What is it about some Alaskans - while we are not too far removed from pioneer days (and certainly there are still those places around here that don't resemble suburban America), we've become the biggest whiners in the world.
Take the roads here on the Kenai Peninsula. More than a few developers here have put in subdivisions that have roads that don't meet borough, state, or federal standards. By cutting in these substandard roads, they can sell the lots on the cheap. Come break-up, the roads become quagmires of bus-swallowing mud pits.
People who buy property in these subdivisions either know what they were getting into, or are just plain dumb. It doesn't really matter as most of them start calling Sound Off and/or complain that the borough should come in and upgrade their roads for free. Oh, yeah, these are the same folks who complain that their property taxes (the lowest in the nation) are too high.
Read the ADN's article from April 22
So, the article quotes Jerry Remington who wonders why the borough doesn't fix his road - after all, he claims to pay $90 a year in highway taxes.
Dude, how much road will $90 pave?!? Ummm...maybe about a half a foot. So, what you are really asking is that the rest of us subsidize your property purchase by paying for your road to be improved? When you sell it, do we get a return on our investment?
Oh, and Jerry, are you over 65? If so, you don't pay a dime of property taxes - so what's this BS about road taxes!?!. Maybe you hang out at Chilkoot Charlie's in Anchorage where the motto is: We cheat the other guys and pass the savings on to you!
And why do those who profess to be independent and anti-government and all of that seem to have the biggest sense of entitlement?
Hey, don't you know that you're SOL in SOLdotna?
Begin with one of the most productive wild salmon rivers in the world, bring in the oil and gas industry, have almost non-existent land use ordinances, squeeze in as many strip malls, car lots and big signs as you can manage - and what do you get?
SOLdotna!
Folks call this place Slow-dotna, but that's too cliché.
SOLdotna begins with S-O-L and you know that you're Shit Outta Luck in this town.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Support our Signs!
Mayor Dave recently put the kabash on the new sign ordinance the SOLdotna city council recently passed. The bill would have tried to reduce the size and location of the Wasilla-like clutter of signs that let us all know that we are indeed SOL because we live here.
Several local businesses complained that to change their signs and make them a bit more esthetically pleasing would cost too much. And besides, who cares if SOLdotna is one of the ugliest cities in Alaska. As long as there is money to be made, why should they care what the place looks like?
Read the PC Story
Several local businesses complained that to change their signs and make them a bit more esthetically pleasing would cost too much. And besides, who cares if SOLdotna is one of the ugliest cities in Alaska. As long as there is money to be made, why should they care what the place looks like?
Read the PC Story
Sunday, April 08, 2007
A Republican in Heaven
Eternal life is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ now and forever more in heaven. Can you imagine walking and talking with the creator of all things in one of heaven’s gardens?
The quote above is from a letter that the PC published this past Friday from Don Szepanski from SOLdotna. Although it challenged the reader to imagine what heaven is like. I took it a bit further, and tried to imagine how someone from the religious right might actually react if heaven is a bit like Mr Szepanski portrays.
So – here’s a conversation with JC and a newly-dead Radical Righter (or Rich Republican).
JC: Welcome to one of heaven’s gardens. Each one is an Eden in its own right. Even the beer garden.
RR: Beer ?!? – alcohol is a sin!
JC: Only if it’s made from rice. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have any if you don’t want – free choice here. So, you’re from Alaska. I’ve named one of my gardens after your ANWR, after all it’s one of the last of my favorite creations that you humans have left untouched. Pity.
RR: Good Lord, are you a Greenie?!?
JC: We’re rather fond of our creations.
RR: But we need oil…
JC: For what? Most all of you have two perfectly good legs. If people need to go on a diet, you don’t open another candy store.
RR: But our economy?
JC: It seems that the accumulation of wealth has been a major source of evil on earth. No worries – there are no rich or poor here in heaven…
RR: …only born-again Christians.
JC: Well, actually, we are non-denominational here. You should see the look on the faces of the atheists when I welcome them…they are so pleasantly surprised. I like that.
RR: But the Bible says…
JC: It’s just one of many books and stories that people wrote in order to understand things they couldn’t figure out. I tried to set the record a bit straighter when we offered up the New Testament. Have but one God and Love your neighbor. That’s really what it is all about. Everything else – every edict and every catechism from every religion is the work of man.
RR: I’m not hearing this…
JC: Well, you do want a personal relationship, don’t you? Ah, an eternity of peace, love, equality, and natural beauty. Paradise!
The quote above is from a letter that the PC published this past Friday from Don Szepanski from SOLdotna. Although it challenged the reader to imagine what heaven is like. I took it a bit further, and tried to imagine how someone from the religious right might actually react if heaven is a bit like Mr Szepanski portrays.
So – here’s a conversation with JC and a newly-dead Radical Righter (or Rich Republican).
JC: Welcome to one of heaven’s gardens. Each one is an Eden in its own right. Even the beer garden.
RR: Beer ?!? – alcohol is a sin!
JC: Only if it’s made from rice. Don’t worry, you don’t have to have any if you don’t want – free choice here. So, you’re from Alaska. I’ve named one of my gardens after your ANWR, after all it’s one of the last of my favorite creations that you humans have left untouched. Pity.
RR: Good Lord, are you a Greenie?!?
JC: We’re rather fond of our creations.
RR: But we need oil…
JC: For what? Most all of you have two perfectly good legs. If people need to go on a diet, you don’t open another candy store.
RR: But our economy?
JC: It seems that the accumulation of wealth has been a major source of evil on earth. No worries – there are no rich or poor here in heaven…
RR: …only born-again Christians.
JC: Well, actually, we are non-denominational here. You should see the look on the faces of the atheists when I welcome them…they are so pleasantly surprised. I like that.
RR: But the Bible says…
JC: It’s just one of many books and stories that people wrote in order to understand things they couldn’t figure out. I tried to set the record a bit straighter when we offered up the New Testament. Have but one God and Love your neighbor. That’s really what it is all about. Everything else – every edict and every catechism from every religion is the work of man.
RR: I’m not hearing this…
JC: Well, you do want a personal relationship, don’t you? Ah, an eternity of peace, love, equality, and natural beauty. Paradise!