On behalf of myself and many Unalaska residents with whom I’ve talked over the past week, I implore the Legislature to reject the governor’s budget proposal and develop instead a forward-looking, equitable budget plan to help Alaska become a socially, environmentally and economically richer place to live. I realize that this will be difficult, given the governor’s short-sighted proposal and malnourished ideological stance. But at times like these, we must be morally driven to take the higher ground and fight for what we know is best for humanity.
By this, I mean we must invest in our children’s education — and a whole child’s education includes arts, libraries, early education, extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities. It means small class sizes and supporting the needs of our special populations so that they too can be productive members of our society. It means supporting the university system because it is not only essential to our children’s success, it is also a great economic bonus for Alaska.
By “best for humanity,” I mean that we must fund programs which reach all Alaskans, in particular those who are the most in need, rather than those who need the least. It means funding Medicaid and shelters for the homeless.
Equal opportunity doesn’t mean paying all Alaskans the same cash benefit for living here. It means providing opportunities for all members of society to live the most engaged, prosperous lives that they can — and for this, we must pay! My husband and I know that a smaller PFD is more than worth it for our children and our community’s children, and for adults in need. We know that paying a state tax is a necessary part of being a citizen in a safe, well-educated, economically prosperous society. It may not be popular, but it is simple and necessary to use part of the PFD, and to levy a state tax, to pay for our social programs.
— Amy Purevsuren
Unalaska
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