federal land that must be maintained by the government. Alaska is vast with very little habited in comparison to what isn't.