Where your money goes

To the editor:

A little while back I found myself in downtown Seattle. While walking around I was dazed at the size of the buildings and could only guess at how much money was required to build, own and maintain those behemoths. Why, I even got to see one huge Wells Fargo building, and I understand that it was not the home office.

I hope all of you realize where some of your money goes.

You see, I am a cooperative man. I bank at the local Mat Valley Credit Union, where our money stays locally. We do have a behemoth of a building in Palmer, but we own it. Just like our telephone utility, Matanuska Telephone Association, or our electrical services with Matanuska Electric Association, which we own as members. The money stays here and it is our neighbors who we hire. Just ask some of those other providers the simple question of where does your money go when paying a bill. It may first go to Anchorage, but in the end you will find the answer is somewhere else, most likely Chicago (AT&T), and the owners are not really your friends and neighbors, but some stock hold in a foreign country.

There are seven principles that govern cooperatives, and it is good to often remember what they are:

• voluntary and open membership;

• democratic member control;

• members’ economic participation;

• autonomy and independence;

• education, training and information;

• cooperation among cooperatives;

• and concern for the community.

Our money stays in Alaska — now that is worth writing home about!

Which brings me to the all-Alaska pipeline and the Knik Arm bridge. Both are great projects that would cause “we” Alaskans to prosper. The nation is facing some tough economic times. Alaska has the potential to move the nation forward, but we have to be progressive.

I was saddened to see the printed piece by Andrew Halcro regarding one of our local creameries. You would think that a former legislator would have facts and truths, but shame on you Halcro. You obviously don’t do your homework or listen very well, and to think that most of this has only happened within the last eight years. It is no wonder re-writing history can be such a tragedy.

So, for all of us as we turn to a new year, make a change, think cooperatively, be positive, progressive and show leadership. That is the Alaska way!

Robert Shumaker

Palmer