Alaskians Leeching

From an article (reads more like an op-ed but that's another thread) on Time.com.

Why is a windfall-profits tax good for Alaska but not for the U.S.? Well, it's obvious, isn't it? People in Alaska are better than people in the rest of the U.S. They're more American. Although there are small towns and farms and high school hockey teams in the lower 48, there are fewer down here, per capita, than in Alaska. And there are many more journalists and pollsters and city dwellers and other undesirables who might benefit if every American had the same right to leech off the government as do the good citizens of Sarah Palin's Alaska.

source

The article notes federal spending per resident (Alaska ranks 1st-WV 29th but the difference is only $800/resident) compared to taxes paid per resident and the difference ($8,516.00 per resident-once again, first) as a knock on Palin, even though Alaskans were getting more then their fair share long before her thanks to Ted Stevens, the Senator-for-life. And yes, like Palin, he's a Republican.

Based on the spending, it didn't surprise me to find out Alaska ranked first in earmark dollars per capita. Seems to me the easiest way to reduce wasteful government spending would be to eliminate earmarks.

Just a thought.