Contributed by Paul Johnson
I am writing to propose a plan to get Alaska’s economy back up and running on an intrastate basis. The Nonessential Interstate Travel Ban Mandate MUST remain in effect until there are reliable treatments for Covid-19 and a safe vaccine can be found. The Intrastate Travel Ban SHOULD remain in effect until the end of April, which should expose all of the existing cases in Alaska, as of now.
At that point, every Alaskan should have been tested and cleared either way. If that is the case, the intrastate ban could be lifted, with provisions for communities on the highway system to only shop in their communities (a simple I.D. check to match community w/address) in order to stop the inter-community hoarding. Then Alaskans could start serving Alaskans again, just like before the “Pipeline Days”.
Remember, back when all we had was the fishing industry (gone for this summer) the timber industry, the coal industry (test everyone first) and tourism (also gone for at least this summer) and we got along just fine? It was a circular economy with the same few hundred million changing hands on a constant basis. Alaska’s money wasn’t going “outside” at the rate it is now, with the advent of the WWW, Amazon and the like, either.
I’m not suggesting succession from the Union, as many have in the past. I’m being bluntly realistic. The North Slope is shutdown thanks to the oil company’s ignorance of the local hire laws and the State’s lack of enforcement of those laws. Bristol Bay has already come to the realization their season is shot and the natives of Western Alaska won’t be fooled again, by the white man’s lies. As noted before, the cruise ships and airlines aren’t coming back for at least a year, either. So why try to force the issue and “invite” Covid-19 back into Alaska, WE SHOULDN’T!
What you SHOULD be doing is looking out for the wellbeing of every Alaskan, getting out ahead of this and embracing a “New Normal”. You SHOULD also be making plans on how to protect the Bristol Bay Fishery. With no one out and about, the Chinese & the Russians are going to RAPE it. Covid-19 has fundamentally changed how the entire planet has to do business, at least for now.
A key component of this is to keep the Nonessential Interstate Travel Ban in place for as long as it takes to fulfill the two basic parameters noted above, treatment and a vaccine. It would be foolhardy to “invite” this deadly virus back into Alaska without, at least, the former in place. Other states would be wise to follow along. That’s up to them. I’m concerned for my fellow Alaskans. Plus, we have a geographical advantage over the Lower 48, and the rest of the world for that matter. We control the ports, airports and rail way. We just can’t keep letting slope workers from outside slip from one plane to their Prudhoe Bay flight, unnoticed, anymore. Or let China Air Cargo pilots go wandering through our largest city, INFECTED. Every single case of Covid-19 in Alaska today, can be directly traced to TRAVEL to and from the outside. STOP THE TRAVEL, STOP THE VIRUS.
Those who do choose to, or have to leave Alaska and return home, would be subject to the 14-day quarantining already in place, upon their return. However, this would be a monitored quarantine at that person’s expense. This would cause people to think long and hard if this is actually “Essential Travel”. It would also root out a lot of snow birds who collect PFDs. And seasonal, out of state, lodge operators. (Alaska’s money leaving Alaska.)
Finally, imagine Alaskans getting to enjoy Alaska for themselves. The charter boats, the train, Denali, hunting, fishing and RV-ing, all without the hordes of tourists running around. Due to ongoing social distancing rules, combat fishing would have to be outlawed though. In my eyes, that’s a plus too!
If we all pull together and support one and other, we can do this. We did it before the pipeline and all that oil money, we can sure as hell do it during Covid-19. The business’ tied to the tourist industry could cut Alaskans a break. After all, we’re the only ones that will be keeping them afloat this summer. So what do you say, Alaska for Alaskans or, I just want things to get back to normal?
Those days are GONE, step up to the plate. Choose Alaska for Alaskans! We will be a stronger, healthier, happier, state for it.
