Comments on: Where in the World is Dennis Zaki? – Part II http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/ Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:35:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: megacephalus http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11276 megacephalus Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:05:02 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11276 "I lived in Alaska without the PFD and with the PFD, some people saved it for their children ed. etc. , but most pi$$ed it away." That's why, dare I say it, more 'enlightened' governments with unexpected oil revenues... Norway comes first to mind as it shares with AK a long coastline with thin infrastructure, a 'native' (Sami) population 'up north' etc... all the standard excuses for AK... but Norway has invested its equivalent of PFD funds not as a bunch of yahoos blowing their heritage on snowmobiles, underinsulated Macshacks, and AHHH... the latest wall-to-wall TV [not to mention an 'investment' with SWWNBN's sister-almost-in-law. Little sympathy for such a dysfunctional 'big-AK-family' from here. This is what government is for, not private bleeding heart 'charity'. QED “I lived in Alaska without the PFD and with the PFD, some people saved it for their children ed. etc. , but most pi$$ed it away.”

That’s why, dare I say it, more ‘enlightened’ governments with unexpected oil revenues… Norway comes first to mind as it shares with AK a long coastline with thin infrastructure, a ‘native’ (Sami) population ‘up north’ etc… all the standard excuses for AK… but Norway has invested its equivalent of PFD funds not as a bunch of yahoos blowing their heritage on snowmobiles, underinsulated Macshacks, and AHHH… the latest wall-to-wall TV [not to mention an ‘investment’ with SWWNBN’s sister-almost-in-law.

Little sympathy for such a dysfunctional ‘big-AK-family’ from here. This is what government is for, not private bleeding heart ‘charity’.

QED

]]> By: Irishgirl Rosebud. http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11135 Irishgirl Rosebud. Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:43:44 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11135 I can't wait for tomorrow.....Keep that in mind everyone...new day! I can’t wait for tomorrow…..Keep that in mind everyone…new day!

]]> By: Irishgirl Rosebud. http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11133 Irishgirl Rosebud. Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:41:39 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11133 @CRFlats, Thank you. @CRFlats, Thank you.

]]> By: CRFlats http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11123 CRFlats Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:57:16 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11123 Miemaw: Good recommendation for the USPS flat rate boxes. Don't know why I forgot that-we use it all the time. Ex-Alaskan: AVCP and Myron were on the teleconference with the Lt.Gov & Commissioners. Check out the new thread posted by AKM. We are getting some traction, but will have to keep up a steady pressure. Miemaw: Good recommendation for the USPS flat rate boxes. Don’t know why I forgot that-we use it all the time.

Ex-Alaskan: AVCP and Myron were on the teleconference with the Lt.Gov & Commissioners. Check out the new thread posted by AKM. We are getting some traction, but will have to keep up a steady pressure.

]]> By: exalaskaguy http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11117 exalaskaguy Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:39:34 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11117 people are asking about local coordination of these efforts. I would suggest the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP). It is the non-profit, service provider for that region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta. They provide social services and a host of other services to the native villages. they have all of the local expertise and knowledge that is available for that region. they are located in Bethel. Myron Naneng is the president. He is a native guy from one of the villages. A good guy. people are asking about local coordination of these efforts. I would suggest the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP). It is the non-profit, service provider for that region of the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta. They provide social services and a host of other services to the native villages. they have all of the local expertise and knowledge that is available for that region. they are located in Bethel. Myron Naneng is the president. He is a native guy from one of the villages. A good guy.

]]> By: former alaskan http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11108 former alaskan Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:07:14 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11108 SMR I lived in Alaska without the PFD and with the PFD, some people saved it for their children ed. etc. , but most pi$$ed it away. I totally agree with you about the energy check. and the pipeline to now-where. Just think how things could be if the PFDs and the energy money was put into infrastructure, energy and helping all of the people of Alaska all of these years, we would not be having this conversation right now about Alaskans needing fuel and food. I think it is up to Alaskans to handle the situation with their crap gov. ALL i CAN SAY IS GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE...when this is all over she will come out smelling like a rose, AGAIN, it will be everyone's fault but her's. SMR I lived in Alaska without the PFD and with the PFD, some people saved it for their children ed. etc. , but most pi$$ed it away. I totally agree with you about the energy check. and the pipeline to now-where. Just think how things could be if the PFDs and the energy money was put into infrastructure, energy and helping all of the people of Alaska all of these years, we would not be having this conversation right now about Alaskans needing fuel and food. I think it is up to Alaskans to handle the situation with their crap gov. ALL i CAN SAY IS GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE…when this is all over she will come out smelling like a rose, AGAIN, it will be everyone’s fault but her’s.

]]> By: megacephalus http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11105 megacephalus Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:05:03 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11105 if one is familiar with the costs of what one is used to in say 'the lower 48' the prices in Greenland, Nunavit (aka Northwest Territories) or anywhere else in the Arctic for the 'necessities' of life in, say, Atlanta are vastly higher due to the costs of shipping and the relatively sparse settlement patterns. And in both these cases which I am personally familiar with there is a huge government subsidy involved anyway. It is simply not a sustainable population in a 'free market' society... its hard enough in the semi-socialist examples cited. [cf. my earlier post] if one is familiar with the costs of what one is used to in say ‘the lower 48′ the prices in Greenland, Nunavit (aka Northwest Territories) or anywhere else in the Arctic for the ‘necessities’ of life in, say, Atlanta are vastly higher due to the costs of shipping and the relatively sparse settlement patterns.

And in both these cases which I am personally familiar with there is a huge government subsidy involved anyway. It is simply not a sustainable population in a ‘free market’ society… its hard enough in the semi-socialist examples cited. [cf. my earlier post]

]]> By: Miemaw in Texas http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11101 Miemaw in Texas Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:51:00 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11101 @CRFLATS: Just a suggestion. (knowing you don't have money - but maybe have people resources). Is there the possibility of something on the order of a "food bank" that could handle packages, and distribute to people who need? Flat rate U.S. Postal Service is just that. Weight doesn't matter. If it fits in the box, it ships for the flat rate of about $10. Anything non-hazardous, non-breakable, and non-flammable is what they will ship. I'm going to put some things together for the Project Director at Nunam Iqua, who posted here, and gave her address, and get it in the mail. According to her. They do get mail - albeit infrequent. You always know it isn't enough, and wish it could be more. @CRFLATS:
Just a suggestion. (knowing you don’t have money – but maybe have people resources). Is there the possibility of something on the order of a “food bank” that could handle packages, and distribute to people who need?

Flat rate U.S. Postal Service is just that. Weight doesn’t matter. If it fits in the box, it ships for the flat rate of about $10. Anything non-hazardous, non-breakable, and non-flammable is what they will ship.

I’m going to put some things together for the Project Director at Nunam Iqua, who posted here, and gave her address, and get it in the mail. According to her. They do get mail – albeit infrequent.

You always know it isn’t enough, and wish it could be more.

]]> By: SMR http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11094 SMR Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:17:33 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11094 @former alaskan -- I wasn't speaking to you or about you, actually, which is why I didn't put your name or comments in my comment. This topic has been discussed over the past several days on several threads, on other blogs, other news sites (ADN), and a common theme is that the PFD & energy money should have been sufficient to address the problems that rural citizens are facing. I think everyone here at the 'flats honors the fact that people do not always agree, the main thing is that we all hope that dissenting opinions are given respectfully & constructively, which yours were -- so really, my comment was a general response to the plethora of similar statements that seem to consider the PFD & extra $1200 to be enough to have allowed these families to get through this. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, I'm not out there, and don't have any clear idea of what the real numbers are for heat + food + other essentials. Seems to me that a single trip, for emergency or family matters or whatever, could eat up that money more or less instantaneously. I hope that Dennis Z will shed some light on this. And I hope that conversation about this on blogs such as this one will bring greater understanding, and a lot of that comes when there are opposing views and so people must be clearer about their circumstances, experiences & thoughts. I could write a long time about this, but will try to be brief here -- 1) Though I was born & raised in AK, I've just moved back, so did not get a PFD or anything else, have not for many years, and will not do so in the future because we are in the process of moving away again. 2) I have long wished that the PFD would go away and that income tax would be instated here. We were here pre-PFD and did just fine without it. There are a lot of things that I don't like about it. I was particularly against the extra $1200 this year because I believe that the money would have been better spent in investment in long-term solutions to the energy issues. Had the PFD funds been spent on these sorts of things we might not be having these discussions now, as there may have been things long since in place to address the problems. 3) I don't think there is any amount of money, whether it's received from caring people, welfare, food stamps, PFDs, etc, that addresses the real issues here as I put them above. Very basic fact that conditions are horrible, costs are high, Gov not doing anything to prevent a crisis or to address the crisis that could have been prevented to a certain extent. I like to think that we've had Gov's in the past that would have handled this situation better than the really crap one that we have now, but to be honest, rural Alaskan needs have long been at the bottom of the list for our Alaskan governors. That needs to change NOW. Long-term solutions need to be put in place, and that $1200 that was handed out to everyone could have gone a long way toward doing so. And it would have been nice if it could have happened BEFORE our Gov decided to pi$$ away $500 million on her pipeline to nowhere, while oil prices were high, and much much more... @former alaskan –

I wasn’t speaking to you or about you, actually, which is why I didn’t put your name or comments in my comment. This topic has been discussed over the past several days on several threads, on other blogs, other news sites (ADN), and a common theme is that the PFD & energy money should have been sufficient to address the problems that rural citizens are facing.

I think everyone here at the ‘flats honors the fact that people do not always agree, the main thing is that we all hope that dissenting opinions are given respectfully & constructively, which yours were — so really, my comment was a general response to the plethora of similar statements that seem to consider the PFD & extra $1200 to be enough to have allowed these families to get through this. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, I’m not out there, and don’t have any clear idea of what the real numbers are for heat + food + other essentials. Seems to me that a single trip, for emergency or family matters or whatever, could eat up that money more or less instantaneously. I hope that Dennis Z will shed some light on this. And I hope that conversation about this on blogs such as this one will bring greater understanding, and a lot of that comes when there are opposing views and so people must be clearer about their circumstances, experiences & thoughts.

I could write a long time about this, but will try to be brief here –

1) Though I was born & raised in AK, I’ve just moved back, so did not get a PFD or anything else, have not for many years, and will not do so in the future because we are in the process of moving away again.
2) I have long wished that the PFD would go away and that income tax would be instated here. We were here pre-PFD and did just fine without it. There are a lot of things that I don’t like about it. I was particularly against the extra $1200 this year because I believe that the money would have been better spent in investment in long-term solutions to the energy issues. Had the PFD funds been spent on these sorts of things we might not be having these discussions now, as there may have been things long since in place to address the problems.
3) I don’t think there is any amount of money, whether it’s received from caring people, welfare, food stamps, PFDs, etc, that addresses the real issues here as I put them above. Very basic fact that conditions are horrible, costs are high, Gov not doing anything to prevent a crisis or to address the crisis that could have been prevented to a certain extent.

I like to think that we’ve had Gov’s in the past that would have handled this situation better than the really crap one that we have now, but to be honest, rural Alaskan needs have long been at the bottom of the list for our Alaskan governors. That needs to change NOW. Long-term solutions need to be put in place, and that $1200 that was handed out to everyone could have gone a long way toward doing so. And it would have been nice if it could have happened BEFORE our Gov decided to pi$$ away $500 million on her pipeline to nowhere, while oil prices were high, and much much more…

]]> By: former alaskan http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/18/where-in-the-world-is-dennis-zaki-part-ii/#comment-11092 former alaskan Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:43:58 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1134#comment-11092 SMR- I understand your point, yes it is a bad year for the people living in the villages,its a bad yr for a lot of people in the United States and I have no problem with helping the villages out. Every adult and child in Alaska received$2069.00 pfd check and an energy check $1200.00. If they do not have a job they can receive food stamps and welfare also. That is $3269.00 each, I do not expect them to live on that alone, a family of 5 would get 16,000.00 and I did not say "everyone" was buying big screen tv's. I was at Fred Meyers and Walmart, don"t but words in my mouth. I lived in Alaska and know what its like, even people in places like Fairbanks are having trouble paying fuel and electric. I just think something needs to be done in the long run to prevent this from happening again. SMR- I understand your point, yes it is a bad year for the people living in the villages,its a bad yr for a lot of people in the United States and I have no problem with helping the villages out. Every adult and child in Alaska received$2069.00 pfd check and an energy check $1200.00. If they do not have a job they can receive food stamps and welfare also. That is $3269.00 each, I do not expect them to live on that alone, a family of 5 would get 16,000.00 and I did not say “everyone” was buying big screen tv’s. I was at Fred Meyers and Walmart, don”t but words in my mouth. I lived in Alaska and know what its like, even people in places like Fairbanks are having trouble paying fuel and electric. I just think something needs to be done in the long run to prevent this from happening again.

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