If the University Wants More Money, They’d Better Change Their Politics.
Ironically, I found myself earlier today wishing for a time machine. My wish was completely unrelated to Alaska politics, but as is so often the case, my wish seems to have arrived in a form I did not expect. This is why they say “Be careful what you wish for.”
I don’t know quite where I’ve landed in this time machine. It could be the Middle Ages, or perhaps the McCarthy Era. Then again, it may be Orwell’s 1984. I may not know where I am, but I do know who was at the helm of the time machine during the wild ride that got me, and the rest of the state of Alaska, here. Our pilot? Representative Anna Fairclough, Republican from Eagle River.
Listening to “Gavel to Gavel” can be an eye-opening experience. Usually, it’s long periods of boredom, punctuated by unexpected events that will instantly and dangerously raise the blood pressure. From what I understand, it’s kind of like being in a war zone, only it won’t kill you. Probably.
Imagine, if you will, sitting in this committee meeting, in which an elected representative is addressing Mark Hamilton, the chancellor of the University of Alaska, with some concerns she has. And bear in mind that this exchange is happening in the United States of America. And it’s happening today. You may need to remind yourself of this from time to time.
So, what’s the problem? Rep. Fairclough seems to disagree with the political views of some staff at the University of Alaska.
“If I ask university staff, the people who are educating our future leaders, if they support the Chukchi Sea development, the Red Dog Mine or the Pebble Mine or any type of industry along those lines, a stereotypical response is they are in opposition,” she said.
Could this be, perhaps, because they are educated? Go on……
“I found it amazing there was a large disconnect in where the dollars for the state of Alaska come from on a regular basis as far as production of oil on the North Slope goes, and how it is turned into revenue for the state of Alaska and in turn is invested in the university system,” she said.
So…what you’re saying is….(handing Rep. Fairclough a length of rope)
“How should I advocate more funding for an entire group that doesn’t want to see development going forward,” she said.
I’ll let that sink in with you for a minute. You may need to reread that. (…a minute later…) Yes, Fairclough is stating as a state Legislator on the powerful Finance Committee, that she can’t advocate for additional funding for the state university system if she perceives they are against particular mining and resource development projects. In other words, if we’re going to fund you, you’d better get more conservative in your political views.
And let’s say for a moment that she is right about their position. Let’s say that the staff at the University have studied…..oh…..the Pebble Mine project. And let’s say that, as scientists, who have devoted their lives and academic energy to become experts in this field, that they have come to the conclusion that this project will irreparably damage the ecosystem of Bristol Bay, the largest salmon fishery of its kind in the world. And let’s say they understand that while the mine project may benefit a few people, right now, that a sustainable fishery is infinitely more valuable to the state in the long term, and will benefit many more Alaskans than the unsustainable mine project.
What Rep. Fairclough is saying is that her opinion, that development must always be good, is the correct opinion. She bases this opinion not on science, but on politics. If she were basing it on science, she would have had to have asked scientists, and most of them come from….uh-oh, the University. And if the scientists don’t fall in lock step with her political opinion, she, as someone on the Finance committee, will withhold funding for the entire institution of higher learning. She will punish the University, where our next generation of leaders go to exercise freedom of thought, and freedom of expression as they learn the skill of critical thinking and formulate their world view.
Apparently we can save them all the trouble. Rep. Fairclough already has a worldview for them. Maybe she can print it out on index cards, and we can just staple it to the faculty employment application, and insert it into the new student packets.
Alex Simon, a professor of sociology at the University of Alaska-Southeast in Juneau, said the legislators’ comments were troubling.
“I guess they don’t understand the nature of universities,” he said.
Universities generally strive to present all viewpoints, and ask unpopular questions that can’t be asked elsewhere.
“It sounds like maybe we need to do a better job of educating the public on the role of the academy in society,” he said.
Wondering to myself exactly how it is that we have an elected member of the legislature that could possibly hold the idea, that it’s alright to withhold money from a state university until its political views become more conservative, I checked out Ms. Fairclough’s bio. I wanted to know what University I needed to be writing, and encouraging those I know not to send their children. What institution of higher learning; what seat of academia could have committed such an epic fail by letting one of its own out into the world with such a basic misunderstanding of the role of academia in society? All I saw was:
“Anna is a graduate of the Anchorage Public School District and has been a resident of Alaska for 46 years.”
So, the answer is, I don’t know. All I can say is that if Ms. Fairclough is not a college graduate, I won’t hold it against her. Some of my favorite elected representatives have no college degree. But she has done a very nice job of telling us exactly what she thinks her role is, as a legislator and a member of the Finance Committee. And THAT, I can hold against her. Alaskans, particularly those in Ms. Fairclough’s district, should be both alarmed, and outraged.
Rep. Kelly [(R) from Fairbanks] said that some in the Legislature were opposed to the university.
“There’s somewhat of an anti-university bias somehow in the walls here. I’ll call it what it is; I’ve been here long enough to figure it out,” he said.
If it’s “in the walls” then we need a good fumigator. And if its in the legislators, we need to know exactly who they are and work with all our might to get them out. Fast.
And now, I’d like to go home to 2009. Who’s driving?
Ahh Time Machine. Groundhog Day has passed, or is it still Groundhog day?
Is Mayor Bloomberg still getting his fingers nipped by the Staten Island ‘Chuck’ ?
Is “I got you babe” the first song on the clock radio?
Time travel is so Paradoxical…
Yikes. what is wrong with those people? it’s the damned oil.
Maybe she’s caught up in “Lost”.
It’s the ol’ trickle-down attitude from the gov. It’s a fluid, poisonous substrate and, like the tectonic plates, occasionally what you thought was solid ground will crack, releasing the contaminant in ever-widening circles.
The only surprise is that we can continue to be surprised by this crud.
Gee AKM…I thought you were driving this magic time traveling bus!
Holding academic institutions hostage until they see eye to eye with their legislators conservative views in order to receive funding…am I reading this correctly?
Pay to play takes on a whole new dimension….
This really started my day off badly to read in the Juneau Empire. I’ve decided the the Republican party must be full of really poor losers and they are living on another planet across the universe somewhere. I can’t understand a thing they say, believe in, or want. Bottom line…they are getting extremely whiny. This is a HUGE generalization but I’m in a bad enough mood over this that I’m just sticking to my blanket statement for now – they’re all NUTS. And yes, I’ll write a letter even though it’s useless.
Universities have usually had a somewhat left leaning tendency- because, as you succinctly point out, the people there THINK.. but politics and religion should be OUT of public schools.. (except the comparative religion class-lol)
She sounds like the Bushies when they made DOJ and State employees be selected based on party affiliation.. if they press this- there will be a brain drain out of AK to the lower 48… it is so incredibly narrow minded and frought with calcified thinking. Keep up the good fight AKM…
Its this kind of convoluted thinking that keeps SP in office. And we know where SP is going to be next week, right. All together now, big shout out for “IRONDOG”. She’s the designated duct tape warmer. Why does UAA have to put up with this shit. Boy I’m glad my degrees came from the Michigan Education system.
Martha I respectfully disagree that letter writing is useless. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I think we have been silent for too long.. and we need to speak out. With respect and sometimes humor, but definitely speak out.
They do not speak for you. This policy is dangerous and must be decried.
Good for you! And never lose heart. At least you can live with yourself that you did not go quietly… and it just might make a difference.
Geez, my post just got caught up in the warp machine?
People have been complaining for years that colleges are too liberal (eg think about actions and consequences, learn historical and scientific answers to come to a final and educated conclusion). This is an old song and dance but if their academic funds are put in jepordy I think they will surely have a battle to fight. Cut funding because they don’t agree with the admin. I am not sure if that’s a dictatorship or bribery or what you call it. Academic Jim Crow law maybe?
NoCalGal (15:33:00) :
Martha I respectfully disagree that letter writing is useless. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I think we have been silent for too long.. and we need to speak out. With respect and sometimes humor, but definitely speak out.
They do not speak for you. This policy is dangerous and must be decried.
Good for you! And never lose heart. At least you can live with yourself that you did not go quietly… and it just might make a difference.
_______________
Cried from the rooftops!!!!!!!!!
What will they do if they are not stopped? Will they be selecting the textbooks and blacking out what they disagree with? Banning library books that don’t promote animal extinction? Scary stuff. Is Palin behind this? It sure sounds like her…
Rep Ramras speaking on KUDO right now!
The thought police strike again……..maybe someone at the Fed. level needs to make Ann aware that they will/ won’t hold back funds for AK. just because of her bass-ackwards thinking……a “tune-up” if you know what I mean.
“There’s somewhat of an anti-university bias somehow in the walls here.”
Seems like Palins admin is even opposed to a HS education. What are they trying to do create a Lord of the Rings state where the people are monsters bidding to Exxons will?
Anna F. is my rep, so you can be sure that I’ll write to her about this. However, she is most definately NOT a Palinbot, so accusing her of being sucked in by Palin-thought is not on-target. Nor do I think this is about her education, or lack thereof (I have no idea what her formal education is).
I definately do not agree with every position that Ms. F takes in the legislature, but she is definately more moderate than most, abiding somewhere in the middle in terms of partisanship.
Mainly I think this is indicative of the mindset that exists in this state (and country) that you are either for energy or against them. There is not representation for those in the middle who would like to see energy developed responsibly. This problem is pervasive within our state, as well as the majority of the U.S., a position that is exacerbated by the partisanship that developed during the years of wandering the W desert.
Ms. F’s comments were misguided, but hardly worthy of note in this state. We have much much bigger fish to fry. I think the majority of the legislators probably thought that her comment was ridiculous, and having made that comment, the state could quite easily be challenged, perhaps even legally, should funds toward the universities slow to a trickle. We have all learned that oil dollars will continue to flow to our government regardless of the hostility of the sitting governor. This is a state of huge political peaks & valleys. The fact that Alaskan students seek higher education outside of Alaska and never come back has been moaned about for years. There is so much ammo to shoot Ms. F’s statements down that it could fill thousands of pages…
Gonthoertmhoethoreh,r.chometrtot!
Sorry, but my brain froze after reading the nonsense of Sen. Fairclough.
She needs a time-out with the rest of the Republicans, state-wide and nation-wide. I am beyond disgusted with them all.
I dunno what to say, I am just mystified at the workings of Alaska government. You know when you hear something, you just kind of get that look on your face and the words just don’t come out, yup that’s me. Unbelievable
If what you say is true, SMR, (that she is more moderate than some), then I find what she says even more troublesome. I think you are right about the broader perspective, though. It’s allllll about the development, baby.
@empish (15:47:25) :
And what is Rep. Ramras saying? Is he actually disagreeing with his colleague? He ought to be, since the Univ. is a MAJOR employer in his hometown…
I just had to share this. Our state is cutting 26,000 state jobs but education support is being increase 8.8%. Rendell said:\
“However, we recognize that the long-term growth of our economy is tied to the success of our students, and that our state institutions of higher learning are among Pennsylvania’s largest employers. Therefore, the FY2009-2010 budget holds these schools to the same levels of funding that they currently receive. I am also proposing that we increase funds for our community colleges, which serve as the training ground for Pennsylvanians seeking new skills to help them re-enter the job market.”
Our Gov is not perfect, but by God he at least understands the importance of education!
Jay Ramras “This is a black eye for the governor and the state of Alaska.” They ate a lot better at the Alfalfa than the people of yukon delta” He’s mentioned the Alfalfa dinner 3 times already ( in 5 minutes). He painted a very bad picture of our MIA Governor and her neglect of state issues, with her focus on the horizon, elite dinners and Texas elections.
And this from a conservative republican rep! Perhaps the legislature has at last had enough. Jay has organized a food drive and delivering tons of food to the affected area, and more on the way.
Keep those emails going folks!
Thank you empish for the info
InJuneau:
He never mentioned the University at all. It was a very short interview, focused soley on the food drive and err, Nailin Palin!
empish – the only reason our Gov. needs or wants SP down here is to get the womens vote away from KBH. Sarah needs to keep her ass up there and do her job.
@empish (15:58:47) :
Wow, I think AKM was right a few days ago. I believe the venerable JayBird has finally grown a spine and figured out how to use it!
Off Topic, Mea Culpa. I was reading the board when he called in, couldn’t help myself.
OT, perhaps, empish, but it’s good to know. Did he say anything about the University discussion?
@ SMR
i agree that she is more moderate, which is why I was in a bad mood when I read her comment. She was one of the few legislators that has answered my email, and she is seems very dedicated to ethics in government which I truly appreciate! Maybe she was having a bad day – but this energy thing up here is just getting ridiculous. I thought Gov. Tony Knowles as governor was very supportive (even though I don’t agree with him in opening ANWR) of balanced extraction and environmental protection. Hard times were his when it came to the budget at the time, and he proved his worth by looking at many of the paths that could be taken by the state. But the black and white of things is getting to me! Thank you jerk face Bush for your “Yer either with’n us, or again’ us!” It appears that a lot of Republicans actually listened to, and believed that drivel.
Ramras, a Republican rep. is organizing a food drive? and he is ripping SP a new one? This is GOOD, this is JUICY!
Wow! All over the area where I lived my first and fourth (final) year when I was in college, there were signs that said “question authority.” That Ms. Fairclough is some authority! Maybe she she’s blind and doesn’t want to see. Let’s not let facts get in the way of ripping off other people and making tons of money from natural resources! Even if it is going to kill us….
In California we consider prisons to be much more important than higher education. We drop steadily each year in the quality and funding of our universities. It’s a national crisis. The anti-university idiots just use different forms of blackmail and ignorance to fuel their arguments for further funding cuts. But of course at our local university we increased the number of administrators and they redecorated their offices, while teachers and support staff were laid off. That’s why I have completely bailed on higher education (I was a community college instructor).
Hmmm. Anna and Sarah. Quite a pair.
Wow! For a long time, I’ve realized that not everyone wants or needs to go to college. But education should not stop the minute a person walks out of high school for the last time. Education is life-long, be it formal or informal.
It’s disturbing to try to talk to someone who takes the approach that if you don’t agree with me then you are wrong. But it’s downright scary when that sort of mind set controls higher education funding. I wonder, has she taken the same approach with high schools? It’s a bit easier to squash dissenting points of view in a public high school, but the goal of education should remain the same. And that is to educate, to stimulate the students to look at all sides of a question or issue, because in questioning they might just find a new solution to our problems.
I graduated from the University of Kansas in 1971, which was an educational time to be at any university. There were marches and demonstrations, and we had more than our fair share of bombings and fires (someone set fire to the Student Union and that case was never solved). The state Board of Regents wasn’t at all happy with us, as we allowed speakers on both sides of the Viet Nam war to have their say, and as a student body we worked together with the faculty and administration to get accurate information out to everyone on campus. I think there were the same kinds of threats – that they would just shut down the university if we didn’t falll in line. Well, we didn’t and they weren’t allowed to punish us for keeping the floor open for all ideas. (If they had really taken a good look at what was happening they would have figured out that the violent acts weren’t from the students, but from outside agitators, who were obviously not from our university.)
I hope that the University of Alaska will take a strong stand against this kind of interference and call it what it is – blackmail. Time to go public with this information as it affects any university. If they are allowed to get away with that sort of control, it won’t be long before some legislator in some other state tries the same thing.
Pat
And here SP is, complaining about Rep. Ramras’s actions and words: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1628
InJuneau:…………..I read that press release and yup there goes that stupid look on my face again. So she says the government is helping by helping only one village, is that what she said? I am so confused…
The state page news list is really looking rather ridiculous. Its Everyone Elses Fault! Those bloggers, those Hollywood scam artists, Those PESKY LEGISLATORS! What next? Irondog photo’s?
Ramras in response to Palin “I am saddened by the vaccum of leadership by the governor in not making state transportation available in the food drive.” and much much more, tune in to KUDO. CC’s on a roll! Jay’s firing back at Palin already!
@Tewise (16:36:17) :
It would appear that so far they’ve used a Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) plane to fly food into Kotlik, but it doesn’t appear that they’ve used it to fly anything anywhere else yet (except the state workers who went to a village/villages to “have meetings” that they only announced to the villages shortly before they arrived and showed up late for and didn’t follow village protocol…). She says that DPS is planning to ship out more food in the future.
@empish (16:42:35) :
True all that! And good for Jay! I’d tune in, but I can’t get it on this computer and it doesn’t come across the airwaves all the way to here.
Thank you Injuneau was just checking I had read that right. I can’t get that KUDO either is it a radio station?
Well.
Thanks, SMR, for your comments re: Anna F. I’ve so enjoyed learning about Alaska. Today, my library called to tell me that my reserved copy of Bush Rat Governor was in. So, I’ll trust that Anna’s not the idiot she’s portraying in this instance.
Re: Sarah’s rebuttal to Rep. Ramras……what can I say? Anonymous bloggers (standing ovation – bouquet for you AKM) in their pajamas got people on the ground to find out and help rural villages. Thank you so much, Anne Strongheart and Dennis Zaki, our eyes and ears.
So, Sarah, where are YOUR people on the ground. Sadly, I don’t think you have any.
http://www.kudo1080.com/Article.asp?id=881593
This is not surprising at all, especially with UAS, I did attend there and found it to be “limiting” I would be surprised if this occurs at UAS, but by then-better to go out of state. It felt like the gov had a lot of control.
empish
Ramras in response to Palin “I am saddened by the vaccum of leadership by the governor in not making state transportation available in the food drive.”
————–
Vacuum – perfect
1: emptiness of space2 a: a space absolutely devoid of matter b: a space partially exhausted (as to the highest degree possible) by artificial means (as an air pump) c: a degree of rarefaction below atmospheric pressure3 a: a state or condition resembling a vacuum : void b: a state of isolation from outside influences
Hopefully, before 2012, that winking photo of Sarah will be attached to this definition. Bless her heart.
Thank you so much empish I can get it…..
Pat, Washington state (16:29:55) :
Well said, fellow Jayhawk!
Colorado has had some of the same brain-numbing nonsense out of some Republican conservatives, in regards to our flagship university, but most value diverse thinking. They tried to start a Chair/Department of Conservative Thought, but never got enough donated monies (lol)
Why is every action that Palin perceives as against her “incomplete and misleading”? Yet she never completely and accurately details what the state has done. Did they fly one flight? Two? Same old, same old- just like her response to criticism of aerial killing of wolves: no research, evidence that what they are doing is ecologically sound. (sound of banging head on desk)
“How should I advocate more funding for an entire group that doesn’t want to see development going forward,” she said”
Whether she’s moderate in other issues or not, this statement is a threat, pure and simple.
Since she is in a position of governmental power, it’s not only a threat but lousy with intimidation.
Sorry but I find this statement disgusting and dangerous.
Here in Nevada, our rep. gov. hates libruls. The only 3 counties in the state that actually voted blue this year were Washoe (Reno) Clark (Las Vegas) and Carson City (state capitol). Our universities are located in Reno and Vegas. Gov. Gibbons is attempting to ramrod through a 47% cut to higher education.
What a coinkidink!
OT…i’m reposting this from prior thread so that martha can see:
@marthaunalaska
here is a front page story in the la times today about Unalaska…
gotta love it !
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dutch-harbor5-2009feb05,0,7377007.story
Ok, bringing out the motion sickness pills, head spinning around backwards, eyes bugging out….she, she said, she said what????? Eye’s crossed, slow deep breathing, one… breath in, slowly breath out…breath in, slowly breath out…two fingers on pulse point….slowly, slowly….breath.
Ok, why didn’t I see this coming,….naturally it was our fault, we didn’t ask, we didn’t inform, we didn’t …….whewwwww…..kiss her pretty little a$$, she would have been there, she would have if only she had known, but bless her little ice for heart…she was so busy, working of AK, you betcha….
This past Fall, the university’s lobbyist, Pete Kelly, announced at the Board of Regents meeting that the university should encourage faculty to work on research projects that benefit private industry. Solving social problems like water poverty in the villages? Nope, not profitable. Researching the causes of global climate change? Who’s gonna make money on THAT? Working against fetal alcohol syndrome? No money in it. Researching racism? No profits. What Pete Kelly had in mind was faculty working their fingers to the bone inventing new products that they would then give to local industry moguls who would then make lots of money.
Keep this in mind, Dearest Mudfolk, Pete Kelly is the brother of Rep. Mike Kelly. Pete used to be our legislator, until we unelected him. Then the university hired him to be the lobbyist. The whole idea that there is a paid political lobbyist for the university creeps me out, but there you have it.
Working her fingers to the bone, for AK….yep that our gal, SP….
Shame, shame, shame on you bloggers…., volunteers, MNM….you just never get it right….that’s because you’re to educated, to liberal, to busy doing stuff, to see what’s good for ya,
SMR was correct in stating Fairclough was not a fan of Palin. Received an e-mail awhile back from her and that was the feeling she conveyed to me, also.
Sorry, to go off like that, I was already pushing the edge reading about Ms Ann, then when I read SP latest comments linked above….I went way, way over the brink…. this to shall pass, this to shall pass…
Coming back from the twilight zone….slowly….slowly…resurf, yes we can!
This disturbs me on many levels.
My son is a student at UCONN and his enrollment at a higher learning institute means a lot. Isn’t that what all us parents want for our kids?
We pay taxes like CRAZY in the state of CT, yet our Govenor actually went on TV yesterday and spelled out the cuts. It isn’t good, but our Gov is respected because she tells it like it is.
OT – This may have been on another thread. Larry King’s guest tomorrow night will be Ashley Judd speaking on her video and Sarah Palin.
Martha Unalaska Yard SignNo Gravatar (15:26:21) :
This really started my day off badly to read in the Juneau Empire. I’ve decided the the Republican party must be full of really poor losers and they are living on another planet across the universe somewhere. I can’t understand a thing they say, etc.
======
Sorry to say, I totally agree with you. Though it may be slightly exaggerated, maybe it isn’t…..I am discovering friends and acquaintances on that planet across the universe, finding that I can not speak to them any more…… Very disturbing. Thanks for your contributions to the discussions.
@el from Saskatchewan
Thanks for the heads up! Oh boy, I would love to see Ashley Judd and Palin go toe-to-toe!
And the very strangest part of that Alternate universe is that folks over there are taken SP, “the great white hope” serious. KO tonight, made it official, she’s now the self proclaimed leader of the GOP. Sorry, Rush…you are no longer #1.
WTF?? SP had to read about Ramrus statement??? Read???! Read??!! {Laughing and shaking my head in total disbelief}. Come now Sarah, what have read??? Absolutely nothing!!!!! One of your bootlickers spotted it and told you about it. You read??? ha-ha-ha-ha-ha. Youre killing me Sarah!! You read??? Im done. Ha-ha-ha-ha, whew!!
ah.. the old “bash education” scam… when did being educated become a bad thing??? oh.. when diabolical leaders considered that an ignorant populace is easier to CONTROL.. throw in over medicating and it is a perfect storm..
so my fellow squeaky wheels.. lets keep squeaking…
I love you guys.
oh.. and really.. Ashley Judd is way “hotter” than SP…lol
There is a poll in ktuu, channel 2, website about aerial wolf hunting. Here is the link:
http://www.ktuu.com/
Unbelievable. It is a wonder that our universities are able to attract any sort of competent professors–but we do have them. I am currently listening to a KSKA program re: one of these professors, a world renowned hydrologist who was recorded while speaking to a water conference in Anchorage today. What I gather from her speech is that she most likely does not support projects such as Pebble mine. She is probably one of these professors that Ms. Fairclough objects to. Ms. Fairclough’s ignorance and partisanship is depressing- because we all lose, we are all diminished by this narrowminded thinking. I hate to say it, but thank goodness my kids arenot being educated in this state’s university system and are studying abroad.
I wonder if the KTUU poll has already been infiltrated by the palinbots? If not yet, then it soon will be.
I find it interesting (not necessarily in a good way) that Ms. F’s statements could be construed as threatening, and there were other negative opinions re: the universities expressed by Republicans (no surprise there), instead of a constructive dialogue about how to bridge the gap that currently exists between production and responsible (environmentally) production. Having worked for the oil companies for years, I can tell you that there is a lot done to be environmentally responsible, the industry has grown much in that respect. It is far from perfect (as is everyone/everything), very much a work in progress. The mining industry… don’t even get me started on that! They fly under the radar in so many respects.
Anyway, education is the future of the U.S., and the world. The world cannot prosper & survive without an educated citizenry. I’m not limiting that to higher education, but really, are these people going to advocate against reading & writing next? There must be a balance achieved, and it is the future generations who will find it through education & employment. Ms. F struck entirely the wrong chord with her statements, approaching the problem from the wrong angle/perspective.
However, one must understand two things: 1) That is the atmosphere here in AK. Our governor has been quite vocal about going after big oil. Some of the legislators are licking her boots and following her drum beat. Both Rep Hawker & Rep Fairclough are not Palin supporters, and I think that they are sending out a message to the voters & the oil companies that they do not support the positions that Palin has held in re: the oil companies. 2) The past 8 years have mired us in a “you’re with us or against us” mentality in regard to oil companies and political parties.
Ohmy- My ma used to say ” Alaskans think they are immune from making the mistakes people Outside do…”
This STATEWIDE mindset that development -for- development’s- sake is good has played out poorly all over Outside. Why are we getting ourselves stuck in it?
SMR- I know Ms Fairclough is a decent person but this foolishness is part of what is hurting us all over the state on almost too many levels to sort out.
The attitude here may have been expressed verbally by Ms Fairclough but it permeates more than the walls of the Legs…
Universities are NOT apprentice programs for local businesses. Somebody help me yell that loud enough we shake this dumb idea out of the tree where we can finish it off??
@SMR (20:16:52) :
Thank you for providing more context.
The poll is at 59% for aerial shooting, and 41% against. Aargh. I’d love to see the studies Palin says the state has proving the shooting is sound policy. Scientific? Probably not.
University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and Colorado School of Mines are all involved in partnerships with national research labs and businesses to create/develop alternative energy methods and products. Xcel Energy is fitting a section of Boulder to create the first smart energy grid project. Under a voter mandate passed several years ago, Xcel Energy produces 14% of the power used in the state through wind turbines. These types of endeavors create new jobs as well as attract new businesses.
And Colorado is not the only state moving in this direction- too bad some legislators and a certain governor in Alaska are short-sighted.
RANT WARNING! OFF-SUBJECT RANT, YET!
Scary, but not the scariest thing I’ve heard today. Just found out from my little sister that my brother in law–a career teacher up until this year universally loved by both students and staff, a man who made geologic history come alive by sealing his classroom carpet and walls–then filling his classroom with dirt and burying various types of archeological items there–just lost his job.
The reason given was “personality conflicts.” The “conflict” in question? He had required that his sixth-grade students write their names and section numbers on their papers. They didn’t lose points if they didn’t, but it was worth extra credit if they did.
The board chairman felt it was “unfair” to expect HIS son to write his frigging name and section number on his paper. He found an ally in a wealthy donor’s wife, who felt that a quiz given to a noisy class (she said HER son hadn’t been noisy) was “unfair.”
Sound bizarre? It is–but here’s the thing. This is a church-run school–one that forbids its teachers to unionize. The teachers the board chairman and the donor’s wife had target–all the middle school teachers–were even forbidden to respond publicly when the woman circulated a letter throughout the community, making false allegations.
The real kicker is that the church in question makes it a policy that “you can’t sue the church.” If you do, you lose your church membership. Since this particular wingnut organization maintains that without attendance at their church you can’t get to heaven, such a step becomes all but inconceivable. Fundamentalism at its best.
Just a little while ago we heard about how legislators had used the auto industry bailout as an opportunity to bust the workers’ unions. Nobody’s really followed up on that. Tonight, the full implications of that are really hitting home in my house. A good teacher has lost his job. My sister has already lost her job. They have two children in college (church-run colleges; the children’s tuition was paid as a job benefit. Now my sister and her husband–both jobless–have to try to figure out a way to get the money for college, and get it fast). They don’t have money for an attorney; they might lose their house. Because the educational system for this particular church is a small, closed system they stand a very real chance of being blackballed from further employment. And they have no recourse. They don’t even really have a good way to respond without losing their friends, their social network, and their dignity.
I’m so mad, and I’m maddest of all because since this is a church-run school the teachers don’t have the same protections under the law that public school teachers do. Abuse is rampant in the system, and nobody says a damned word because it’s “the church,” and “you can’t sue the church,” and because the structures of religious fundamentalism create not only a group of bigots and ingnoramuses, but it also creates a group of victims–the people who submit to the abuse because “it’s God’s will,” or because “We don’t always know the reason,” and because “we turn the other cheek,” and because we “bless those who curse us and pray for those who say all manner of things against us falsely.” Fundamentalism isn’t about holiness; it’s about ensuring that the sheep stay cowed, compliant, and productive–gotta keep those tithes and offerings rolling in!
Sorry–I know this is off-subject, and I’m not even an Alaskan, but I’ve come to think of you guys as my friends, and I have to call my sister in a little bit and be supportive and caring and yet not step over the line and tell her that this is wrong and infuriating and maybe the best thing that ever happened to her if it can get them off the train to crazy before it crashes.
Thanks for listening–and now back to our regularly scheduled programming…
I guess the food they flew in to the villages was the box lunches served on the delegations plane trip.
If you fail to learn from the mistakes of others,you will only repeat them.Educated,responsible people can learn from the past,such as my state,Louisiana .We had an oil based economy right up until the bottom fewll out in the early 90′s,oil based taxes supported state government,oil based jobs were the economy.The bottom dropped out,oil was no longer king,things fell apart.The unemployment fund actually went bankrupt,and still has not recovered to this day.Doesnt matter if you were making 100 K a year,max unemployment is $260 per week.The state then decided to use casino gambling to bolster the economy,and casino taxes to pay the bills.Well,those taxes reduced casino investment and jobs in the state.Now everyone is struggling and we have a good gov,Bobby Jindahl,making an effort to diversify and increase investment from all industries.Believe me he is head and shoulders above Palin,she wouldnt even be a good aide for him,let alone a running mate in 2012 or 2016 .I am an ex-republican who switched to Dem because of Palin,and am so happy that I left behind the loony party.Now Rep’s are even admitting that they are taking a page from the Al Quida playbook,creating division and chaos and truly making an effort to bring down Pres Obama and Democrats,so they can try to influence 2010 elections .They should be investigated as a terrorist group,bent on economic terror,to create chaos and confusion.I bet their meetings are chock full of sedition and conspiracy.
@Bodie P (20:49:58) :
I am so sorry for your brother-in-law and sister. You’re right: that is so unfair, but private/church-run schools are outside the public rules governing education, except in the case of sexual abuse.
Do they have teacher licenses, so they might be able to get jobs in the public sector, even if it’s just subbing? I wish them good luck, and send warm hugs to all of you.
@AlaskaPi –
I’m definately not going to say that Ms. F is or isn’t a good person. In fact, if you do a web search on her you will find some very interesting things that will cause you to wonder. She has had her own ethics challenges, as a matter of fact. She is, however, light years beyond our local dinosaur, Sen Dyson, and I give someone a lot of credit for being quite vocal about disagreeing w/our Gov. I’ve only received positive responses from her, but that’s just because she’s not a Gov supporter. I am a long way from putting her under the heading of one of the good guys simply because she shares that single position with me. That would be tantamount to putting someone under the good/evil heading because of one single issue such as abortion, oil, taxes, etc. I’m looking for multiple issues, the greater good.
Some people would argue that institutes of higher learning are, in fact, factories for the production of industry workers. Which industry is, of course, dependent upon which degree you earn. Some advocate higher education for the expansion upon education, enlarging/enriching the mind. I guess that my opinion is that it is somewhere in the middle. My eldest will start college in the fall, and I hope that she learns a lot AND becomes a productive (economically/financially) member of society, with a job, not needing to stay at home w/us for the rest of her life… She can get a degree and decide to be a barista — wouldn’t matter to me as long as she can support herself (roommates if she needs them, as long as I’m not one of them!), and has benefitted from the experience mentally & emotionally.
I honestly think that Ms. F’s statements were a very ill-advised attempt on her part to telegraph to the powers that be (the oil industry!) that she is not in the Palin camp, does not support going after the oil industry. We, as a state and as a country (heck, the whole world), have a long long way to go to find the right balance in meeting energy needs and environmental needs. She did not approach this in a way that I find palatable, but perhaps she’ll enlarge upon it, be forced to enlarge upon it, and we will find that she is not quite as insane & backward as this would initially lead one to believe.
@fawnskin mudpuppy
OT
Thank you for the total belly laugh and the memories of living in Seward that resurfaced when I read your link about the Dutch Harbor police blotter. I have a feeling that many small towns in AK have quite interesting police blotters, if only there is a sane and zany person to record it all for posterity. I used to laugh so hard at the Seward paper’s blotter, too (pop around 2000) but I never figured out who was writing it. Maybe they are now in our ranks of anonymous bloggers.
I’m not laughing at the crime – after living in Kodiak for a summer years ago, I realized that it can be a very scary place if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time (murders were common – too much money and too much drinking just like Dutch). But you gotta have a sense of humor to live in a small town in AK, probably small towns everywhere. People are more independent, and a lot less civilized over all! If you run your chainsaw at 2am you are likely to have someone in your yard, possibly naked, waving a gun and telling you to shut up or else they are gonna shoot up your outhouse! That’s a good neighbor. A bad one would threaten to shoot something else.
@ Bodie P
That’s disgraceful! Both of my parents were educators, and good ones. Since we lived in small towns, sometimes even tiny-barely-a-town sized town, they put up with a lot of suspicion, and prejudice toward their progressive and interesting teaching methods. We were called “commies” and they included the kids, us, like we knew what a commie was! Somehow, my parents took it in stride and just kept doing what they did best. I would KILL for a teacher like the one you described – what fun!!!!!!!!!!!! Even though my parents were cool teachers, they weren’t so cool to us because… well… they were our parents and you couldn’t get away with anything dammit.
@BodieP –
Is it too much to hope that they will find a new church, that they can be eased into the possibility that there is a church who will advocate inclusion & love as their tenets?
Thanks for the support, guys. Yes, he’s licensed–has a master’s degree in education, and is, as I said, a crackerjack teacher and coach. It’s sad that so often education is viewed with suspicion, and the fruits of education (real, live, rational thinking) derided. I am a staunch supporter of the value of common sense–I got through college and grad school by working on a ranch and by driving trucks for custom harvesting. There is much to be said for native wit. But no matter how sharp, there are some things that native wit just won’t tell you. Understanding that isn’t always easy. people like my brother-in-law make it easier; hundreds of children think a little clearer and ask better questions for having been in his classroom. But then I read of people like your legislator, who just can’t understand the value of an inquiring mind, and a system where hard questions are asked and real answers rigorously sought, and I realize that what is happening in my own little sphere is just a microcosm of what’s happening everywhere.
I’ve become increasingly concerned at the escalating level of irrationality and reactionary thinking among not just the lunatic fringe of the Republican party, but even the so-called “moderates.” It’s like reason has gone on holiday. Tonight I watched a report of a Republican legislator advocating an “insurgency,” and opining that maybe the Taliban had the right idea, and then I thought about the violent responses to admittedly incendiary campaign rhetoric, and I find myself wondering where we’re headed.
A large number of our leaders seem to be losing their respect for reasoned, rational behavior. Far too many of our statesmen have been abducted by aliens, and evil, bratty Pod People have been left in their place.
Sorry, bad night here–I’m paranoid.
@ Brodie
“Far too many of our statesmen have been abducted by aliens, and evil, bratty Pod People have been left in their place”
If you read my earlier post, I stated the same thing but not nearly as eloquently as you did with Pod People. I don’t know what’s going on either – I didn’t expect everything to be OK right away with a new President – but I agree that the R’s have been doing nothing but showing mean spirits and petty minds. I’m having a very hard time keeping perspective – I’d rather just slap them all upside the head and wash their mouths out with soap. That’s just for starters!
@SMR (21:02:11) :
I appreciated the broader context of your post just previous to my last one- I read rapidly but type so slowly the world goes by before I catch up. (You’d popped in again while I was slaving away responding/questioning 15:50 post…)
Nope- didn’t think you held Ms Fairclough up as a good-guy, merely a decent person and medium moderate. If her remarks are in the context of telegraphing to oil industry they become more awkward at some level but less reprehensible at another.
At the same time I feel strongly that unversities are not apprentice programs for businesses , they are certainly part of the process of preparing for certain kinds of work.
I wished for my son what you wish for your eldest- about university. Got all my wishes and more. It was almost as exciting to see him take off as an adult as it was to see his first baby steps…
We asked for change… we must see it through — and for that we will be stronger and better humans than we were before.
New thread alert
Martha Unalaska-
School Board allowed angry parents to burn dad in effigy at a board meeting because he fired a teacher who slapped and humiliated her 2nd grade students AND poor old personally conservative/educationally progressive dad refused to remove a National Geographic from high school library which had pic of women from Africa without shirts on. 1967 or1968… This was a public school .
Brodie- I’m sorry this is touching your family but it is not new. We need to stomp on it but it’s not new. Best wishes to your family.
@Bodie P
“because the structures of religious fundamentalism create not only a group of bigots and ingnoramuses, but it also creates a group of victims”…
“Fundamentalism isn’t about holiness; it’s about ensuring that the sheep stay cowed, compliant, and productive–gotta keep those tithes and offerings rolling in!”
First off, I’m so sorry that your sister & brother-in-law lost their jobs in that way. It’s just not fair. You described this so well. This is craziness…the people that believe this exact way have slithered into our political representation to rule and control…they don’t belong here!
perfect example: Palin
And Bodie P- I’m sorry I called you Brodie. Best wishes to your sis and her husband.
Oops, me, too!
If anybody wants to understand the religious right, authoritarian mindset, read John Dean’s books. He uses a social scientist research to describe this very rigid ideals that I think, has made the republican party so successful in the past.
One of the major tenants is attack education. Education sets people free, because it allows you to open your mind and ask questions.
The authoritarian regime wants to control by lack knowledge.
Knowledge is power.
Good luck to all those who try and educate our children and never, ever stop learning.
Shannyan Moore on HuffPo
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/shannyn-moore/elisabeththe-tribe-has-sp_b_164511.html
“Ashley Judd is right. Sarah Palin is wrong. Elisabeth Hasselbeck is clueless and should have a nice big cup of STFU.”
Bodie P
Actually your family can sue and they will win because the church has insurance for this and they do not want the public embarrassment for their own inanity. They will settle after some threats and huffing and puffing. The lawyer will take the case on spec. Don’t be bullied by a very unchristian church. Sounds like only money talks there, so let money talk.
Bodie P–
Oh what a horrible situation for them to be in. I know their church must be important to them, but if they can figure a way to get out and away, there are lots of actually Christian churches out there where they’d surely be welcomed.
read Shannyn Moore on Huff Post…couldn’t be happier that she told Elisabeth to shut up, because that girl doesn’t know what the heck she’s talking about when it comes to subjects with substance…stick to fashion, Elisa.
Between the lines, does this article indicate that Palin is shrewd and strategic? Should we arm ourselves better against “that one”!?!?
aineyNo Gravatar (00:03:33) :
read Shannyn Moore on Huff Post…couldn’t be happier that she told Elisabeth to shut up, because that girl doesn’t know what the heck she’s talking about when it comes to subjects with substance…stick to fashion, Elisa.
Between the lines, does this article indicate that Palin is shrewd and strategic? Should we arm ourselves better against “that one”!?!?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I think this comment about mink about sums it up:
“Mink are smart as white collar thieves. They could get bait out of a trap nine times out of ten, and defecate before departing,”
Wasn’t it Palin who misquoted someone else…but her words were, “Women who don’t support other women are going straight to hell?”
Figured she already was going there already, so threw in the bag or what?
You guys are right, this is not new, and it’s not a small problem, even though it feels pretty personal right now. Thing is, I grew up in fundamentalism and chose to leave many years ago (best thing I ever did–I still say, “I’m so GLAD I don’t go to church” when I drive by my former church’s local religious outpost). From the outside I know that my sister could and should sue–and as you say, there are undoubtedly lawyers who would take this on spec, or even as a class-action suit, since all of the middle-school teachers at the school have been fired, but the whole religious/social component is incredibly powerful. I’m giving my poor little sister regular injections of spine (which is about as much fun for her as it sounds like) and I’m hoping they DO sue. Such abuses can only survive as long as people bend over and take it.
Seems to me that Fairclough misses the meaning of the 1st Amendment and its Alaskan equivalent. What she proposes/utters appears to be retaliation against people exercising those free speech rights. Shame on Fairclough.
AKM asks: “What institution of higher learning; what seat of academia could have committed such an epic fail by letting one of its own out into the world with such a basic misunderstanding of the role of academia in society? ”
Ummm… U of Idaho? Anna is following the leader, the leader, the Sarah; Oooh, Anna’s following the leader, the leader, oh my!
Ripley in CT (15:06:47) :
Yikes. what is wrong with those people? it’s the damned oil.
______________
Not exactly on point, but this Midnight Oil banger is what popped into my head:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10BbpGKLXqk
austintx (15:48:13) :
The thought police strike again……..maybe someone at the Fed. level needs to make Ann aware that they will/ won’t hold back funds for AK. just because of her bass-ackwards thinking
__________________
Well, that’s a point, austintx.
Here’s what I am think along those lines… see the below video. Perhaps one of our enterprising mudpuppies can make a similar video to the tune of the dream police. It could apply to this topic (dream police going after univ professors) or to Colberg (vis-a-vis his “she committed no ethical violation) or to Palin herself with the Moneghan situation.
Anyone with that talent up for that task?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaNGiHAsQv8
Paula Cochran (15:55:28) :
I just had to share this. Our state is cutting 26,000 state jobs but education support is being increase 8.8%. Rendell said:
________________________
Rendell said a bunch of crap.
He claims to be increasing state aid to the 501 school districts in this state but most of it is a bookkeeping stunt. Whereas the primary aid has been in the form of general education aid and an earmarked performance grant, he’s now put both together. Ergo: there will only be general education aid in this year’s budget but by rolling the previous ADG into it, it looks as if there’s an increase. There’s not. Really.
Frankly, if it weren’t for Palin, I’d quickly put Rendell up for the headliner as the country’s worst governor. And I’ve had his sign in my yard the past couple of cycles.
If Bill McAllister was part of a scheme to produce a composite picture that misled people about SP, would that be a violation of his professional ethics?
I’m referring to the picture of Dan Carpenter, SP and McAllister that mysteriously appeared on August 31. It was dated April 13th and was supposedly taken when Palin did the interview with Andrea Gusty. It is widely available as is the still photo of SP in the blue jacket standing next to the man named Elan who was doing a video of her in April. Look at her face in each. The bangs are EXACTLY alike. Cut off the top knot on the Elan picture and superimpose one on top of the other.
These pictures were taken eight days apart. no way my bangs look exactly alike even eight hours apart. Somethin is fishey here. Surely we have a photoshop person in the group. Take a look.
I probably should not be posting this but I can no longer contain myself. The professor that spoke to the press and made what I consider to be rather innocuous comments is taking heat from the University. In any other state/community being a faculty member of a university is a respected position but not in Alaska. Here faculty is attacked within the university system and now outside of the system. I have never seen anything like it. I am a good teacher, students like my classes, I do not preach politics and I have both liberal and conservative students who like me but I really doubt that I will stay in the Alaska education system much longer with attacks like these. Academic freedom and the freedom to speak to the press is too important.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true in Alaska between the urban campuses and the rural campuses.
Rural faculty are fired for speaking out in faculty meetings against the treatment of students (19 credits required for first ever students because “if you don’t keep them busy, they just get into trouble”). Urban faculty are reinstated (Anchorage poet)
Rural campus directors have no prior college faculty experience (high school vice principals) while Ph.D. faculty with impressive minority education experience are not retained. Grants obtained for improving rural programs are diverted to other purposes.
Tenure-track positions for extending university knowledge to communities with sanitation, energy, economic development needs are filled by those without prior experience and who don’t have the credentials for tenure in urban campuses, instead of ones who do.
Research isn’t based in the Unorganized Borough because the claim is “there is no one qualified there who can supervise our graduate students”.
Urban campuses receive awards for computer security; rural campuses have systems break-ins ignored for 5 years (hah! that rural system was connected to the state system so 40,000 Alaskans had their personal identities open. )
On the other hand, maybe it is just a gender issue, not a rural bias or a competence bias.