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I’m convinced everyone, including myself, struggles with something like cognitive dissonance when we try to decide if we are rich or poor. The way we feel about our “wealth” depends on so many variables: we may think we are prosperous one moment, and then, very sure we are poor at another. If we want to buy something we cannot afford, we feel poor; when, on the other hand, we are celebrating with family and friends, perhaps on Thanksgiving Day itself, we feel rich. Add the human tendency to compare what we have with what others appear to have, with the potential devastation of covetousness or pride, and we get even more confused!

Government authority factors into our evaluation of our “pursuit of happiness”. What is “money”? Some authority invents it, but why does it work? Do “we the people” (the sovereigns in our republic) have control of monetary policy? How much should be created per capita, i.e. our money supply? What does it cost to get money — interest rates? There is no intrinsic value in the money itself — the paper makes a poor fire starter and it is cheaper to drill holes in our coins than to use them to buy coin-sized washers we might need to build something. How do we protect ourselves from thieves who increase the money supply to pay for debts incurred based on pre-inflation values? These are lofty questions and confuse the question of deciding whether we are rich or poor.

Is our currently apparent “prosperity” real? Is it sustainable, or not? The market seems to be booming for recreational equipment, vacations, entertainment, campers, travel, houses, cars, food, energy… in spite of massive COVID-19 production shortages! “Business as usual” coexisting with production loss makes me uneasy. My theory is the is distribution of trillions of “covid dollars” (debt from the Fed’s printing presses) is robustly changing hands just as if we are continuing to prosper as a nation! If this was the intent, it seems to be working, at least for now.  If the prosperity is sustainable, maybe we should do our part by spending more!? My guess is we are all trying to grasp the phenomena and wondering what the future will bring.

Money works ONLY because everyone, by consensus, trusts it. Buying and selling with “tokens” of promised value utterly depends on continued trust. The US Dollar works because it is backed by our US Federal physical assets and,more importantly, the historical credibility and reputation of our government — designed and working to protect and defend inherent, unalienable human rights! A dollar has the profound global value it has because of successful application of the original intent of our US Constitution — freedom. Our trust in US money is inseparable from our trust in the value of our government. Trust in our money system, or our nation, is appropriate only in the context of our greater trust in God — which is specifically stated on our money: “in God we Trust”. Politics, government, and God all matter when contemplating our prosperity — our “pursuit of happiness” is one of the inherent human rights of Declaration of Independence. The 1828 definition of the word “happiness” is about the same as ours: “That state of being in which our desires are gratified.” The founders, like us, presumed the pursuit of happiness included the ownership of property and money. Ultimate “happiness” however, is only artificially related to currency and has everything to do with what/who we are ultimately trusting. If you remember, this is precisely the message of the famous “Sermon on the Mount” in the Bible (summed up in Matt 6:33). The evening news confirms we have less and less reason to place too much trust in government, and more than ever this includes our American government, giving us every reason to think shrewdly about what we ultimately trust.

Long ago, “we the people” were extricated from the power to directly control monetary policy! Congress authorized the creation of the Federal Reserve system (the “Fed”) in 1913. Theoretically we could force reform and restructure our monetary policies by empowering lawmakers, but we would be hard-pressed to forge consensus on what ‘improvements’ to this entrenched institution would look like. We tolerate escalating deficit spending even though we don’t look too closely at how this results in more and more money being printed/minted, which is creating a bigger and bigger debt load.

We “ordinary folks” do not often admit to ourselves we do not have much more than nominal control over government spending! It seems more and more unlikely we will be able to stop the spending-debt spiral. It was a wise man who once said, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.” – Thomas Jefferson, US President [Robert G. Moscatelli, The Quote Manual (Bloomington, IN: Author House, 2005), 193.]

There are valid, intuitive reasons our ancestors delegated governing decisions to elected representatives and the “experts” they appoint! Snapshots of populous opinion on specific issues in a “pure democracy” provide an utterly unreliable standard for making governing decisions. Popular votes must never determine, for example when and where we use the bombs we have stockpiled for our defense! Nor can the populous establish an official government religion. We don’t even trust our elected representatives to do this! Neither do we elect a President this way. Instead, we use an electoral college system. We must never use polling the “court of public opinion” to declare justice on hot-button issues fanned in the media spotlight. With high-tech media, it is becoming a growing challenge to even fairly elect and appoint local governing delegates. Beware of those who portray short-term popular opinions as truth. Some wrongly promote, “one person, one vote” on the internet to come up with governing decisions, which is a really bad idea. To be confused on this question is to be confused about what America, as a republic, is all about.

Lest you think Alaska is better than other States: State governments have almost no control of the “Federal Reserve System” enforcing monetary policy … even less than Congress. When I was contemplating these things in the legislature, I considered the benefits if we were to create Alaskan currency backed by savings of real Alaskan gold and other precious metals. Not surprisingly, I discovered States are prohibited from having an independent currency system defined as “legal tender”. The “Federal Reserve” has the monopoly. It was recently reported Alaskans have $11,095 (US Dollar) per capita bonded debt obligations, second only to Connecticut! (“State Bonded Obligations, 2020”, American Legislative Exchange Council). The national average is $3800! How does this factor into your family’s financial portfolio? You are likely not even aware of this travesty because of obfuscation of the definition of “debt”! Debt DOES include what we are projected to owe when it becomes legally payable (retirement and benefits for state employees for example)! For example, it is fiscally foolish to owe for legal promises to pay for healthcare, to be priced after future inflation. This very real,  extravagant level of bonded debt obligation may be one of the most damning pieces of evidence proving the designed impotence of the Alaska Legislature, the only governing authority with the nominal power to eliminate our debt obligation.

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.

Imagine you have inherited a piece of property so big and valuable you cannot even hope to visit – much less explore most of it in your lifetime! Imagine the mixed emotions of ecstasy over your good fortune and the realization that as “owner”, you have the responsibility to care for it! Despite the incredible feelings of wealth, this realization could easily own you because of the tremendous scope of the task. Fortunately, you have also inherited a huge ‘property management system’ that has been functioning for over 60 years — designed to provide stewardship for owners. Unfortunately, you see evidence of predictable “mission creep” in this management system with a drift towards watching out too much for the benefits/needs of the managers instead of the “owner”, you. The original management mission is stated in the paperwork: to provide for your “use, enjoyment, and welfare”. The managers are paid from property assets, but they exist to serve the owners.

This analogy is your situation IF you are a legal resident of Alaska of voting age! The inherited property is the entire State of Alaska originally purchased from Russia for a mere 7 million dollars! The “management system” structure is laid out in the highest law of our land (the State Constitution). Approximately two-thirds of the property was kept by the federal government, but the remainder belongs to us.

The management system is very broad and comprehensive but consider just one part of it aimed specifically at property management: the Alaska Division of Parks and Recreation. Art 8 of the Alaska Constitution explicitly declares, “The legislature shall provide for the utilization, development, and conservation of all natural resources belonging to the State, including land and waters, [including parks] for the maximum benefit of its people.” Like it or not, the legislature is the only avenue for your owner oversight! Any rule or fee that may keep you from reasonable access to your parks is only official if you allow the legislature to make it so! The stated “missions” of all Divisions are “official”, published and amended as needed by legislative action and approval. Also, no management (administrative) law can be written without legislative approval. Legislators, by American design, are meant to be THE tools in the hands of grass-roots voters. The stewards hired to manage the “use, development and conservation” of our priceless property are indirectly governed by you, through your legislators, ultimately under your control! Alaska’s Constitution provided handsomely for this management system by approving a full 80% of all money we generate from use of natural resources to fund our government, including Parks administration, with the remaining 20% supposedly restricted from direct use. This is a radical and staggering “tax” revenue source that should forever eliminate any other Alaskan Tax!

So long as “We the People” are the sovereigns who empower the Constitution, the time to engage in reviewing Park land use rules (and all management policies) is always now! Stewardship of our staggering wealth should be a fundamental element of your vote. Remind candidates to make sure the rules favor you, the owner! It stands to reason anytime stewards or managers are left unmanaged, it allows them to think they are the property beneficiaries instead of you. We are sovereignly responsible for the managers we have put in charge of managing our property for our best interest – in both Alaska State Government and the US Government. The abysmal voting turnouts over the past years is an ominous sign voters are not taking their responsibility seriously enough.

There are about 3 million acres in the Alaska State Park system — more acreage than some entire states! The Alaska Legislature has approved the “mission statement” for our Division of Parks: to “provide outdoor recreation opportunities and conserve and interpret natural, cultural, and historic resources for the use, enjoyment and welfare of the people.”

Next time you contemplate if you can afford a trip to a park, consider the cost of the permits, insurance, and per visitor fees – these have been added on top of the 80% natural resources revenue we’re already paying. If you find the cost or unwarranted restrictions are keeping you off your property, explain what you want or need to your legislators and get them to make changes — or replace them with someone who will. While most public employees are genuinely sincere about their job descriptions and grateful, some of them just don’t get it!

I encourage you to go to the informative state parks website and relish your inheritance! We “own” our fabulous parks and want to pass them to our kids (and other new Alaskans) including an honest, effective management system while fully enjoying them ourselves. Take time to read park “land use plans” for your favorite park and consider your options – they are yours to maintain!

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.

Belated Happy 4th! We must recognize the significance of this national holiday more than ever before. By next July 4, 2022, we will be in the big election cycle of crucial significance for future generations. The long-standing awe and esteem for the superiority of America’s founding values has been tarnished by the polarization of the 2020 election fiasco. The power and dignity of voting was gravely damaged and must be restored quickly. Our society has been rudely jerked out of an era of lackadaisical voting to suddenly find our voting power was likely stolen! We had better spare no expense re-certifying election credibility if we expect meaningful future July 4th celebrations. I encourage you to keep the red, white and blue décor up all year! This is a way we can each take part to help defeat the ridiculous aversion to patriotism we are seeing happening recently while watching for other things we can do to help repair the damage.

It is as if we have researched and found a perfect house, car, property to buy… a “deal”. But, when we try to pay, we find our identity has been stolen, our bank account emptied, and our credit destroyed. There is no “quick fix”, we have simply become marginalized because of theft! As voters, we seem to have lost the control and rights we presumed we had! The only consolation we have is we are supposedly “on the Board of Directors” to catch and punish the thief and re-secure our dignity. It turns out we really haven’t been paying enough attention so now there is confusion on how to make the repairs.

My hat is off to the few State legislatures who understand this, and to various organizations in America such as the Heritage Foundation, who are working hard to restore election credibility. Do not make the mistake of just assuming justice will automatically prevail in this matter! We must never forget the Judiciary and Executive Branches have an intrinsic interest in an ever bigger and stronger government! By original design, applying founding values, government power is supposed to be limited by “We the People” via elected representatives in the legislative branch. It is very disappointing to see our Alaska Legislature continue to flounder on this issue. Some good election bills have been introduced by clear thinkers, but they languish in committees as victims of ignorant, petty politics. If our legislature does not stand up and assert Alaska’s constitutional state sovereignty in our national presidential vote, Alaska will be part of the problem — the national crisis we are facing.

We celebrate, confirm, and review the source and maintenance of “unalienable” human rights described in the Declaration of Independence every July 4th; “…certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men…”. The parades, the red, white, and blue, the picnics…, they all celebrate what the Statue of Liberty iconically proclaims to the seven continents of the earth; our government (America) is here to secure these rights for all who legally join us and become Americans! We dare not forget this bottom-line, intentional design for our limited government. We have become “dull” and lost much of the excitement of America’s greatness and how it is sourced in traditional, monotheistic, constitutional values. We need to sharpen-up these values immediately to defeat the foolish, failed philosophies being promoted in our schools, our reactionary knee-jerk social media posts, and the popular media.

Ask yourself what “unalienable” human “rights” are: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This is not as simplistic as you may have come to believe. Every signer of the Declaration — actually, every rational human being — can and does “justify” the denial of these rights in certain circumstances! Such as cases of self-defense, war, incarceration for crimes committed, and pursuits oppressing another’s pursuits without restraint. The default question is what rational moral standard will be used to restrict unalienable rights? If you think it through, you will see this question inevitably requires religious analysis! If our society claims no absolute values, to be utterly secular and areligious, we would not be able to claim “rule of law”. Law is not law if it is not based on some ultimate moral value.

Religion is inevitable and, as goes the individual “religion” of voters, so goes the nation. Remarkably, our government is specifically banished from “establishment” of ANY religion, so each person must bring his or her standard of absolutes with him/her when voting or working for government. These standards are meant to be applied in transparent public debate to shape and enforce our laws. This has been working wonderfully well (America IS Great), arguably because the voting majority embraced “true” religious concepts of justice, forgiveness, mercy, love, holiness, and Supreme-ness of the one true God. We are about to find out if these foundational truths will prevail so America’s greatness can be restored!

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.

Alaska’s healthcare system is amazing. I can vouch for almost ‘magical’ healthcare innovations which likely expanded my life. Most recently, I found myself at the door of the “Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute” asking for help. I cannot over-state the 5-star review. Nobody could make surgery fun, but within one editorial cycle I am on my feet with good reason to believe I will be catching salmon when they get here in July — far better than anticipated! This was not my first rodeo with a critical, expensive, health crisis. Twenty plus years ago, I learned first-hand about Alaska’s oncology care when they applied the then-latest cures to change a traditionally incurable, 5-year prognosis into an unexpected remission. I give a shout-out to the army of health care providers who give of themselves to serve other people, to alleviate pain and suffering. Thank you!

I wish I felt as optimistic about the health of Alaska’s healthcare system as I do my own health, I admit I do not! I happen to have a long history of being deeply engaged in Alaska healthcare politics, serving numerous years in Legislative Health Committees and the Alaska Health Commission. I’ve had the privilege of working with “giants” of virtue and intellect and watched their recommendations ignored and over-ruled. I have seen the gross underbelly of human nature (greed and self-interest) evident within our healthcare system, just as it is evident in every human institution in a republic! It may not be worse (or better) than other human institutions, but the solution/prevention is always the same — grass roots sincerity.

Clearly, our society is a much nicer place to be when people choose to serve others. Our “happiness” depends a lot on the efforts of health care providers, policeman, preachers, teachers, soldiers, Dads, Moms, and every individual who has decided to make the world a better place by devoting to these and other occupations/roles. Government is intentionally sidelined here! Choosing to serve others, to love sacrificially, to forgive, or extend mercy are all religiousdecisions, which our government was forever banned from — authoritative establishment of religion, in other words, government enslavement! Our founders were phenomenal! They did a very good job of putting us all “at the mercy” of what they called “Divine Providence”. We now go to extremes to ensure each person’s religious freedom. In the big picture, I am convinced the People in America have historically demonstrated selfless compassion and commitment to serve others — the evidence being our world-wide model institutions. The “golden rule” has been venerated in America unlike any other nation. The “golden rule” is arguably globally accepted as the universal apex of human morality.

Review and adjust your world view as you see fit. Our society depends on it. As goes the consensus of “We the People”, so goes the nation and our great institutions. Unexpected sickness can make us tougher— or it can destroy us when we deliberately avoid obvious conclusions. American Constitutionalism bet everything the majority would make the right choices. Neither this editorial nor any public-school teacher or professor, has any right to judge you or coerce you on your religious decisions! My best advice to you: Seek out whoever has demonstrated care for you and listen carefully before you make up your own mind on any sectarian or denominational question.

There is no formula to ensure a ‘godly’ human institution! The best blueprint was laid out in our American Constitution with its complex and inefficient systems of checks and balances. The primary goal of our government was to ensure freedom, life, liberty, and expression of truthful data. Perhaps our modern erosion of checks and balances denies the darker side of human reality and risks far more than we thought! Even this erosion could be insignificant in the face of a truly “righteous” voting majority— “righteous” being what the founders based called “Nature’s Law”. The health care system that has just served me so very well, is admittedly the product of a confusing mixture of capitalism, government, corporate and individual greed, and religious values (love, forgiveness, mercy, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, etc.). These ingredients have been mixed over time.

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.

Our oldest grandchild is in Navy OCS (Officer Candidate School) getting ‘authority orientation’ designed to convince him he needs to obey orders! As vets know, basic training is an “in your face” challenge to whatever you thought was your previous self-determined life. While basic training is a learning experience, it makes no claim to be an in-depth analysis of the nature and source of human authority — just a practical application at the level of “Yes Sir!” — “No Sir!”. As the ditty goes, “It is ours do or die… not to ask the reason why!” Finding our ultimate niche in the complex hierarchy of autonomous human authority varies in every culture and with every world view. Coming to terms with when/why to obey (submit), revolt, give orders, or expect obedience takes time and is called “wisdom” because it requires constant adaptation to deal with a myriad cultural “boundaries”. It is impossible to discuss the nature of authority in any culture without getting into religious/philosophical questions. This is because after each person decides whether Ultimate Authority exists, the next inevitable question is, “What is expected, what does He want? The question of faith in God is directly “in our face” for any consideration of authority. If a person decides there is no god — they are still part of the same authority equation when they use the word “should” or “shouldn’t”. Rules and authority are part of every human relationship.

As proof we are all in this together, consider the universal human reaction when someone tries to make you do something you do not want to do. We all experience the feeling called “resentment”. The resentment, just a “feeling”, may or may not generate action. We all must cope with resentment starting from day one, when we encounter tension in relationships starting with our parent or guardian! It makes us smile to watch the “terrible two’s”, but the stakes get higher as each human matures. Some seem more naturally compliant than others, but nobody is exempt. One of life’s first lessons in reality, beyond “Mom”, is the painful realization others may not have our best interests at heart! In fact, military, government, and even family authority can prove to be abusive and profoundly devastating, even lethal. Consider how resentment naturally puts us on a quest to find some authoritative person or standard (rule) to insist or judge on what is “fair” as a fundamental response option next to physical force or revenge. It is simply not ‘human’ to instinctively squelch resentment — to forgive and forget. We must learn a preference for the selfless “golden rule”. Whether you think fairness (justice) is based on God’s law, or some humanistic evolving standard, we all long for equal justice before your approved version of “good” rules when we feel the “excitement of passion which proceeds from a sense of wrong offered to ourselves, or to those who are connected with us” (Webster’s 1828 definition). We rely first on our inner knowledge of good and evil to decide if resentment is a just response, but we also look for the authority of “law” to validate or squelch the feeling.

Keep in mind America was spawned from resentment! The Declaration of Independence includes a robust list of complaints against the King. The fruition of the founder’s resentments include: the American Revolution, the Constitution, Bill of Rights … each allowing more freedom and prosperity than mankind had ever known! Our founders rationally justified defying the authority of Great Britain. They staked out a new national authority by positioning themselves under the moral authority of one true God! This is the way any legitimate authority is honored … “chain of command” to an ultimate authority. The Declaration of Independence clearly references what Jefferson called “Natural Law” sourced in “Nature’s God”. In the ‘cultural moment’ of global history, there was a consensus of belief in a “Supreme Judge” and in “Divine Providence” (also acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence) as the legitimate basis for a constitutional governing authority. Despite the best efforts of many in academia, America still stands on this foundation! The argument stating American government is intended to be “secular” because it was prohibited from “establishing” religion is rubbish. The Establishment Clause is a monument to the founder’s intent to limit the power of government — not to limit belief in God’s authority! America’s future ultimately depends on the faith (religion) of voters … it really is that simple!

In light of America’s official standing, it is difficult to process the resentment we are seeing under the banners of Black Lives Matter, Cancel Culture, Woke, Identity Politics, Defunding Police, Critical Race Theory, even the general intolerance of “intolerance” feels as if the resentment is aimed at America … at ourselves! It is difficult to imagine positive consequences resulting from this round of resentment, but the answer is not to squelch those involved beyond enforcement of our laws. The only valid answer must start with each voter so he or she selects representatives and laws truly “in the chain of command”.

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.

I’m guessing you underestimate the angst of your legislators right now. They are engaged in complex and frustrating annual budget manipulations and their options are awful. Believe it or not, very few legislators simply ignore voter demands to reduce spending — rather, they are forced to “balance” them against even stronger demands to spend! The perceived job description and power of an Alaska legislator are warped compared to what we learned in ‘Civics 101’. The “warp” results from living in an intentionally created “administrative” state where executive and judicial branches are on “steroids” at the expense of an anemic legislature! This becomes obvious when you consider the “legitimate” fiscal influence of the Courts, the Department of Law, Administrative “law” (regulations), lobbying power, and “legal opinions”, all sourced in the Administrative and Judicial branches. The power to appropriate money has actually been legally perverted in Alaska.

Another complication: Alaskan voters almost never vote for a legislator based on what tax he or she may impose! Rather, selection is primarily based on what they will fund! The painful realization that budget revenue must be taken from us (as taxes) is suppressed unlike any other State! Media “heats up” when interest groups line up in opposition to compete for funding with armies of advocates. None of us like to admit we NEED the dynamics of legislators defending tax legislation! But without it, we cannot realistically define what we “need” to spend public money on. What one “needs” to eat, for example, changes depending on whether hunger must be dealt with for a dollar or with hundred-dollar bill. For example, our compassionate expenditures for children’s education or senior’s retirement programs, have stubbornly continued to grow in spite of good intentions to be frugal. It has not been very convincing for a legislator to say “no, we cannot afford it” when Alaska’s government was constitutionally funded copiously by the one novel granddaddy constitutional “tax” we all seem to have forgotten! 80% of all revenue generated from our natural resources is directly routed into the State checkbook balance. The traditional legislative power to tax is still in the Constitution, probably because it was ratified before the influx of billions and billions from oil sales! We have spent freely for over 40 years! Legislative “duty” simply has not included the burdensome job of levying taxes on citizens to pay for what government spends. Campaign promises to “not support new taxes” are hollow indeed! Now, impossibly high tax loads cannot be imposed to sustain services.

Even more hollow is the tragic belief our savings will get us through! It will instead make our problem worse because it will further obscure where it comes from. It is a terrible option because it expands the “granddaddy” tax by taking the earnings from the restricted 20%, the Permanent Fund — ironically— money set aside to prevent it from being similarly consumed by budget spending. Budget politics has already permitted the “boring of a drain hole” in the Permanent Fund earnings account. Laws, traditions, and policies all combine to prevent legislators from cutting spending to avoid bankruptcy! Every penny transformed directly into budget revenue reduces our chances of getting through this. If the 16+ Billion goes up for grabs, Alaska’s prosperity from government spending will only get a temporary, comparatively short, extension until it too is gone. If you doubt me, tune in to the weight of the demands of credible doctors, teachers, social workers, state employees, government contractors… all ‘mining’ for state dollars because it is the thing to do — it pays off! Each identity group cannot avoid/resist fighting selfishly for its own cause.

A solution is obvious even if it is a “long shot” politically: Immediate passage of a statute or constitutional amendment to clarify ownership of the PF would properly re-define the fight once and for all: The 20% Permanent Fund, and ALL of the earnings from investment of the PF, must be banned from becoming mere budget revenue. It must be clearly destined to become real property for Alaskans (PFDs). At the same time, we need a “tax” law enabling the legislature to “claw back” (keep) what they dare (a tax) to get us past the crisis and find a proper level of limited government spending determined by the real values of the voters (PFD “owners”). Once the budget is balanced and debts are paid, the offensive “clawback” (tax) would be appropriately moderated politically. PFDs could continue to be generated at a sustainable rate according to the trust model that inspired it. Any professional financial manager can confirm we now have the potential for continuing, much larger, PFDs applying current standards for investment. PFD “check stubs” would confirm who “owns” money in question, and, how much the government keeps for the budget… keeping everyone honest. This is not magic or impossible. If it seems that way, it is only because of the false “normal” we have settled into!

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This was also submitted as an article to The People’s Paper.