Mr. Havelock: Thank you for your many years of service to our home. You have seldom shied away from controversial topics and Alaska is richer for that. As a territorial Alaskan who loved it enough to warn and fight against the spending which exploded following Jay Hammond's departure, I'm saddened that this day has come, as it surely had to. The things you suggest are only partial answers, but are a start.

My main concern is that many Alaskans believe that if taxes are raised (Democrat's option), that things can remain relatively unchanged.When one studies the oil industry which they wish to heavily tax to this support spending, it should become abundantly clear that this will not work. There are simply too many producers in the world, with mammoth supplies of crude, with which they feed their people, for things to ever return to past norms. Can Alaska stop pumping oil?  No. Same thing the world around.

My fellow Alaskans should now do the homework they should have done 40 years ago.