Reasonable Assistance

Since Governor Sarah Palin was selected by Senator John McCain to be his running mate a lot has happened with the discussion about the future of rural Alaska.
The price of heating fuel has taken a tremendous toll on a number of communities on the lower Yukon River. In 2005 the price was around $5/gallon in these communities, this year it is at $8/gallon. That is a 62% increase in four years! Even $5/gallon was 25% or higher than urban residents spent.
Substantial negative effects on residents that invested in fishing has increased the burden. The price hike in the expense of fuel and the poor catch made fishing near uneconomical. These factors may eventually cause the decline of Native cultures that can be felt at a more pronounced rate by those who value their native heritages and traditions. I say 'those who value', because I have seen some who only call themselves native when it suits them. I have even heard some natives say that they don't consider themselves native because they don't live the life. That's honesty.
Though I have launched heavy criticism through several published letters, I support Sarah Palin as a native and a republican. I may catch flak for either supporting or criticizing the woman for her appointments or lack of vision or supporting her legitimate concern for an expanding government that may be unsustainable.
Governor Palin recently visited some western villages to deliver food and other assistance to these proud and unique people. I am glad that she seen a part of Alaska that she's never seen before. Sad that she had to do it after she seen more of the lower 48 than her own state. It is worthwhile to commend her on her efforts, yet at the same time, she lacks vision. I feel it my obligation as a free thinker to both give her respect where respect is due and also to provide constructive criticism.
I hear no new ideas from neither the natives, the non-natives, the republicans, the democrats, or anyone launching criticism or support for or against our governor. In this two party system that we've got, we're no longer a democracy but just plain democrazy. I read the news quite often and it's simply republican base conservatives voices versus the democrat socialist liberal dictate the news media voices. So much for change.
Governor Sarah Palin mentioned during her visit to western Alaska that the youth should seek jobs on the North Slope so they could contribute to their villages. Great, it is always good to encourage people to seek rewarding work. Not so great when there is an inherent if not ignorant or absent in understanding the cultures and family connectivity in these communities.
Here is what I recommend to Sarah do as governor, or any Senator willing to take the mantle of leadership and propose a way for village residents to work on the slope. What I am talking of is proposing a tax deduction for oil companies and their contractors to pay current workers as well as new workers airfare to their hometown. Such a tax policy for the 10,000 people in the region she spoke of without a job would cost the state $40 million per year depending on airfare. Yet the wages earned by those 10,000 people would approach $360+ million per year. Vastly eclipsing the amount spent on government assistance to these same people.
Such a tax policy would be constructive in that it saves wages earned for providing for families in an inherently expensive environment. It may prove unpopular for urban residents who would see it as more government assistance to a group more often seen as recipients rather than contributors. I believe that the monthly cost of airfare easily leverages over the cost of providing broad government assistance to these same people. While providing greater opportunity for isolated communities, the state could decrease its assistance expenditures and at the same time bring hope for prosperity and cultural renewal for many Alaskans. Who knows, maybe this could even reverse the out-migration trend and help foster sustainable communities.