Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions
The PFD
By
Michael Fitzgerald
July 18, 2019
Thursday PM
I agree that some of the programs affected by the Governor’s vetoes must have their funding restored. But I’m shocked by the careless disregard shown by those that support accomplishing that goal by taking $$ away from those Alaskans that can least afford it. Think about it for a moment... every $1.00 by which the PFD is reduced or (gasp!) eliminated comes out of the pocket of EVERY Alaskan - essentially a regressive tax that hits the poorest the hardest! How can ANY fair minded person really support that? How can someone that considers themselves “Progressive” support that? There are at least 2 separate issues here that need to be addressed. In my opinion, they cannot be addressed until they are separated:
1) How the payout from the PFD is calculated MAY need to be adjusted. The political truth is this will only ever be accomplished by a vote of the people. This will require a level of leadership and statesmanship heretofore not seen from the current batch of folks.
2) The State needs to balance its income with its expenses while maintaining critical services. Some cuts can certainly be made without being Draconian. Additional sources of revenue are almost certainly needed. To accomplish this, our politicians need to do their job (this is the job of the legislative branch, not the executive branch) and implement measures (fees, taxes) designed to bring in the required amount of revenue. These measures need to be progressive, i.e. require little if any contribution from those with the least and require increasingly more from those with the most. This will require a level of leadership and statesmanship heretofore not seen from the current batch of folks.
Well, now I’m repeating myself.
Michael Fitzgerald
Ketchikan, Alaska
Editor's Note:
The text of this letter was NOT edited by the SitNews Editor.
Received July 16, 2019
- Published July 18, 2019
Related Viewpoint:
Viewpoints - Opinion Letters:
Webmail
Your Opinion Letter to the Editor
E-mail your letters
& opinions to editor@sitnews.us
Your full name, city and state are required for letter publication.
Published letters become the property of SitNews.
SitNews ©2019
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|
Articles &
photographs that appear in SitNews are considered protected by copyright
and may not be reprinted without written permission from and
payment of any required fees to the proper sources.
E-mail your news &
photos to editor@sitnews.us
Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.
|
|