Sixty-six days
Published Friday, June 27, 2008
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To the editor:
Sixty-six days to go to 20 below.
Personally, the approaching winter has me tad on edge.
I don’t know about you, but I simply can’t budget my bills with the current gas rate.
Granted, there’s a lot of talk about a pipeline, or natural gas availability, or a state fuel subsidy, or funding a “study” but in two months, we’re really going to need affordable gas to drive and fuel to stay alive.
I see train car after train car headed south, and I’m paying more for the gas than the guy at the train’s destination.
With $42 billion in the Alaska reserve and oil profits of $52 billion, you’d think we could come up with an energy plan so at least Alaskans don’t freeze this winter.
Come on state of Alaska, BP, Exxon, Conoco and Alyeska, either fish or cut bait.
Give me fuel or give me shelter.
Community Discussion
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Thanks for the reminder. But just in case, Samson Hardware might still have some barrel stove kits for under a $100. Might even be some extra wood where they are cutting the tree to run off the "tent people". If not, don't be bashful about borrowing the neighbors trees for a little heat. And if you don't get some help, its only Ninety-nine days to Election Day.
It is interesting to note that in 26 states, gasoline is still under $4 a gallon.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_Price_List.as...
All the states that are over $4 a gallon have much higher fuel taxes than Alaska's 8 cent tax. It looks like we are now paying 40 cents more than the national average and 60 cents more than the lower priced states???
And we're an oil producing state!!!!! Talk about the ADVANTAGES of living in Alaska. When I think of the $4 just to start my car and run it long enough so the car will move at -20, -30, -40,...I think I'll just stay home.
Melanie Buswell: I apologize if my last post sounds a little flippant. It is because the price of oil when up to $142 bbl and the President of OPEC predicts $170 bbl before winter. At that rate the State of Alaska will have so much money falling out of its pockets their hand held calculators will run out numbers.
The mean time Alaskans will be hurting BIG TIME. And somebody better do something ASAP!!!
By the way, I think November 4th is more than 99 days away, but an old fellow like me is just worried about making it through tomorrow.
I have slashed my budget and taken a second job. I suggest everyone who can work a second job makes plans to do so. I sold some items I no longer use and stuck that money into the bank. I have eliminated restaurant meals entirely. I was planning to replace a few appliances but won't. No new clothes, books, etc. I have cut my retirement savings and charitable contributions. I now really scrutinize how the charities handle their money. I've lived through tough economic times before and will do so again. So will everyone else.
GIVE ME , GIVE ME, GIVE ME , FUEL OR SHELTER Have we lost our minds? If you can not afford to live here, then find a place you can afford. We have given you so much you forget how to support yourself. You vote to spend MILLIONS on un-needed schools and government projects, waste more MILLIONS on "free money grants", build a huge fish tank, a "wale of a musuem", pay public "servents" outraguos wages and benifits and then want "free fuel and shelter"?
Now I am getting sick, how about free health care??
it's time, at the 50th anniversary of alaska statehood, to reexamine our role within the confines of the united states.
I need to thank the editor for "touching" up my original letter. I think I said "S*%t or get off the pot".
Now ya know Bugger I didn't mean "GIVE" as in charity. I meant to say GIVE as in at least make the oil/gasoline available because oil at $5 per gallon really isn't AVAILABLE if you don't have $5.
Listen I can survive better than most on wood heat and walking. My complaint is that via the state of Alaska and the oil company's mismanagement, short-sightedness, stupid decisions or whatever I and my fellow residents are placed in a situation of dire need just to stay alive in a couple months.
Honestly, though if you are feeling sick due to the stress of people seeking to survive, this community does offer psychological counseling on a sliding scale at Fairbanks Community Health.
People just might have to spend their PFD on energy, instead of toys. Or you just might have to take a look at how you can get out of your money pit before you get in deeper and take the steps to do. If leaving is what you have to do, so be it.
Remember what a sourdough is, sour on Alaska and no dough to leave.
I detest govt. giveaway programs. They have got our nation in a pickle we give away so much. With that said, getting money, even BIG money from the State of Alaska is NOT A GIVEAWAY!! I read that for every month the price of oil was above $120 a barrel, the State of Alaska makes $650 MILLION that month!!! If that is in fact true, that works out to over $1,000 dollars a month for each Alaskan. I know we should not spend future Alaskans money, but our State administrators can surely come up with a tidey sum to assist us through this winter!! NO ALASKAN SHOULD HAVE TO SUFFER because of lack or heat or food!! Not with the State, THATS US, making record sums.
one hundred fifty days maybe, 20 below is not as soon as sixty six days, that's for sure.
Woodman,
By your definition, a lot of folks will be sourdoughs. They will be sour on Alaska, but won't have any dough to leave because they won't be able to sell their homes.
Let me paraphrase the basic train of thought that seems to be so pervasive in our state right now: "Gimme gimme gimme. . . And then gimme some more because I have bought into the Great American Fantasy of cheap energy, unlimited credit, living beyond my means, and having the government bail me out when I can't take care of myself. I have made no preparations for my own survival in the event of a catastrophic event, such as a fuel shortage or rapidly rising food costs and dwindling supplies, or the crumbling of the economy, and can only sit waiting for someone to save me. Gimme gimme gimme..... And be sure to gimme some MORE."
So the Gimme Guys (and Gals) are threatening to leave Alaska. Like that is supposed to hurt the state's feelings or something. As though government should take note and care, should FIX everything.
Well, it doesn't and won't. Even if they hand out money to the Gimmes, the Gimme crowd will probably spend it as they do the PDF check each year, on toys and trips and other frivolity.
My response to those who say "Gimme or I'm gonna GO"
GO... Leave... Get on down the road... But it won't be any better where you're going because you'll take the entitlement mentality with you.
(And, yes, Bugger - the American people HAVE lost their minds...)
Ok boys & girls, the first D-day is October 2. That's when the first batch of PFD's get direct deposited. If the $1200 the Governor wants to give us follows the PFD payment schedule, and if each PFD check is $2,000, that means a family of 4 could have $12,800.00 in the bank at that time. Those Alaskans who have to move will have plenty of money to do so and I don't really think they'll care much about the house they own but can't afford to live in. They'll simply put the keys in an envelope and mail them to their mortgage company - jingle all the way!!!
Theaboaman, Bugger, Woodman, and endotheroad---sound comments.
It appalls me that there are so many people in this state who expect to be taken care of. Are people like Melanie Buswell (aka MamaSan) so unaccustomed to taking care of their own problems that they are not shamed by signing off on a public letter with "Give me"?
There are so many other ways of addressing high energy prices that don't make Alaskans look like a bunch of helpless fools.
I don't think it's about feeling entitled. I think it's the belief, albeit misguided at this point in our history, that my kids' lives would be better than mine, mine better than my parents, theirs better than my grandparents. I have traveled the world, and one of the many things that makes this country great is that hope and belief, that we offer our children and grandchildren more than what we had. Can we still believe this? True, you folks up there suffer more in many ways than we do down here (the price you pay for living in a very unique and special place, I guess, for all its shortcomings). But we have lost something in this country, something my father fought very dearly for during WWII, something that we all thought we could give our kids some day. Did we believe it would come easy, that the government would GIVE us everything? Of course not. We would work for every nickel and dime, at least that's how I was raised. But no, we weren't raised to believe that in the end, the Federal Government would be our greatest enemy, would gut our Constitution, would side time after time again with Big Business against our interests (and here I mean Democrats and Republicans alike, there is no difference between them in this regard). Some of you all would like to secede from the Union? Well, so would I. Things here in the East are no better than up there, I assure you. We're all pretty much screwed.
Akhusky, you hit one of the biggest problem on the head, the inability to get out from under a mortgage for a house you can no longer afford. It's happening to many people all over the US today. Some banks are allowing people to sell short.
There are also many people out there in which this is an inconvenience, not a hardship. I have friends where two people live in 5,000 square feet; their choice to pay for their life style.
It gets back to making the hard decision of can you afford to continue to live in the sub arctic. There is a reason why the Arctic and subarctic areas of the world were the last to be developed. They are expensive to live in.
Yuknojohn ... you're talking out both sides.
Fact is that people in all other states are having the exact same issues. Gas under $4 is rare and only a few pennies at that. Heating oil is well over $4 everyplace. Heat is so bad that folks have to run AC in some summer months. These folks don't get the PFD free money they pay sales and state income taxes in addition to their property taxes. They also pay (almost all) personal property taxes. We are already subsidized to live here ... you know that because you're a bright guy.
It really is relative. If you can't afford to be here then leave. You will quickly find you are not much better off anyplace else and the significantly lower wages will make things pretty even.
Ah … but that fragrant savory July smell of those fresh subsidy checks coming off the presses and headed my way … the Alaskan dream come true at last!
Look Imusually right, I take care of myself rather well, so don't start pointing fingers "knowitall".
Logic tells me, if there is a refinery here, a pipeline here, well darn it we should be able to get fuel at a cost at least comparable to the places we ship the oil to.
I don't want a handout, however, if the parties involved with supplying petroleum that I'm forced to have to buy to survive here, those powers could find a solution to this inflation on ALASKA petroleum..
It's not just me facing hardship. Of course, the "have enough to live here anyway" vs the "have not quite enough to live here" can argue, "it's a handout". It's quite another matter when your hired help leaves town, who'll do the meanial work? You could supply "employee" housing, but how long will that last?
I like Fairbanks, but hey, there's plenty of warmer climates,...with cheaper fuel.
I’m not big on the gimme mentality but for perhaps the first time a commenter here as changed another’s opinion. I now agree with YukonJohn that the larger than normal profits that Alaska is getting from our oil should partly be given to us sooner rather than later. This is not because I need it, but because it is mine. Without it I would survive, I would just have less money for investments.
As a side note, has anyone else had their opinion changed from a comment here?
Yeah RIGHTON Yukonjohn!!!
That's what I'm talking about.
My living here and virtually all residents in Alaska contribute to the BIG picture, which suports not only oil development and production, but Tourism, fishing, mining. I love loving here but not when we're being SCR$%@D by the oil companys.
I'm entitled, you're entitled, and those, who don't think they aren't entitlted can go elsewhere. I'm going to stay and fight to get what I want and I think I deserve.
2NDLY, Tell Exxon to take a hike!
Look Mama, you wrote the letter. You can't have it both ways.
When you think about it, the oil from which producers make their money in in the United States, maybe everybody in the U.S. is "entitled" to a share of the profit. Seems only fair... we are the UNITED states. Hang on a sec, that oil is on planet earth, maybe every earthling should get a share of the profit.
To answer your question mel, I have gone from being on the fence about this issue to being absolutely livid that we are still whining about this.... all because of commenters who throw about the word "entitlement" or "ours" and, yes, "gimme".
I am no fan of big oil, but what will ever be enough for you people who believe that just because we live here, we are entitled? That kind of thinking sounds a lot like saying, "What can I get out of this that I don't have to work for?" You folks might want to find a more persuasive argument or spokesperson.
The downward spiral of the Fairbanks economy has already begun. Tell me that you haven't noticed all the vacant buildings with FOR SALE on the front door. Tell me you haven't seen the Sunday paper's dedicated real estate section that is larger than all the other classifieds combined.
Someone commented that you should just go out and get a second job if you need more money. What happens when there are no more jobs because the businesses have long closed their doors? Over 50% of the workers in Fairbanks are already employed by the government. I know that my family does not require two full-time government empolyees for our existance.
Watching the Anchorage news it is hard to believe that Fairbanks is in the same state. Wasilla is growing at a record pace. Subsidized natural gas and unlimited state spending have transformed southcentral into one of the fastest growing areas in the US.
Should we just accept our fate and let Fairbanks become a ghost town of years past? I don't think so. This is not about welfare or entitlements. Anchorage pays .50 on the dollar compared to Henry Hub prices, yet they are the ones most strongly against any energy assistance.
"You will quickly find you are not much better off anyplace else and the significantly lower wages will make things pretty even."
You can use on-line cost-of-living calculators to figure out if a new destination will be cheaper than Fairbanks. Out of curiosity, I just compared the cost of living between Fairbanks (median income of $40,577), and Manchester, New Hampshire (median income of $40,774). Overall, the cost of living in Manchester is 9% cheaper. The breakdown by expense categories was: groceries-12% cheaper in Manchester; housing-9% cheaper in Manchester; utilities-30% cheaper in Manchester; transportation-5% more expensive in Manchester; and health care-9% cheaper in Manchester.
Transportation more expensive elsewhere? You need fuel for transportation.
My guess is that people drive more for commuting to work, so their overall transporation cost is higher.
I love this page and Fairbanks. Wasilla and Anchorage are growing at record paces. I live in Anchorage
in the winter (school) and there is a trade-off. The crime is real everywhere in Anchorage (unless you live on the hill). Crime comes along with growth and it seems to be disproportionate. And their growing economy is replete with service industry jobs that pay a wage only suitable for a teenager living at home. I am glad that Fairbanks isn't 'growing' like Wasilla. Has anyone been there recently? Its horrible. Anyway, Fairbanks is the best.
I love Fairbanks and Alaska. It is where I live and will probably die. I was here in the mid 80s when we had that downturn. I personally feel that this downturn will make that look like a "walk in the park"!! I am NOT for govt. giveaways, but I do not view this as a giveaway. Nor do I view the permanent fund dividend as a giveaway. It was foresightedness on the part of Gov. Hammond. It is serving the purpose it was intended for, and is just another one of the great bonuses (not the best bonus by far) for living here. The best bonus we have living here is this.....when we wake up in the mornings, we are in Alaska....when we go to bed at night, we are in Alaska....the greatest place on earth!!!
The best bonus we have living here is this.....when we wake up in the mornings, we are in Alaska....when we go to bed at night, we are in Alaska....
I agree. Why shouldn't that be good enough?
I agree wholeheartedly with both the above statements. Waking up here is good enough, but we do live here and because we live here we are entitled thanks to Jay Hammond.
If we don't speak up to the powers that be, they won't remember.
well i am leaving but only to be near my daughter, i have no family left up here since my wife passed. i can take care of my self though and i have never once needed the PDF, i never really spent it just put it in the bank. maybe we need to remember that a lot of people came here because they could not make it where they were from. now their kids have kids and are still sucking on that govt. teat.
i am 3rd generation, long before statehood but it isnt the place where i was raised. we used to be known for our perserverance and out ability to adapt but decades ago that disappeared. it is differant here now.
they say by august of this year we will be spending $7 per gallon, think about how much a loaf of bread or gl. of milk will cost. when bread hits 10 bucks a loaf (which is very possible)thats when the rodney king stuff starts.
I thought that is when moose cow season starts.
I do believe that by October 2008 we will be paying that $7.00 a gallon in heating fuel and we will see alot of people moving and trying to sell out. I know that food is rising and we are not getting any pay raises within the ecomoy to substain us on paying that much in alaska or the lower 48. So here it is folks the goverment gets richer and we do and will get poorer.
Fairbanksgas have you ever heard of Livengood. Thousands lived there during mining days. They even had a hospital. Population today a DOT station. Oleans just outside of Fairbanks same story. Maybe this town just grew to fat on the government and it is now paying the piper. Fairbanks has a history of being a transient town, there are a few good old die harts that will stay around. I have lived long enough to watch most of the people I grew up with, work for the government, retire and leave for warmer pastures. Question I get asked a lot, why do you stay here. Must be something in the drinking water (well, not city we all know what is that water).
Don't give me anything. Spend the surplus in a manner that is consistent with the constitution of the State of Alaska! Spend it for the maximum benefit of the citizens and not on big businesses that rely on the citizens to suck the egg. When was the last time you heard anyone profiting from this oil make an announcement that they are giving their employees a raise?
The only one even considering such action is the Governor. The legislature has one hand in big businesses pockets and the other on the State Checkbook. Keep an eye on the State budget balances and who is getting paid using the below links:
Alaska State Budget Office online Checkbook:
http://fin.admin.state.ak.us/dof/checkbo...
Annual Financial Reports:
http://fin.admin.state.ak.us/dof/financi...
CBR Ballance:
http://www.revenue.state.ak.us/treasury/...
Office of Management and Budget:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/omb/
Either sit back and shut up if you don't have a dog in this fight, or voice your concern on how our state spends it's citizens' money to your representatives. Companies in the energy industry are making way too much money for us to be giving them hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grants to "study" more ways to sheer the sheep. My legislator has an ear full already, and I am still on the warpath. If the legislature takes action to pass the bill from the Governor, we have time to fix the problem and get it right for future generations. Otherwise, Alaska's only hope is to pay GVEA to study ways to improve the energy efficiency of our legislature and turn off our Christmas lights permanently.
"we used to be known for our perserverance and out ability to adapt but decades ago that disappeared. it is differant here now."
Yep. Most Alaskans live a life that is no different from anywhere else in the country. The thought of being in Alaska is nice, but driving into the city to work and then going home to a congested subdivision isn't exactly what most people picture when they think of Alaska. Oh, and the box stores! And from what I can tell, most folks are happy living that life. Which makes me wonder why live in Alaska? You can work in a city and live in a subdivision in places a whole lot more habitable than the subarctic.
FairbanksGas; RIGHT ON with your 12:33 post. And for those that want the GIMME, GIMME crowd to leave; Do you know that BIG OIL is the biggest GIMME, GIMME group in the state? Tax breaks, concessions, incentives for BIG OIL is about as large as the state budget. Guess you want BIG OIL to leave???
I'd like to know if the folks whining about not being able to afford to live here have started using public transportation or car pooling. Seems to me there's just as many vehicles on the road as there was this time last year (when gas was cheaper). If ya'll would save your money on gas, you'd have it to spend on fuel oil. Also, I haven't seen any of the places that sell 4 wheelers, snow machines or boats go out of business yet, so folks must still have money for those. Here's an idea, instead of sending everyone a check that will just go to Sam's, Walmart or their local 4 wheeler shop, spend the money helping folks pack their stuff up and ship it to where ever they think they can live cheaper. Shoot, I'd even give up my PFD for a couple of years so they could throw in plane tickets as well. That way they could beat their household goods to where ever they choose to move. $1200 bucks is not going to save you folks. If you are really in that bad of a pinch, do something about it. Sitting around BS'ing with your buds or posting comments on here about how hard life is going to be isn't going to help you in December.
Folks if you cannot adapt move on. I would love to see Fairbanks return to less then 50,000. Dump the box stores and fast food. While your at it close the military bases as well. No handouts needed. Although I do think we would all be better off an independent nation as the United States is just bleeding us dry.
Pat
Moose cow season in this area is Sept. 1 -30, bulls the first through the 15th. Use to say you would get more time for shooting a moose out of season than your spouse.
Bottom line, make up your mind what you are going to do and do it.
Woodman what does that have to do with the price of fuel? I agree one should put up the meat for the winter and with that said it will be more expensive then ever to hunt. Catch 22.
Pat
its time you wake up because a gallon of gas shoud be a average of $ 8.43 gallon disel should be $7.92 to wages in oil fields in 60"th and 70"th was $5.50 a hour and wages is $28.62 on average plus overtime. so be glad its only $ 4.50 a gallon the oil companys finaly woke up i did i got a new home and burned only 265 gallons last winter and burned no wood and this i'll burned a about 164 gallons of # 1 heating oil and heat will be set at 76 and i have the second brand new home and could burn less at 76 plus i live in more room than i did before plus my health is better wake up people you should have not tried to built a house that could not have paid for to start with.
WOW!!!
grammer my friend, USE IT!!!
Someone (Mel) wrote they thought moose season began in August. By the way, cows require a permit.
Can't wait to see what people will start wanting now that they announced the figures of all the additional billions of dollars the State will profit this year and the projected profits for next year.
The State (US, We,) have reported that we have more than enough money to operate government services ($5.6 billion).
At an estimated $130 a barrel through the year, the state would bring in something like $15.6 billion.
Does anyone know how much will go into the PFD and will we pay off the unfunded liabilities such as the states retirement program, etc?
If all of the above requirements are filled. Then the rest should be returned to the people , down too the penny.
If the excess funds are not returned then the constitution which suggests that the resources belong to all alaskans and the profits made from it's sale belong to US. Is nothing more than a propaganda feel good statement not worth the paper it was written on.
The state’s fiscal year ends Tuesday, and the Department of Revenue is expecting record unrestricted revenues of about $9.8 billion, according to Cherie Nien.
Well, I'm glad the STATE of ALASKA is rich, looks like STATE of ALASKA employees will get a pay hike, added retirement, extra vacation. Maybe the STATE of ALASKA should employ everyone who lives here.
TheBurninator,
The word is grammar vice grammer.
Mamasan, for your information most state employees are getting a whopping 3% pay increase on July 1, and again next year. Probably better than most private employers, since a lot of businesses are probably struggling to keep employees on the books let alone give raises, but all this extra revenue is not going to state employees. And, if you think State employees have it so good, go get a job with the State. They have plenty of vacancies because they can't seem to recruit or retain qualified people.
Listen to the democrats,
"nothing will help bring fuel prices down, we need wind and solar power!"
You folks in Fairbanks are screwed.
No wind or solar anything all winter.
Soon you will need a permit to cut down a tree for firewood, along with a slew of enviromental impact studies.
Just like in California.
I'd be more than happy to work for SOA, Sarvissa. They either don't want me, or I have neglected to file a letter of application recently. Frankly, I couldn't afford the drive, but I'll give it a try.
Still, why are there so many vacancies, and why can't the SOA keep employees? That's red-flag for a prospective employee on a job search.
Pardon any referral to SOA employees, however, those folks seem to be the only ones able to afford living here. At least you're getting a raise, many are losing their jobs.
These fuel conversations are going to become REALLY interesting in December!
Hang on to your hats and everything else...
The fact remains we live here, we endure the elements because we love Alaska. We Alaskans rreceive a fraction of oil profits. The Alaska constution says the resources belong to the people, yet the Alaska goverment "holds" all this money, which technically belongs to the people.
We are facing, like the rest of the nation a crisis in a couple months just to stay alive. The PFD money 42 billion plus isn't even directly invested by the people, the pfd money is invested by a panel, a group of people I don't even know.
We're living in a monarchy here. Technically we Alaskans are the richest people in tha nation, and many are forced to leave because the state keeps the money.
Well, like I said Alaska,....
EITHER "SHI& or get off the pot".
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