OPINION: A Harris-Walz administration would be bad for business, resource development

A new Democratic Party ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz is riding a high of enthusiasm, with apparent momentum and a bit of a high school cool factor.

The pair promises the equivalent of a “chicken in every pot,” unprecedented national unity, and even joy, according to Walz. Of course, they don’t outline how they are going to deliver such largesse to every American, as well as the unanimous goodwill, which they portray at their apparently well-attended rallies. Nor does Vice President Harris justify the devastating policy mistakes of the administration in which she has been integral.

What put me on the mind track of just how destructive Harris’ vice presidency has been, and how bad a Harris presidency would be, is an article I recently read in the Oregon Statesman Journal. On July 29, the Journal published a story about the fifth lumber mill closure in Oregon this year.

Among the top reasons for the astounding number of mill closures were:

• Lack of a willing and drug-free workforce.

• Lack of housing to recruit workers from outside the area.

• Unfavorable market conditions for lumber in recent years.

• High manufacturing costs due to inflation.

• Low and inconsistent production due to workforce issues.

• Continued layering of government regulations on small businesses in Oregon.

Multiple factors cited above can be seen as directly attributable to Harris’ failed immigration policy. An addicted workforce, due to the coursing of illegal drugs into the country from an unsecured border inevitably leads to an unwilling, and low or inconsistently productive labor pool. Moreover, those here illegally are putting pressure on available housing. Additionally, high manufacturing costs are in part due to inflation, which is the result of Harris’ failed economic policies.

The issues of a lack of lumber markets and duplicative government regulation are also down to the Democrats’ failure to create a hospitable environment for business and entrepreneurship throughout the country. One cannot help but notice that Oregon is a blue state suffering at the hands of progressive governing.

Our own lone U.S. House Representative, Mary Peltola, seemingly understands how devastating her party’s policies are for Alaska, not just Oregon. She is so fearful of being associated with her fellow Democrats that she let it be known that she did not vote to nominate Harris as the Democrat presidential nominee.

It would be reassuring if Congresswoman Peltola’s actual votes supported that sentiment. Instead, she votes in lockstep with the Democrats from whom she is pretending to distance herself.

Rep. Peltola wants Alaskans to think she is a maverick Democrat who will not support the regressive platform of the Democrat Party; namely, a party focused largely on imposing progressive and divisive social issues on Americans and promoting no growth via economic development in our state, which needs to develop its roads and resources to flourish and thrive. We would be wise to see through Rep. Peltola’s ruse and select a pro-growth candidate such as Nancy Dahlstrom to replace her.

Dahlstrom has made it clear she will close the border to end the flow of illegal drugs into our state. She has committed never to raising our taxes and has laid out a pro-growth, pro-business economic plan that would limit federal regulations and stop inflation. A vote for Dahlstrom is a vote for a safer, more prosperous Alaska.

Ann Brown serves as the immediate past chairwoman of the Alaska Republican Party. Her opinions are her own.

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