Jeez, dude. A state managing resources on or under public lands for the public benefit and ending up with huge fiscal reserves as a result does NOT make it a socialist system. An exception to the unfortunately norms of government, perhaps, but socialism, no.
Also, your assertion that Alaska has "no state taxes" is simply wrong. Alaska's corporate income tax is the highest in the nation on a per capita basis, almost twice that of New York as of 2007. In total, from corporate income taxes, various excise taxes, motor vehicle taxes, and various taxes on fishing, mining and other activities, the state collected almost $1.2 billion on FY2007. That's almost $1700 for every man, woman, and child in the state.
Alaska also, as of FY2007, ranked #1 among the states in per capita transfers from the federal government and #2 in per capita state debt, BTW.
More generally, trying to prove anything about government, or even only US state governments, with regard to fiscal and regulatory responsibility based on Alaska is patently absurd. Huge oil resources and the population of Bhutan or Comoros.
Lastly, the suggestion that Alaska stands out as being immune to corporate-political entanglements or corruption is a fantasy. |
