Alaska Today

Politics

Alaska's politics and policies seem as wild as its vast, untamed acres. From the Iditarod to cabin building, everything in Alaska is steeped in politics—there are more politicians per capita than police officers. The largest state in the nation comes with a seemingly limitless supply of natural resources, and with them come conflict and controversy. Alaska's politics are thus saddled with numerous fiscal and environmental responsibilities, none of which are easily met. Before it entered statehood in 1959, Alaska had been reviled as Seward’s Folly; and for nearly 50 years of statehood, it was often overlooked in the political media. However, since then-governor Sarah Palin was tapped to be the 2008 presidential running mate and with the increasing need for Alaskan oil, the state and its politics have managed to stay in the limelight.

Gas and mining corporations have enormous influence on public policy in Alaska, but not without rivalry from environmentalists and subsistence advocates. There are ongoing and highly publicized battles over proposed mines and off-shore oil drilling. Also in the media spotlight is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), 19.2 million roadless acres supporting 45 species of land and marine mammals, 36 species of fish, and 180 species of birds. ANWR is in the northeast corner of the state and has been dubbed the Last Great Wilderness. The only way to get there is by bush plane. In 2015, President Obama proposed new protections for parts of ANWR to Congress, which sparked much national and statewide debate. Area 1002, which consists of 1.5 million acres along the refuge's coastal plain, is thought to contain a large supply of oil the state of Alaska would like to explore.

Economics

More than 75% of Alaska's revenue is derived from oil extraction. The state is also the nation's leader in commercial fishing, but ranks dead last in number of farms and farm products. There is very little manufacturing in the state. Thus the cost of manufactured goods, produce, and other foodstuffs is considerably higher than in other states.

Because Alaska is predominantly composed of rural villages, thousands of miles from any distribution center, the cost of living is relatively high. In Barrow, for instance, one can expect to pay $10 for a gallon of milk.

The Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) is a sacred check that Alaskans receive once a year, and for many in the Bush it can be a lifesaver. In 1977 the fund was created to receive 25% of Alaska's oil royalty income. It was designed to maintain a state income even after the reserves had been tapped out. Residents receive a check every October in amounts that vary from year to year, but are in the ballpark of $1,200. Every bit helps; in recent years, rural and remote Alaska has seen heating fuel go as high as $10 per gallon.

Global Warming

In Alaska few people disagree that the glaciers and permafrost are melting; it's just a fact. In 2015, President Obama visited Alaska to raise awareness of climate change; he became the first president to travel above the Arctic Circle.

Things are changing in Alaska. Icebergs are melting, and, unfortunately for polar bears, that's where they live. In 2008 the Interior Department put polar bears on the protected species list, but some environmentalists believe that without addressing the causes of global warming the designation will do little to help. The polar bear is currently listed as threatened, not endangered.

Warmer temperatures also means new economic opportunities and financial challenges. As the Arctic ice melts, the region is becoming more accessible, which means there is greater possibility for more oil and gas exploration. However, as temperatures rise, so does the ocean. The village of Kivalina, a remote whaling community of almost 400 inhabitants, is under immediate threat as the water rises and the coast erodes. Relocation of Kivalina's residents must happen, but the cost is high both financially and for these people's history and way of life.

Many Native tribes in the Arctic region have begun to adapt to the changes that global warming has impressed upon them. Their hunting patterns have adjusted to new migration times and routes. Unfortunately permafrost, the frozen ground they live upon, is also melting. Towns and villages are sinking, and the cost of relocation could rise into the billions of dollars. Groups like the Army Corps of Engineers, social artists, and political and environmental activists are scrambling to save the villages, the people, and their cultures.

The Arts

Visitors are often surprised to find that Alaska is filled with an impressive number of talented contemporary artists. Not only do some of the world's foremost artists, writers, and photographers reside in Alaska, there is equal talent found among those whose work never sees the Outside. For many Alaskans the long, dark winter is a great time to hunker down, season their craft, and prepare to sell their wares in the summer at galleries, museums, and theaters all over the state. In summer, weekend outdoor markets are also an excellent place to find local and Native talent. Look for the "Made in Alaska" sticker or the silver hand symbol for authenticity.

Sports

In a state full of renegades and thrill seekers, it is no wonder that the biggest sporting event of the year occasionally requires a racer to permanently relinquish feeling in a finger or foot. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a 1,149-mile-long trek, is by far the most popular sporting event in Alaska. It began in 1973 in homage to the brave souls who ventured to Nome in 1925 to take medicine to villagers struck with one of the worst outbreaks of diphtheria ever recorded. Nowadays, more than 100 racers and their packs of canines converge on the ice and snow on the first Saturday in March to race from Anchorage to Nome. In 2012, 25-year-old Dallas Seavey became the youngest dog musher to win the Iditarod, besting both his father and grandfather. The sport is not without controversy; mushers have come under scrutiny since several groups have made allegations of animal cruelty.

Although Alaskans from all over the state are passionate about their dog mushers, the most popular sport is basketball. Even as far north as Barrow (where it is most popular), one can find basketball courts both inside and outside. The most popular urban team sport is ice hockey. College hockey is big news, as are the Alaska Aces, the state minor-league team that feeds into the NHL's St. Louis Blues. Also noteworthy is the state’s rapidly increasing roller derby teams. In 2013, Anchorage’s Rage City Rollergirls All Star Team became the first American team to compete in Japan.