Sarah Palin has proposed a plan to give every Alaskan a $100 “Energy Debit Card” each month for one year to help offset the rising cost of fuel. Do you think this is a good plan? Why or why not? If her plan becomes reality, how will this affect you personally?
Asked on May 23, 2008
“No, it’s a lousy plan. There are so many other things that can be done with the budget surplus. Money will go into the pocket of the energy producers, and it won’t affect demand one little bit. It will offset my energy bill a little bit and make me grumpy.”
— David Maxwell, mathematician, Fairbanks
“Yeah, it sounds good, but sometimes you wonder if there is a catch. I wouldn’t mind one of those (debit cards). (It) gives me some breathing room driving to work. By the time it does come into effect, it’ll probably be $5 a gallon.”
— Eric Raul Pabon, range control technician, Fairbanks
“I’d say yes, because everything in Alaska is generally more expensive than the other states, especially heating. I guess we need a little help. Being a college student, I’m not making much money to begin with. Any financial aid is beneficial.”
— Megan Hahn, student, Fairbanks
“Well, I guess it would be a good thing if they (the state) have the money to fund it. I can see where it would help people who have just moved here and can’t get the Permanent Dividend Fund yet. Otherwise, they could just add it to the Permanent Dividend Fund. It won’t affect me at all because I’m only here in the summer. It would be nice to have a $100 gas card every month.”
— Phil Garrett, retired, Fairbanks
“I don’t think it will make any difference to what the real problems are. I don’t believe we’re being informed at all as to why this (price increase) is occurring. I think politicians do things like this in order to placate people’s frustration instead of trying to address some long-term solutions. It would affect my very little in reality.”
— Donna Schultze, Gulliver’s Books employee, North Pole
“I think it’s probably a good thing; it can’t really be a bad thing. It’s really just a drop in the bucket for those who have large families and need to pay the high cost of food as well as gas and heating. I’m having to spend a lot of money to commute to work. It’s 136 miles round trip. It will definitely help, no doubt.”
— Steve Thomas, maintenance worker, Delta Junction
