Parnell should think of Alaska as a whole

To the editor:

Gov. Sean Parnell wants to pour the state’s treasury into the pockets of the oil companies to entice them to ramp up production.

I am all for increased production — drill, baby, drill! But when George W. Bush poured the American treasury into the pockets of the banks on Wall Street to prevent a black president from using it on behalf of the people, the economy went straight to hell and we haven’t stopped burning yet. Is that really the right example for Parnell to emulate?

When Parnell took office he declared that he was not Sarah Palin, he would govern “his” way. Well, he’s right about that: he doesn’t measure up to Governor Palin. In an abbreviated term, she managed to take on the oil giants for Alaska’s share of the profits they pumped from our land, raised the profiles of the state of Alaska and an entire gender by running for national office and more. Were it not for ruinously, expensive-to-defend, frivolous ethics charges she could have accomplished even more.

But, unfairly, politically motivated or stupidity-inspired ethics charges had to be defended from the governor’s personal income, which at that time was not nearly what it is today. (The Legislature, on the other hand, enjoyed the luxury of ethics charges being automatically dropped if they became public.) Heck, one year Governor Palin tripled the Permanent Fund Dividend. This year under Parnell, there are grumblings it will be an all-time low.

Parnell’s focus as long as he holds office should be on Alaska, not pleasing his potential future employers. In the ongoing debate over Pebble Mine, has he insisted that should the mine actually happen, Alaskans should obtain a share of the mineral profits? It is, after all, literally Alaska that is to be dug out and stripped away.

Governor Palin thought of Alaska as a whole. Governor Parnell thinks of Alaska as a hole.

Carol Neuerman

Palmer