Alaska Is A Purely Socialist State

[Yavin4]

Each resident gets a dividend check from the Alaska Permanent Dividend Fund.

From Wikipedia:

The Alaska Permanent Fund sets aside a certain share of oil revenues to continue benefiting current and all future generations of Alaskans. Many citizens also believed that the legislature too quickly and too inefficiently spent the $900 million bonus the state got in 1969 after leasing out the oil fields. This belief spurred a desire to put some oil revenues out of direct political control.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund

Hello, isn't this socialism? Also, shouldn't that revenue go to ALL Americans, not just Alaskans?

[onenote]

1. you think that is "pure socialism" ?

Huh?

[valerief]

2. I guess communism rubs off when you're that close to Russia.

[provis99]

3. that's pretty much the definition of socialism right there

Norway does this, too, but the Norwegian fund is up to $400 billion, for a total population of 4.5 million. Socialism works so well, even the right wing adopts it when it suits its purposes.

[KittyWampus]

4. Great thread but I beg you to take out the "purely" cause it sort of kills the discussion

[demobabe]

5. Well, it's socialism

In the same way as paying taxes in other states is socialism

[Yavin4]

7. Taxes To The States, Not Direct Subsidies to the Citizenry

The casinos in Las Vegas pay state and local taxes, but they don't give the citizens direct payments. No Nevada resident gets a dividend check from the hotels and casinos.

[demobabe]

8. When you have a surplus, then that is a dividend you pay to the citizens.

If you have a deficit, then the citizens pay a tax. Taxes go to pay for socialized services such as roads, schools, government. The dividend Alaskans receive is payment for the oil they are removing for the state, and this oil money also pays for the socialized services the government typically would provide.

[Bad Thoughts]

6. No, it's a oil-producing state, like Saudi Arabia

It pays off the citizens to avoid reforming government corruption and harbors fundamentalists.