I am old enough.  The state forgave some of my Alaska Student Loan in exchange for me spending my weekends and evenings on my students' writing so that they could write clearly--and perhaps, therefore, think clearly.  It was a fair bargain, I hope.  I drove a crappy, cold Dodge Colt to work and burned wood for heat.  I paid Alaska State income tax.  My pension is skinny.  My mortgage is nil because I built my houses out of pocket. So I get it that some Alaskans younger than I face massive student debt and unmanageable insurance premiums, as well as stagnant wages.  But does the hardship that younger Alaskans face mean we should burn through our state's savings accounts until there's nothing left?  If we do that (call this the legislative approach) those younger Alaskans will be even worse off.  Walker did what he could with the tools the legislature--that has done precious little to fix the problem--left him.  He's the statesman, the adult in the room, whether popular or not.