By AlaskaWatchman.com

FOR SALE: Southeast Alaska, “The Inside Passage” and “The Panhandle.” Assets include tourism, parasitic bureaucracy, commercial fishing, tourism, limited mining operations, rain, woke, liberal, leftist and green politics, tourism, 30-40 beautiful days a year, miniscule timber harvests and tourism.

Current residents understand that they are incapable of sustaining their own state government and are eager to find a sympathetic buyer, who should have similar political and cultural values.

Buyer should also be aware that the leftist political assets may disappear once state government is removed as an industry upon sale. However, this will result in an even smaller population and thus will likely not be a revenue burden for the buyer, making it easy to ignore. Similar areas include downstate Illinois, upstate New York, northern Maine, Michigan and Wisconsin, western Colorado and northern California.

The current owner warns the potential buyer that this area is thoroughly locked up by unconstitutional federal control and is not likely in the near or distant future to be able to provide revenue assets other than postcard photos taken by chambers-of-commerce on sunny days.

The outcry auction will begin bidding at the bargain-basement level of $7,200,000 but the current owner will consider giving it away.

Literally, Alaska is too big for its britches. It was created unnaturally big, as might be expected by a Congress 5,000 miles away and completely unfamiliar with our dizzying array of geographical, economic, climate and cultural differences.

OK, now let’s get serious. If there is a better example of the tail wagging the dog, please show it to me. In 1974 Alaska voted to move the state capital. It has never been rescinded. However, through a citizen initiative, it was halted by the scare tactic of “cost” to the citizens, something liberals trot out only in rare circumstances that might threaten their political base. And this came at a time when the state was rolling in dough.

It wasn’t hard to convince the more conservative communities in southeastern that their entire region would become a forgotten armpit if the capital was moved. In the weeks leading up to the vote, every resident of rail belt Alaska received a hand-written and pathetic appeal written by school children throughout Juneau and other southeastern towns. On election day, the vote was further compromised by deliberate vandalism to electrical substations in the very areas where the demographics were overwhelmingly in favor of the move.

Today, any effort of moving the capital is stymied by the threat that comes from southeastern. Just about every legislator has thoughts of someday running for governor, congress or the federal senate, and knows that any noises about releasing southeast’s death-grip on Alaska’s capital will not be forgotten.

Literally, Alaska is too big for its britches. It was created unnaturally big, as might be expected by a Congress 5,000 miles away and completely unfamiliar with our dizzying array of geographical, economic, climate and cultural differences. Four time zones, dimensions that run 3,000 x 1,500 miles, age-old Native animosities, the military, trappers, miners, fishermen, loggers, wildcatters and small businesses are bound to have divergent interests.

Looking back, there were efforts to trim us down. The PYK Line might not have been such a bad idea. The Porcupine, Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers form a lateral line east to west, and would have kept the strategically important and sparsely populated northern and western portions under federal military and territorial control.

Alaska needs to trim down. The “rail-belt” or road system has little in common with southeastern and northern and western Alaska.

But here we sit after almost 65 years of a controversial and obviously second-class statehood, where square pegs are still trying to fit themselves into round holes. Are we mature enough to discuss a rearrangement without rancor and recriminations?

After all, a mechanism exists to do so, found in Article IV, Section 3 of the federal constitution: “No new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state … without the consent of the legislatures of the state concerned as well as of the Congress.”

It has been done before: Maine split off from Massachusetts in 1820, which had New Hampshire separating the two of them for years; Tennessee divorced from North Carolina, Kentucky from Virginia.

I omit West Virginia and Virginia in 1863, because their separation did not follow the constitutional guidelines, and West Virginia paid “alimony” to Virginia because of this well into the 20th century.

Even now, there is serious talk of separation in California, Illinois, Colorado and other states.

Alaska needs to trim down. The “rail-belt” or road system has little in common with southeastern and northern and western Alaska. We don’t visit each other, we can’t afford to fly in, and once anyone is within their turf, there are no roads. Southeastern lives off of the productivity of the rest of the state, and is terrified of losing it. It is perfectly fine with federal lockups and tourism, but with little timber and mining, they now bring a pittance to the table. Let them decide how and where their interests are best served. Who could object to that?

Since western and northern Alaska rely upon the distribution and transportation centers of the road system, maybe they would like to stay. The potential of revenue exists far more realistically there than in locked-up southeastern. Native corporations might be freer to develop their resources.

However, if the green propaganda machine’s fear tactics over the Pebble Mine development is any indication, perhaps not. But it would be unjust not to consult northern and western Alaska’s opinion.

We are at a crossroads on the federal and national level. New ideas need to be taken seriously. We cannot tolerate the status quo. Let the air be cleared about our future, as friends and neighbors who want to remain friends and neighbors – inside or outside of political boundaries.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

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OPINION: Perhaps it’s time to downsize Alaska’s boundaries

Bob Bird
Bob Bird ran for U.S. Senate in 1990 and 2008. He is a past president of Alaska Right to Life, a 47-year Alaska resident and a retired public school teacher. He has a passion for studying and teaching Alaska and U.S. constitutional history. He lives on the Kenai Peninsula and is currently a daily radio talk-show host for The Talk of the Kenai, on KSRM 920 AM from 3-5 pm and heard online radiokenai.com.


29 Comments

  • Mary says:

    Bob, you always have much wisdom to offer. Thanks for this bit that I have been staying for years. But, fat chance our Alaska Legislature will ever vote to free the rest of us from their little piece of paradise.

  • John says:

    Agreed! Nice to have someone bring this issue forward.

  • Tamra Nygaard says:

    Nope. Alaska is Alaska. Which part is not? What needs to happen is what was agreed upon at statehood, when the feds were supposed to turn over lands to state control. Practically the whole state is just a park for Lower 48ers to dream about. That should end. We should be allowed to make a living off our own land, by fishing, timber, mining, tourism, all that good stuff. Instead, we are held back at every point by pointless regulations. And Willow is the lawful capitol of the state. Let’s get to moving, already.

    • Lobo says:

      I agree.. The feds unconstitutionally control enormous acreages of state lands.. The Western states, especially Nevada, are more federal states than they are individual states.. The federal government needs to be removed from the controller’s seat.. The U.S. constitution is being violated big time.. But then, I ask myself: “Where will the leftist politicians go if they lose their Lordships” ?. Will they move on up here, and infect us even more so ?

      • Terry Stires says:

        Federal ownership of land is not unconstitutional. Plus I trust the feds more than dunleavy’s cabal.

    • Mag says:

      Spot on Tamra!!

  • John J Otness says:

    Boot the blood sucking Feds and lets talk…

  • Ham says:

    Lol. I’d love to see the road system try to survive without the north slope.

  • Mongo Love Candy says:

    We should follow what happened in the Donbass, secede from the Union and then immediately seek the nuclear protection of the Russian Federation.

  • DoneWithIt says:

    Mr. Bird’s solution is to acquiesce to the climate alarmists, commies, libtards, Marxist fascists, covidiots, RINO’s and incompetent gutless bureaucracy.
    No the answer is to rise up and move our state capital, challenge the Feds at every turn, mine, harvest timber, drill for oil & gas, and promote tourism.
    we either do that or roll over like a big, fat RINO and do the bidding of the hard core Leftists.
    sounds like you’ve given up Mr. Bird. sad…

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    I agree with Tamra for the most part. The Southeast is the only part of the state that I would not miss – sell Juneau to BC or whoever and we’ll build our Capitol where people can drive to it!

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    Starting today (12/13/2022) Executive Order 14067. Are you ready for a US Central Bank Digital Currency? Beginning to look more and more like China’s social credit score system each month! “https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2022/09/16/technical-possibilities-for-a-u-s-central-bank-digital-currency/”

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      First phase of US Central Bank Digital Currency target roll-out May-July 2023. “The Federal Reserve Banks have narrowed the timing of the FedNow Service launch to mid-year 2023, specifically targeting a production rollout of the service in the May to July timeframe.” Better read up and see if this is a system that you can feel comfortable participating in. Might be seeing more alternative, or parallel, systems developing!
      https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/other20220829a.htm

  • Terry Stires says:

    Bird is why the left is advancing. Nutcase. He’s a man holding a roll of toilet paper on fire.

  • Neil DeWitt says:

    Well Mr. Bird, you have a great idea their. Juneau has lost all reality with Alaska. They live in their our little world and the rest of the state has let them. It’s time they pay the Piper! Either contribute of become Canadian. The rest of the state won’t miss you!

    • Great Granny says:

      On one condition! That they MUST take Alaska’s two RINO senators and the one left congresswoman with them. They’re not doing us any good at all! In fact…they do everything AGAINST what Alaskans really want!! PLEASE…ASAP!!

  • Norman Echelon says:

    Bob Bird is so sad. Never once does he consider giving the land back to the rightful owners. Bob and his ilk, Joel and Dan and SuzyQ are like the invited guests at a pool party, who like to piss in the pool and then complain that somebody is pissing in the pool.

    • Joel Adams says:

      I think his piece does just that, it states the seller may consider just giving it away. Presumably the “rightful owners” will ask for it back at the auction.

    • Aunt Sally says:

      Who are the “rightful owners” you refer to Norm?

    • Reggie Taylor says:

      The “rightful owners” settled their claims with the United States and Alaska in 1972. They got paid. A lot.
      How could you forget?

      • Friend of Humanity says:

        Reggie Taylor, who are the rightful owners? Identify these rightful owners!

      • Reggie Taylor says:

        “Rightful owners” is YOUR term, not mine. Why don’t YOU define it for us?
        Then you can comment on the ANCSA that I mentioned which legally extinguished future and additional aboriginal claims……..but which keep coming up from people like yourself.

  • Michael Johnson says:

    This is not a bad idea. When the government no longer represents the people and becomes tyrannical, the people need to either abolish it or in this case reestablish it and cutoff the criminal syndicate that Juneau has become.

  • Chuck says:

    Lease it to Russia. Put the “capitol” on a used ferry and have them go from Ketch to Dillingham in 4 months a year….Problem solved…Thank You….

  • Reggie Taylor says:

    Never cede coastline. Never, ever.

  • Friend of Humanity says:

    Soros backed Treason – SGT Report w/Mel K https://rumble.com/v20uvlk-soros-backed-treason-mel-k.html

  • Kam says:

    Everyone wants us to
    Forget Ansca and all the grants (where is Eielson Reservation again-oh yeah! It
    Doesn’t exist). Grants to $100’s of
    Millions -with no strings attached -look up tribal self governance 15.022…..yep -they have bank accounts that would rival the King of London (not that they pass it on to the villages)…..of
    Course it’s not
    My opinion-it’s usa spending.gov and their documentation on each tribal “corporation” under 15.022 ….and other grants too-but that
    One is unfettered

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      Really? What is this about Eielson Reservation? Are you saying that there was supposed to be a native reservation in Alaska?
      Where are you getting your information about these grants? Were the grants paid out to the corporations? I have never heard of these topics and am curious to read up on this. Please cite your information.