I'm sure the federal government and the cartels that controlled Alaska's economy felt like they were supporting Alaska during Territorial Days, but if you ask the people of Alaska -- those who actually lived here, most of whom were American citizens -- the federal government was a tyrant that took too much, gave too little and acted like their colony ought to be grateful for the disrespect. After statehood, they thought the relationship would change, but people like my folks discovered that, if anything, their concerns were placated by three meaningless votes in Congress that could never overcome the environmental lobby that was determined to seal Alaska and its people into a regulatory snowglobe.

That's the reality, Prof. Haycox. People who have lived here a long time have always felt disrespected by the federal government ... unless they worked for the federal government or an industry monopoly protected by the federal government.