Ballot measures find little support from Alaskans
Published Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS -- None of the four ballot measures were finding favor with Alaska voters Tuesday at the polls.
Voters soundly defeated Measures 1 and 3, which would establish a Gaming Commission and create a voluntary program of public funding for state election campaigns, respectively.
The other two initiatives were also lagging in the polls late Tuesday. Measure Two would change Alaska’s predator control program. With about 62 percent of the votes in Tuesday, the no’s had garnered 55 percent of the total.
About 55 percent of voters also said no to Measure 4.
Ballot Measure 4 would impose two water quality standards on any new large-scale mines in Alaska.
If passed, it would restrict large, new mines from releasing toxic pollutants into water that would adversely affect the health of humans or salmon.
The ballot measure defines toxic pollutants as substances that will cause death and disease in humans and fish.
Opponents of the initiative say if passed it will kill large-scale mining in Alaska.
Supporters say the initiative is needed to save Bristol Bay’s wild salmon streams from the Pebble Mine, a huge copper and gold deposit poised for development near Bristol Bay.
Location is the problem. Pebble is near some of the world’s most productive salmon streams.
Opponents claim that the initiative poses a serious threat to Alaska’s economy.
They say mining accounts for more than 5,500 jobs and nearly $200 million a year in state and local tax revenues.
Supporters say the bigger threat is to the Bristol Bay salmon fishery, which they say provides more than 12,000 jobs and contributes over $250 million annually to Alaska’s economy.
They say one toxic spill from the mine in an earthquake prone area could permanently damage the state’s reputation for producing untainted, healthy fish.
Barbara Thurston, an insurance consultant from Juneau, said she’s worried about the affect large-scale mining could have on fisheries, not just Pebble.
“I’m concerned that Alaska fisheries could be destroyed if we don’t have this. Even if it’s not specific (to Pebble Mine), it’s critical. I think we’ve got to protect the water,” she said.
Mark Johnson, co-owner of Vicky’s Joke Shop in Juneau, said the state of Alaska already has the regulations needed to protect water quality and fish.
“I don’t think we need any more bureaucracy,” he said.
Laura Hamilton, of Chugiak, said she was against the ballot measure for the same reason.
“I think the laws are already there,” she said.
Two companies, London-based Anglo American PLC and Vancouver, Can.-based Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. are spending hundreds of millions of dollars to develop Pebble. Preliminary drilling indicates Pebble is a world-class deposit of gold, copper and molybdenum.
Kim Conley, a 46-year-old dentist from Chugiak, said she lived for more than five years in Dillingham and fears what Pebble could do to the region.
The mining companies, which outspent ballot measure supporters in the campaigns leading up to the primary, wouldn’t have fought it as hard as they did if water quality was something they weren’t worried about, she said.
“That whole area is so tied to the salmon... it is crazy to put Pebble there,” she said. “I think it could devastate the place.”
Community Discussion
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Republicans 4...Demonocrats 0000
I don't think Alaskans chose mining over fish, it was more of choosing existing regulations over a very poorly written and ill defined ballot measure.
BullsEye,
You have missed the target by a wide margin.
You should read George Washington's Farewell Address of 1796 to see what that Founding Father believed about allowing ourselves to be broken up along party lines.
When one looks at the broad spectrum of political thought, it would be asinine to assume that two parties are capable of representing all of us.
Vote for the man or woman who has a plan on how to change things the way you want to see them changed, without regard to party affiliation. Too many of us find ourselves voting for the lesser of two evils. That kind of thinking perpetuates the two party system.
If you are going to call them Demonocrats shouldn't their score be 666?
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/washin...
Bravo, Pavel,
Well said, right on the mark
Damn shame no one supported the state aided campaign funds.
The only way to remove special interest from politics, is give politicians an option. They need money to advertise. Alaska's best, and most honest choices for politics out there, don't stand a chance against politicians backed by giants like EXXON.
I wont say that ALL politicians that are backed by big companies, are dishonest, but obviously, the companies back candidates that the company feels is MOST likely to vote in favors of things that interest the companies needs. The instant the candidate votes against items in the companies best interest, the candidate looses their support. It's not bribery, and it's not illegal, it's simply the facts.
Problem is, when ever anything is proposed that spends state money comes up, people just like to say "no". Well folks, SOMEONE is going to spend money on the candidates, us, or special interests. Those who voted "no" just made the choice. Good luck ever finding politicians who'll get something like this on the ballot again.
We had a chance to start moving our future in the right direction, and we blew it!
By reading this article it makes the choice easy. However, all the ads I heard simply tried to embed which way "they" wanted you to vote. This issue is no different than any other political issue. "They" will say or do whatever it takes to get what "they" want. Once "they" get what they want, then "they" will implement their own agenda and forget any campaign promises.
I am a simple person the choice was easy for me. I voted and I'm proud and thankful that I am an American and I have the right to make choices and express my ideas and opinions.
God Bless America and God Bless Our Troops!
Oh, and God help us all.
Mr. Erickson,
We had a choice to add another layer of bureaucracy and more government intrusion and we chose not to.
In your face Bob Gillam. The defeat of Ballot Measure 4 means you really can't buy Alaska, no way, no how. How did your breakfast taste today? Mine tasted like sweet victory.
Darn I thought the lottery was coming finally to alaska that would have been great. Oh Well not enough gamblers in Alaska need to go the lower 48 where they are not afraid of change.
Hopefully the supports of measures have learned a valuable lesson, people in Alaska will not support measures that leave too many questions open. Most importantly, Alaskans can not be bought by fancy ad campaigns. In the case of 4, the supports spent millions but still refused to identify who they are. Hiding your identity didn't help, did it.
Pavel and others are exactly right. The anti-mining activists operated from the binary premise that mining will destroy all the fish. They resorted to using fabrications and preposterous extremes to batter and confuse the emotions of the most vulnerable people. They are wrong. We can have both fish and minerals, we do have both fish and minerals, we will have both fish and minerals.
These extremists still have considerable influence and are not going away. Now, it's time for the state and the mineral industry to show Alaskans that mining can take place in Alaska productively, fairly, and without degradation of the fisheries. We, citizens, need to be aware of the bad faith that these extremists introduce into our culture, economy, and legislative process and vote "NO" every time they try to subvert it.
Well said, Mr. Ericksen. We all have but one vote; I did my part.
We want to start this Democrats vs Republicans thing huh? I am a Democrat, however I vote on the issue at hand. If we want to play that game look at the current situation of the Country with a republican as president. We are stepping up to Russia and Iraq is going very bad as well as Afghanistan. Want to talk about 666 huh? How many were killed in Iraq because of "Weapons of Mass Destruction?" Oh...I mean to finish what Daddy couldn't with the first Iraq war...hum who is 666 there?
The writer of the article began with "None of the four ballot measures were finding favor with Alaska voters Tuesday at the polls."
Unfortunately, it should have said, "None of the four ballot measures WAS finding favor...."
The word "none" is a singular subject (none = not one), and therefore must take a singular verb.
For example: One of these guns is loaded. (One is loaded.) Not one of these guns is loaded. None of these guns is loaded.
A common trap to fall into.
Some people are so attached to their ideology, they would rather have it than safe food caught from the wild. Too bad. I bet they would have voted to let Exxon hire drunks too.
Ulises Gonzalez , Did you know that there is such a thing as a party platform . It is very important to look at and read it , to See where your candidate stands on the issues of the party platform . Platforms to a large extent have taken us to where we are today .
Barks,
You made my point with your last sentence. Thank you.
Amen amanda! those of you whom are all puffed up and proud that you weren't taken in by those extremest who want to shut down mining well--who paid for all the ads against measure 4? I'm only saying there are two sides and what I heard was primarily against which in itself made me suspect. Read the measure myself felt it was being misrepresented in the ads....and really do you honestly believe the state is going to allow for the closure of a whole industry. Oh and before I get the anti-mining label...husband has worked in the industry off and on (in Alaska) for years....guess what he voted yes! There are just certain places we don't want to see mines and Bristol is one of them.
Besides it was about clean water wasn't it?
Also I would like to add--In Alaska we like to think of ourselves as free thinking, what a joke the majority voted with the status quo--don young, ted stevens....again are you kidding I'm beginning to think the people (majority) are asleep at the wheel!! Ya all you republicans should be real proud of sticking to party lines--just like don & ted keep up the good work!!! non-partison voter.
Sad day for Alaskan outdoor people. I hope you folks that support fish and mining are paying attention as the rubber stamping bureaucrats approve Pebble a little bit at a time and you won't have a vote on any of it.
I really do hope we can stop Pebble and allow mining in more appropriate locations but I fear otherwise. The Pebbleites are going to take this vote as evidence the population is on the same page as the DNR. Northern Dynasty is the big dollar Outside interest to fear on this issue. Bristol Bay deserves better.
As far as ballot measure 4 is concerned this has proven to me that the people will be easily duped by whomever throws the most money into advertising. It's obvious that the mining industry knows they can't guarantee clean water and that's why they fought so desperately to defeat the measure. It's a sad day for the fish.
well said skinfish.
:(
ya right- Your right, "in Alaska we like to thinkof ourselves as free-thinking". The best part is when most Alaskans are on the same page. No Joke!!
How is it that people talk about wanting to end corruption and all the good ol' boy type of government, but when something comes along that would fix that, they vote it down?
Proposition 3 would really change how politics work, and makes it much more likely that an average joe will be our politician instead of a professional politician.
Everywhere a system like proposition 3 has been enacted, it has been really popular with the people. It gets the politician up close with the people instead of just making stump speaches. The politician usually ends up going door to do looking for a $5 dollar donation, instead of getting their money from large corporate donors.
Apparently Alaska supports professional politicians and corruption.
Just out of curiousity, how many people actually took the time to read through the ballot measures themselves, not just the pro or con statements and ads? I wonder sometimes.
I am not like most people , I lose 80% of my vote , But I keep on voting . Don,t want to lose the privilege . All of our other rights are slowly going away . The Nazi agenda is creeping in on the scene
Is there such a prblem in this state that we can not agree to have some sort of lotto or lotery or games of chance? Is there such a problem with people spending a few hard earned dollars on a game that more than likely he or she will not win and the profits will more than likely go to the education system or other good causes? I think that the residents of this great state have all become way too liberal. I am amazed that the gambling measure got zero publicity. Not one mention of it on any of our god awful TV stations.
AlaskanRedNeck , It's not liberals , it's ultra conservatives . It's been that way every since I got here in 52 .
Yep.. everyone seems to have followed the advice spouted off from the big ol' Bible Baptist church here in Fbks..
Election day it said something like-
"DON'T DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU TO DO
PLEASE DON'T GO TO HELL...
NO
NO
NO
NO"
I feel ill.
I can't believe that voters didn't pass a lottery! What harm is there in that? You know - the Natives can open a casino on their land without getting permission - they do that all over in the states. They are set up really nice and the shareholders rake in the money.
I guess the problem is there isn't any close by villages...
I think it would be great to have a lottery, I wonder why this 1 didn't pass.
I could understand it if it was worded like the aeriel hunting bill! That one was written in some a way it couldn't be read! Who the heck writes those??
Prop 1: More social ills, more bureaucracy.
Prop 2: We already voted on this. We said no. Period.
Prop 3: Putting bureaucrats in charge of public money for elections? no thanks. Just more bureaucracy. Another special panel overseeing everything. Besides, there was no requirement to use this public funding.
Prop 4: Are you joking? We already have layer upon bureaucratic layer protecting our wetlands and streams. Just ask Mr. David R. Sweezey of Anchorage, who faces $78 million dollars in fines for tampering with wetlands and streams on his own property. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf...
About Proposition 4: And meanwhile, the folks who really want fish:
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/aug/27/al...
It's incredible to see folks still whining about losing Proposition 4. The elections are over, folks, and the majority of voters have spoken at the ballot box. Just because this proposition did not receive the approval of most voters, it does not mean that you are right, and these voters are wrong.
Proposition 4 lost because it was too vague, and most Alaskans understood that we already have strict mining laws.
uh oh- "sherry29" is puking out her racist crap again.
you don't really know ANYTHING about Native gambling do you?
If you did- you would know that they have to get approval from the Feds, then the state then plan it out amongst themselves, they can't just order a slot machine from Vegas plug it in and hang up a sign, are you really that stupid?
Don't blame anybody else if you don't know how to read either, lol.
btw, lower48 natives don't have "shareholders", the casinos that some (not ALL) tribes operate are regulated (closely) by the Feds and, for some tribes, the funds are barely enough to operate the tribe.
sherry29- If you're going to try and badmouth a race at least get your facts right, making things up is kinda dumb.
(gave me and my friends a good laugh though, thx)
Thanks barks. I knew it was someone other than hard working blue collared folks. The thing raventongue said about the church is somewhat true, but even down in the bible belt of the lower 48s they have lotto.
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