Alaska's voters allowed a succession of legislatures and governors to sell out the state to the oil and mining interests, giving them billions in direct and indirect subsidies. Alaska's voters allowed a succession of legislatures and governors to spend millions on ill-conceived and wasteful capital projects. No one gave a thought that the good times would end. Well now they have. The extractive industry is going to have to get along on its own will little financial help from the State and Alaskans are going to have to get along with reduced services from State budget costs. 

We deserve to pay attention to what our government is doing. We deserve to see to it that State funds are spent wisely and with due care. If we do those things, or if we don't, we deserve what we get and we have.