Alaska Is What America Was

The frustrations of the founding fathers weren't just the negative things like excessive taxation, it was also that the British Empire wouldn't allow the American colonies to do good things.

Did you know that between 1774 and 1775 the first anti-slavery society was founded in the American colonies? Benjamin Rush, Thomas Paine, and Ben Franklin were among its supporters. Here's Thomas Paine's essay on the subject. Great Britain frowned on the movement because the British Empire had slavery. Frustration in the colonies was growing on many fronts.

Alaska became a state in 1959. Since Jimmy Carter they've been trying to make headway with things like resource development in ANWR and other places, but the federal government keeps getting in their way. Alaskans are very independent. The Alaskan Independence Party is the largest third party of any of the states. "Tax" in Alaska is practically a dirty word, and you better not tell an Alaskan what to do.

I don't think it's a mistake that the star shining brightest in politics right now is an Alaskan. Is it a coincidence that just when it seems that the Lower 48 (not all, but enough) have forgotten who we are, here comes someone who was raised with the old frontier spirit of ruggedness and independence to remind us? Alaska is our lode state, just as Polaris is our lode star. As Palin is so fond of saying, "Under this great North Star" we are shown the way back home.

Now, does this mean that Alaska is perfect? Of course not. Liberals seem to delight in pointing out what's wrong with Alaska, what's wrong with this country, what's wrong with Americans in general. I know full well we've got some things to work on, but don't they ever see the good things? They're Puddleglums, only instead of being endearing they're arrogant and spiteful. No thanks. The founding principles of this country are still held dear in the Last Frontier. That's what makes them our lode state right now.

When I say I love my country, I'm not saying that bad things don't happen in it. My country is more than the sum of its events; it is an idea. That's what America is; it's a principle, a desire, an ideal. It is freedom and equality; principles. Have we always lived up to those ideals? No. Alas, we are human. But the principles themselves are no dimmer now than they were in 1776. That is what we cling to, and that is what the Far Left will never understand.

They don't believe in those principles like we do. There is a fundamental disconnect. The George Soroses of this world don't believe in the idea that is America. I have more in common with the people of Iran fighting in the streets for some scrap of freedom than I do with extreme left liberals like this man and his cohorts.

I've often said that if things get bad to the point of absolute tyranny, my last-ditch option is to move to Alaska and secede. Many Alaskans are going "No!" right now because their permanent fund checks will suffer (the more residents, the less money there is to go around). Listen, if I can be free, y'all can keep your checks. I won't ask for one.

Now, I don't think we're anywhere near that point. This good ole' United States has got a lot of life left in it, and I'm nowhere near done fighting for it just yet. Until we get our bearings I'll just borrow some of that good old Alaskan spirit and use it to patch up some of the tears in my flag.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
And to the Republic for which it stands:
One nation,
Under God,
Indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.