Remember the year of the $3,200 dividend? Traditionally, the Legislature distributes one-half of the Permanent Fund’s annual earnings. When the cash from Alaska’s revised oil tax began rolling in, Governor Palin chose to add one billion dollars to the traditional distribution.

Now, Governor Parnell wants to distribute twice that much every year. Parnell’s proposed distribution could pay every man, woman, and child in Alaska somewhere between $5,000 and $6,000 per year. But, it’s not us Alaskans who Parnell wants to pay it to, it’s the folks in Scotland who own BP, his former employer ConocoPhillips, and Exxon.

The term “conservative candidate” has become double speak for supporting Parnell’s plan. They argue that less money in government hands equals less government. If they want less government, selling the oil we both own for less than the highest bidders would pay isn’t the capitalist thing to do. Any good capitalist supports selling Alaska’s oil to the highest bidder. Good conservatives support candidates who promise to put less of our revenue into government and more in our pockets.

Ray Metcalfe

Anchorage