The rise of the Tea Party extremists in this presidential campaign has painted a narrative about Big Government as a threat to freedom and opportunity; that the undeserving moochers are redistributing the wealth away from taxpaying “makers” to freeloading “takers.” Some commentaries even suggest that the re-election of President Obama would lead to us toward the abyss of Communism where “takers” rule and demand more and more from the “makers.” This suggestion is pure lunacy because if we are indeed headed toward inept societal darkness we’re all headed there together and it has absolutely n

According to National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Lam, this summer broke the record for the coldest May 1 to July 29 period by being a half-degree colder than the summer of 1970. This is meteorologist speak for something we all know, this summer was the worst in 30 years for many of us! And we’re about to enter our rainiest month, October.

Several local residents have written into the Juneau Empire to express why they are supporting the initiative to restore coastal management to the state. These letters are indicative of the broad grassroots support driving the ‘Yes on 2’ campaign. This is greatly contrasted by big oil providing the bulk of the funds and having their advocacy organization drive the ‘No’ campaign. But there is more to the story of grassroots v. goliath and that is the range of prominent Alaskans across the state speaking out in support of the coastal management initiative.

At one time, Gov. Sean Parnell said he would take “weeks or months” to decide on whether or not to follow the lead of some prominent fellow Republican governors in rejecting certain provisions of the Affordable Health Care Act. But last week his decision to let the federal government create a health exchange for Alaska’s growing number of uninsured clearly indicates that Parnell has decided that playing politics is more important than tailoring a health insurance exchange for Alaska’s unique remote conditions.