I am not convinced Dermot that the 76 legislators all believed Alaska would look like it does today and a Check to all Alaskans would be an economic engine that it is. What I do believe is they knew now human nature is and that greed today is the same as it was then!!  I believe they all knew that they couldn't determine now a future Legislature would do with what money they could spend given past spending.... Learning from the past is our guide to the future and understanding economic theory is a key also! New wealth does grow on trees if the People truly own the Land of this State.  No new wealth will come from the State doing what the Free Enterprise system is meant to do. Only the Native Corps have advanced since 1972 that is only because of No Bid Contracts with the Government!  They themselves haven't but scratched the "surface of their land holdings" as a revenue machine. People of the day back then knew one thing that Hard Work on private Land created NEW Wealth. Period