Life without the PFD

To the editor:

Have you ever wondered what life would have been like without the PFD.... for the last 38 years [1982 — 2020]?

We can probably be certain that no politicians would have gotten elected based on a promise of free money. And possibly most legislative sessions would have been completed in 90 days. And there would have been no reason why Permanent Fund earnings wouldn’t have been more than adequate to make up for losses in revenue as oil declined in both production and price....especially since an approx. 25 billion additional dollars [what has been distributed as PFDs to Alaskans over the past 38 years] would have stayed in the PF [90 billion instead of 65].

For the 30 years prior to 1980 there was an income tax on all residents and non residents.... of approx 10% of one’s federal income tax. This actually got dropped while the possibility of a PFD was being discussed. Without the PFD discussion, would an income tax have been retained?

Might the population of Alaska be less today, possibly with few folks coming here for the freebees? Might the crime rate be less today, with better state support of urban communities?

Might the homeless rate be lower, with better programs to assist bush communities develop, and assist natives adapt to their changing world?

Might Alaska no longer have the highest % of residents on government assistance in the nation?

Without there ever being a PFD, would Alaska today be stronger, more self-reliant, and better off....you have to wonder.

Jim Lieb, Palmer