What Would YOU Ask the Candidates?
8 10 2009
~(L-R) EthaBerkowitz, Hollis French, Bob Poe
I listened yesterday to Bob Poe on “Studio 1080″ on KUDO 1080am, and then I listened to Ethan Berkowitz on Dan Fagan’s show on KFQD 750am. Then Sean Parnell announced his plan for a huge scholarship program. Then Rob Rosenfeld stepped out of the race. I’m getting all kinds of lovely invitations to attend fundraisers for the candidates. So, I’ve been thinking a lot about the governor’s race lately.
Each one of the three major Democratic candidates has pros and cons. That’s always the case. And each of us have issues that are “deal breakers.” We may like someone, but a particular position will nudge us to vote a different way. We may choose to vote based on electability, or based on personal contact, or a multitude of different things. Getting elected is both a science and an art.
So, I’ve been thinking about asking some questions of our gubernatorial candidates. But my questions may not be your questions, and my issues may not be your issues. So, I’d like to ask you what YOU would ask our candidates if you had their undivided attention? Then, I’ll go through your questions, and my questions, put together a list, and see what our candidates have to say. They may answer them and they may not, but I’ll let you know either way. And if they do answer, I’ll print their answers over the coming months so everyone can see them.
I don’t know how this election will go, but I do know this. The last time we voted for governor, a lot of us were either not paying attention, or voting based on things other than the content of the answers that were given to important questions. And that didn’t work out so well.
So, what would you ask? You can put questions in the comments section here, or you can send them to me via email to akmuckraker(at)yahoo(dot)com.
October 9th, 2009 at 7:44 PM
Here’s a few:
–What strategies will you use to address ongoing global climate changes such as the melting of arctic ice and increased shipping traffic in the Beaufort Sea, effects on marine mammals, the melting of permafrost and concomitant changes to the tundra?
–Do you understand rural schools funding and how changes in timber industry potentially affect communities in Southeast Alaska?
–Do you have a vision for the state if and when fish harvests decline dramatically, whether driven by oil spills, global climate change or overfishing?
–Do you believe subsistence is an anachronism or a valid lifestyle?
–How would you stand on gay, lesbian and transgender rights?
–What changes would you recommend to improve and strengthen the University system in Alaska?
–How would you propose to address the epidemic of rape, incest, alcohol abuse and suicide that occurs both in our villages and in our cities?
–How do you propose to address the challenges of VPSO’s and other law enforcement (or lack of it) in the villages?
–Would you be an advocate for a safer fishing industry, and if so, how?
–Are you a member of ANB, ANS? Have you attended AFN in Anchorage? Have you ever spoken at AFN? Would you?
–Would you claim per diem while living in your own home?
–And can you see Russia from your house?
October 9th, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Here_in_PA, Berkowitz looks a bit like Jeff Goldblum, IMO.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:54 PM
All very good questions and some very funny ones.It is just a shame that anyone has to have a “phyco” file and I don’t know what anyone could or would say about Ann