Alaskans just seem willing to believe fundamentally flawed concepts.  There is a constant barrage to expand industry throughout Alaska to improve the economy.  Yet the fact is today all those expansions require building roads, railroads or port facilities plus improving airports to support any industrial growth; 

Mining is touted as creating thousands of job bringing millions into the economy.  The cost of supporting mining gets put in the ultra fine print. Manufacturing items for the oil industry on the slope  is not the same as manufacturing items for the world wide oil industry. It is not pessimistic to face reality that most of Alaska's natural resources are in very remote locations that have high cost associated with development.  

While there are opportunities for many mom & pop type operations we must not foolishly believe those can be expanded to the size of  major manufacturing corporations like Cat, GM, ITW, in a locations in Alaska.