It's pretty easy to feel isolated in Alaska. Protected, I suppose, at times from the life of the Lower 48, but also a million miles away when someone you love living three airplane rides away needs something.
I watch Outside politics and for years have felt like, "It can't happen here." The mayor's race in Chicago caught my eye. I have never liked Rahm Emanuel. He's just a jerk. I know. I'm not being fair, but it's true. Well, the folks in Chicago are taking notice because just on one side of the race, $70 million has been raised, and most of it comes from contributors who don't live anywhere near Chicago.
I listened to commentators yapping about how this Chicago race is a fight for the democrats. Oh, for crying out loud! It's a fight -- like the fight all over the country -- but its a fight for Democracy. This isn't about party -- this is about the buying and selling of political power to the highest bidder.
So, just like Applebee's and the Olive Garden found their way north, so have one of the biggest political brokers of our time. Americans for Prosperity have found their way into the mayor's race in Anchorage, Alaska. Really. Are you kidding me?!
Before you poo poo the race because you live in one of the other glorious parts of Alaska, I'd like to remind you that with the exception of our recent mayor, most go on to do bigger things that affect us statewide.
The part that puzzles me most is trying to figure out the motives of the group. What do they get? They don't live here. Their donors don't live here. Potholes and PTA's aren't sexy topics, but they matter most to those of us who do live here. The shape of the roof of the Sullivan Arena matters to me because -- Go ACES! Contracts for city employees matter because these neighbors and friends provide services to residents that are essential needs. I have a million reasons why people should pay attention to their local politics, but I think you get the idea. Why do Americans For Prosperity (like the rest of us are Americans for Poverty), care about this race?
Bigger than why they want to be here, why the hell would we want them? Big Corporate Overreach. Remember that part about us not caring how they do it Outside? We have a strong "you're not the boss of me" attitude, and they didn't seem to get the memo.
According to their own words they want to stop the expansion of Medicaid in our state. The last governor was happy to play lap dog to them, but this one is interested in not only health care for the working poor, but also in the creation of 4,000 new jobs. What a concept! Can you imagine any industry -- ANY -- in our state announcing they would be expanding employment by 4,000 jobs in the next few years? There have been projects in Alaska I opposed and was called a "job killer" by the right-wing nuts. Yeah, Pebble Mine was one with the promise of less than a quarter of the jobs we'd get from Medicaid expansion. The Keystone Pipeline, vetoed by President Obama, according to the State Department, would "create the equivalent of 3,900 full-time construction jobs if it's completed in one year, or 1,950 if it's done in two years. Once the pipeline is finished, there will be just 50 permanent positions, including 15 for temporary contractors."
JOB KILLER!
Wait. Expanding health care in Alaska creates more jobs than Keystone and Pebble? What gives? So, the AFP hates jobs and health care and now wants to tell us who should be mayor because they have money to burn.
I have a theory. I might be wrong, but maybe I'm getting close to why AFP is getting up in our business. Alaska is one of the cheapest places to buy elections. By involving themselves in a race that attempts to be nonpartisan, for a relatively small city compared to anywhere in the rest of the U.S. (oh, maybe except Wyoming), they are sending a message to our Legislature. No race is too small for them to meddle in, so lawmakers better listen for their whistle. Next whistle? Right to Work for peanuts and have no rights to collectively bargain.
If this is how we're going to roll, we should put official seats on eBay or Craigslist and at least get some revenue for the state. It would feel more honest. Let your representatives know how you feel about 4,000 jobs for Alaska and health care for our working poor. Pay attention to the mayor's race -- ours, not Chicago's, and the Outside campaign finance dollars which are trying to buy this election. If you don't vote, the place could fall apart, you could fall in a pothole and we'd really miss you. And to the Americans for Prosperity, I'm one of the Alaskans for Our Prosperity -- and we think it's time for you to go back to the rock you came out from under.
Shannyn Moore is a radio broadcaster.
The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com