Originally Posted by clocker

This disconnect is hardly new, in fact, Palin's entire story about Alaskan "independence" and fiscal responsibility is sheer myth.
Alaska is one of the most heavily subsidized states in the union, receiving @ $1.84 back from the Federal government for every dollar it sends in.
Basically, without the largess of the other states, Alaska couldn't exist.

This handout, coupled with oil royalties- which Alaska didn't share with the other states but distributed to it's inhabitants- made Alaska semi-solvent for the past few decades.
Unfortunately, the oil royalties are drying up and without their yearly bonus checks, Alaskans are faced with an increasingly lopsided budget.

Probably one reason that Palin hightailed it out of her job- and the entire state she claims to love so much- whoever has to deal with Alaska's money shortfall is going to have to make some very unpopular choices that will expose the myth of the independent Alaska so beloved of conservatives.

It's always bad when the emperor is shown to have no clothes...in Alaska it's doubly bad because you'll freeze your tail off.