Also, and it pains me to say it, but someone needs to call Alaska

[jhrobbins]

what it is - the end of a very long road where many, many people (a number of whom are shady or have checkered pasts) go to disappear. Not all Alaskans , of course, fall into this category, but it is a place that has a VERY different feel than the lower 48.

[MrModerate]

1. I can't see any possible benefit to making such a comparison . . .

Perhaps true that Alaska is where losers and sociopaths go to disappear. But, if anyone associated with progressive politics or -- grid forbid, the Obama campaign -- said so, the 'Licans would beat us with the elitist stick until we were dead. Especially since such an opinion is verrrrry difficult to quantify, i.e., prove.

I'd keep that one for discussions in the living room while watching The Daily Show.

[leftofcool]

2. And you arrived at this conclusion about fellow Americans how?

Any stats, links maybe?

[skooooo]

7. There's quite a bit of truth there...

It's the last frontier. I've been there, and it is very different.

[Bucky]

13. Well, the OP *did* say it was "the end of a very long road".

How else can you explain them having a bridge to nowhere?

[jhrobbins]

42. I've spent a great deal of time there, Bill.

[newfie11]

3. The end of the roaders

This is what a friend of mine from Alaska called so many from the lower 48 that came up there. Many with police records.

[skooooo]

4. True it is a very different place...

Got some odds and ends of communes and groups of people who are anti-government, etc.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. You've got that right.

We're an odd bunch, but we love it that way.


Blue_in_AK (Alaska resident since 1975).

[skooooo]

9. Do you spend much time in the lower 48??

I think it's a fair comment to say the culture up there is a bit different. I like visiting a lot - lots of fun things to see and do.

[Blue_In_AK]

21. For a period of time from about 1980 until 2000

I never left the state at all. Since I finally got rid of my loser ex-husband and now have a new one, I get Outside at least once a year to San Francisco. (My husband's union, MEBA, flies us down there for a physical every year.) And, let's see, I've been to Texas a couple of times (where my husband and I were first sweethearts back in 1963), Memphis, Seattle -- and Colorado and Oregon (for my daughter's graduation from college and law school). I think that's about it. Oh, and DC for peace marches in September 2005 and January 2007.

It's always a lot different down there -- the number of people is what's hard for me to get used to. I like living in Anchorage because as a city of about 260,000 or so we have all the city conveniences, but we can get out of town and be in the wilderness in no time. No fences, no billboards, no freeways. I really love it here, I wouldn't live anywhere else.

[skooooo]

24. Do you know much about "hippie shacks" or communes up there??

I guess many hippie shacks are abandoned now. I saw a few when I was up there last month. Also saw a place outside Wasilla that was a deadringer for some sort of commune. Know anything about that?

[Blue_In_AK]

48. Was it up by Talkeetna?

I'm sure there are some communes around here and there, although I don't know of any specifically. The towns of Talkeetna and Homer are pretty much hippie enclaves.

[skooooo]

49. No it was out on a road ....

...just outside of Wasilla, kind of out where the sledder camps / compounds are.

The hippie shacks I saw a lot of different places.

Did go to Talkeetna too! Kind of a fun place.

[slackmaster]

6. Yeah, we don't need those electoral votes anyway

Screw 'em. And let's write off the whole Southeast while we're at it.

:sarcasm:

[ColbertWatcher]

51. Southeast? You mean The South, right? n/t

[slackmaster]

54. Yes, I meant to say the Deep South

Thanks.

[SmokingJacket]

8. A lot of places are "different"

Texas is. I felt like I was in another country when I moved to Louisiana.

I don't think it behooves us to denigrate the citizens of an entire state, some of whom are on our side.

[skooooo]

11. Saying it's different doesn't denigrate it...

...unless you're xenophobic (not that you are).

Aren't we supposed to celebrate diversity?

[SmokingJacket]

16. Sure, I've never been to Alaska, but I love Louisiana.

nah, I think the variety of states is one of the reasons I love the USA. And I do love it.

I was (not very articulately) trying to convince the OP to lay off Alaskans!

[skooooo]

17. I don't see the OP's post as an attack on Alaska.

It's just an observation, and I've heard the same thing from many other people -- and witnessed it for myself having been up there.

It's a little different. Thank god it is.

[onenote]

28. and why is at observation that "needs" to be made?

any more than, say, an observation about Delaware, Illinois, Hawaii, Arizona, or any other state for that matter?

[skooooo]

32. Alaska is very remote...

..and there are a lot of differences in attitude, population, and lifestyle that are pretty alien to the lower 48.

:shrug:

[onenote]

39. so is hawaii -- in fact, its further away from the "lower 48" than AK is

Its a silly and unnecessary thing to bring up -- not something that "needs" to pointed out.

[skooooo]

40. ok whatever

:eyes:



:hi:

[jhrobbins]

44. I'll check with you next time about what you think is necessary or not

[SmokingJacket]

38. The OP wasn't direct, but the "pains me to say it"

made me think it was a knock.

[jhrobbins]

46. It wasn't a knock - I really love Alaska and have spent a lot of time

there, but it is quirky and different. Northern Exposure was not off in their depiction.

[SmokingJacket]

52. okay! nt

[Blue_In_AK]

27. We're tough, we can take it.

We're used to being seen as outsiders, which we just laugh off because we all know that YOU'RE the ones who are Outside.

[skooooo]

34. High five Alaskan!

Your state is great -- a bit weird, but great!

:rofl:

[Blue_In_AK]

36. Thank you so much, sir (or ma'am).

Let us know when you come up to visit again, and maybe we can meet up. We may be odd, but we're friendly.

[skooooo]

37. Did you see my other question to you??

About the hippie shacks and communes???

[SmokingJacket]

41. You must to tough to handle the weather...

I can barely take upstate NY...

:hi:

[jhrobbins]

47. and the mosquitos....

[Blue_In_AK]

50. The Alaska state bird?

:rofl: (Does this picture show for you guys? I had to click on the box.)

[Bucky]

10. Then let's attack the moral character of everyone in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Iowa, & Virginia

Oh, and Nevada: "Yo mama!"

[skooooo]

14. No one's attacking anyone's character.

Geezus can't people read?? The OP said it was a very different place, and that a number of people migrate there to escape problems in the lower 48. Both are true statements. What's the big deal?

[Bucky]

18. What the big deal is.

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us -- the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of "anything goes." Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America -- there’s the United States of America.

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an "awesome God" in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we’ve got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

In the end -- In the end -- In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?

[skooooo]

26. relax...

:hi:

It was just an observation. Maybe the OP framed it kind of negatively, but I see it as a point of interest. Certainly nothing to be divided over or to argue about.

:hi:

[Blue_In_AK]

31. Really.

I wasn't offended in the least. There's quite a bit of truth to what was said, and we're used to this sentiment.

[onenote]

25. its exactly what the OP is suggesting

The OP is suggesting that palin's character be called into question by pointing out that Alaska is "different" and that a lot people have shady/checkered pasts and go there to "disappear."

If that's not what the OP is suggesting, why exactly is the OP suggesting that this characterization of Alaska "needs" to be pointed out

[skooooo]

29. I can't read the OP's mind...

And maybe it was framed a bit negatively, but I think Alaska is an exciting place. It truly is the last of the "wild west." :hi:

[arthritisR_US]

12. sorry, but that kind of rhetoric advances nothing. n/t

[skooooo]

15. another person who can't read??

What exactly offends you so much in what the OP said??

[MrModerate]

19. "shady and checkered pasts" -- Them's fightin' words n/t

[skooooo]

22. Some people do go up there for that reason...

And I've known one or two. If you've made some mistakes in your hometown, it's a far away place to go to start anew.

Of course, the whole population of Alaska doesn't fit into this category, and I'm sure there are other places in the US that attract people who are trying to start over. Nothing wrong with it.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. Oh, please

I'm shady and checkered, and I like it that way. :rofl: It seems like the non-Alaskans are the ones taking offense here. I just find it funny -- and true.

[skooooo]

35. Heh heh!!

It is true. Lots of folks living out in the wilderness with little or no connection with mainstream American culture. God bless them.

[MrModerate]

45. You strike me as having a healthy attitude . . .

I'm not so sure that all shady and checkered Alaskans would be quite so forgiving.

And yeah, I've only been in Alaska once, and that for about 48 hours. Doesn't stop me from being an expert, though.

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. Why was the OP "pained" to say what he/she had to say?

Because he/she was lauding the pioneer spirit of Alaskans?

[skooooo]

30. That's a valid point.

I don't know why, but I see what you mean.

However, I think there is some truth in what was said. I'm just interested in the topic because I've spent time up there and recognize it for what it is -- a very interesting place with its own culture, and the last of the wild west.

[onenote]

20. Gee, and when certain people were suggesting that Hawaii was "different"

we rightly blew a fuse.

You may not realize this, but Alaska has as many Democratic governors as repubs (5 each) and its state legislature is nearly evenly split between Repubs and Democrats.

[Blue_In_AK]

43. This is very true.

A little known piece of history is that Dwight Eisenhower was somewhat less than enthusiastic at the prospect of Alaska becoming a state because the territory was so staunchly Democratic, and he feared that having our Democratic representatives in Congress would affect th balance of power. The only way that he could be convinced to get with the program was if Hawaii (which apparently was more Republican) were also admitted to the union, which happened the next year, I guess.

Republicans didn't really take over here until all those Texans and Oklahomans moved up here during the pipeline construction, and then didn't leave (damn them). With Big Oil came Big Corruption, and where there's corruption, you'll ALWAYS find Republicans.

[Sequoia]

53. And for you viewing and listening pleasure......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSt0NEESrUA

Except for the John Wayne pic.