It was good to see Gov. Bill Walker’s Nov. 7 response to Alaska Senate President Pete Kelly’s opinion piece on Nov. 5 “The sky isn’t falling.”
Walker’s response was far more generous than mine would be. Kelly, R-Fairbanks, speculated on what might take place and then assumes: “That 14 percent change represents nearly an additional $1.5 billion circulating in our economy.” Wow. “What if” has been taken to a new level. Actually, Kelly’s imaginary $1.5 billion could be welcomed as a payment on our deficit rather than wandering around “in our economy.”
I have urged repeatedly that we need to re-instate our income tax, as it was, the simplest state income tax in the United States. Gov. Walker is right in his effort to raise revenue, although the time to do it was three years ago, we have to settle for now.
I also take issue with Kelly when, as a representative of Alaskans, he tries to separate Alaskans from their government. He writes: “The Senate will support new revenues only when it is proved to be in the best interest of Alaskans as whole, not just their government.”
I prefer Abraham Lincoln’s view that our government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. If it works right, the people are the government.
Kelly should concentrate on his pie in the sky, and let grownups do the budget.
Carl Benson,
Fairbanks
• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.